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.