The National Security Agency has given a Harford County company approval to develop a high-tech encryption system that could eventually be used by the FBI, CIA, Department of Defense and other government agencies. Belcamp-based SafeNet Inc. and its subsidiary, Mykotronix, will work closely with NSA engineers to create a system for protecting classified information as it travels through the government?s fiber-optic computer networks.
“It doesn?t guarantee that [the project] will be approved, but SafeNet?s record has been almost 100 percent with the NSA,” said Senior Vice President Chris Fedde.
While SafeNet already provides government and commercial clients with computer encryption technology for sensitive data, this will be the first system using NSA technology to protect classified information, Fedde said.
The NSA acts as the security agency for all other government departments handling classified information, so if SafeNet?s product is approved, it could be used for encryption throughout the federal government, including the Department of Homeland Security, State Department and Justice Department, Fedde said.
While SafeNet is not directly competing against any other companies to provide the NSA?s encryption technology, companies such as the European Thales e-Security can provide similar services.
SafeNet employs approximately 200 people at its Harford County corporate headquarters, in the Water?s Edge Corporate Campus. Parts of its encryption technology are developed at offices in Belcamp, Raleigh, N.C., and Boston.
