ceo addresses nato

Senetas CEO Addresses NATO Quantum Workshop on
commercialisation of Quantum Encryption
Senetas Corporation Limited (ASX:SEN), the world’s leading developer and
supplier of high speed network encryption hardware, announced that its CEO,
John Du Bois had today addressed a NATO workshop in Gdansk, Poland,
detailing the company’s role in commercialising the world’s first quantum
encryptor.
The conference convener, Prof. Ryszard Horodecki, Director of National Quantum
Information Centre of Gdañsk, University of Gdañsk, invited Mr Du Bois following
the successful deployment of quantum encryption on three continents.
Mr Du Bois detailed the commercialisation by Senetas and its Swiss partner,
idQuantique, of the world’s first hybrid quantum encryptor in October 2007 to secure
the national elections in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland.
Since then, Mr Du Bois told the NATO audience – largely European scientists and
academics studying the future development of quantum communications – that the
quantum encryption solution based on Senetas’ ultra high speed Cyphernet encryptor
running at 10 Gbps, had been sold to the Thai government research centre, NECTEC
in Bangkok and would secure a national e-health rollout for the Kingdom; also
detailing the purchase of the quantum technology by the University of KwaZulu-
Natal’s Centre for Quantum Technology to launch Durban as the world’s first
Quantum City.
Mr Du Bois said that high speed network communications at up to 10 Gbps, and
potentially 40 Gbps, were critical for government agencies, financial institutions and
large corporate enterprises. However the addition of quantum key distribution based
on quantum mechanical principles to generate and exchange cryptographic keys over
fiber optic networks created an unsurpassed communication solution.
He told the audience one of the critical aspects of encrypted communications was
globally-recognised accreditation, such as Common Criteria and FIPS, something
which Senetas has invested considerable time and money to achieve and to
consistently upgrade.
“The benefit of our accreditation efforts is that we will shortly be in a position to offer
a fully-accredited quantum encryption solution accredited to Common Criteria
EAL4+,” Mr Du Bois said.
He also told the NATO meeting that Senetas’ strategy of continuous innovation would
see it move beyond focus on network perimeter protection to further develop solutions
that provide networks of trust within corporate communications environments.
He gave examples of current Senetas engineering developments including a Wi-Fi
encryption solution based on the company’s low cost small footprint CypherStream;
plus an innovative New Zealand development of a fully portable power-independent
network-in-a-backpack, called Black Ice, that is encrypted using CypherStream and is
designed for emergency services use.