8 November 2001

Entrust Unveils U.S. Government Blueprint to Link National Security and E-Government Initiatives

Action Plan Calls for Enhanced Internet Security in Government desktop, email, VPN and Web Portal applications

Washington, DC - Entrust, Inc. [Nasdaq: ENTU], a leading global provider of enhanced Internet security services and solutions, today unveiled a U.S. Government blueprint to help to enable the United States federal government to conduct Internet-based E-Government and Homeland Security operations with significantly enhanced Internet security.

The blueprint is based upon the company's broad customer base and proven leadership experience as a global provider of enhanced Internet security across U.S. government agencies and international governments. This action plan will help to enable the rapid adoption of E-Government and Homeland Security initiatives. It provides security with the ability for government agencies to work collaboratively across appropriate federal, state, local and international jurisdictions. The blueprint allows networks and their users to deliver efficient services not only during normal government operations, but also in times of crisis, when unusual stress and threats can be placed upon E-Government systems.

Entrust President and CEO Bill Conner and company executives today outlined the blueprint before U.S. federal customers from among its 50 different government departments at the company-sponsored National Cybersecurity Forum. Featured speakers included Mark Forman, associate director for IT and E-Government; Lee Holcomb, NASA CIO; and Judy Spencer, chair, Federal PKI Steering Committee.

"It is evident that national security is no longer inseparable from physical and cybersecurity. Specifically, national security cannot be maintained exclusively with brick and mortar government," Conner said. "Now, more than ever, national security and E-Government are inseparable and demand enhanced Internet security as the foundation. Our blueprint provides a measured and appropriate method for government, businesses and citizens to more securely share data between authorized users on a protected communications infrastructure."

"Mandatory scenario planning for government across processes and jurisdictions is now more critical than ever," said Carol Kelly, vice-president and research director, Electronic Government Strategies, Meta Group. "This is the only way to plan, prioritize and deal with vulnerabilities, using the processes and key technologies required to fix any real, or potential, security breaches."

Dallas-based Entrust's technology solutions serve as the foundation of the existing federal bridge certification authority (FBCA), which is part of its "National Cybersecurity Architecture" blueprint. It calls for the utilization of enhanced Internet security for interoperable federal, state and local communications bridges across eight critical infrastructure services: health, financial, transportation, information and communications, energy, emergency management, water supply and law enforcement. This architecture can be realized today, with immediate results, for a more secure national communications infrastructure.

Conner today outlined the following priorities for government:

  • Implement an enhanced Internet security plan and architecture for Federal, State, Local and International governments
  • Prioritize and fund the extension of existing enhanced Internet security infrastructures
  • Enable, mandate and fund enhanced Internet security interoperability between Departments/Agencies.
  • Fund and implement State & Local enhanced Internet security
  • Utilize the enhanced Internet security foundation to enable the 23 Quicksilver initiatives

"Our technology architecture combines public-key infrastructure (PKI) and permissions management infrastructure (PMI) for VPN, desktop e-mail and Web Portal security solutions, enabling security and privacy of network transactions and communications across U.S. government and between global allies," said Brian O'Higgins, Chief Technology Officer, Entrust, Inc. "It is based on the integration of more than 10 years of experience and industry-leading expertise in scalability, security technology, multi-platform development and high quality software development for large enterprise systems and directories."

Entrust provides one of the broadest ranges of enhanced Internet security capabilities throughout the industry including identification, entitlements, verification, privacy and security management. Entrust currently licenses its products to the following federal agencies and departments, among others: Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, GSA, NASA, NIST, NSA, Department of Transportation, U.S. Government Printing Office and the United States Postal Service.

Dittus Communications
Kristin Litterst
202-715-1531

kristin.litterst@dittus.com

Entrust is a registered trademark of Entrust, Inc. in the United States and certain other countries. Entrust is a registered trademark of Entrust Limited in Canada. All other Entrust product names and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Entrust, Inc or Entrust Limited. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.