Evaluation of Identity Based Encryption (IBE) Capabilities for the US DHS S&T Secure Wireless Communications Program and the CAN-US Security Enhanced Blackberry Trial

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security DHS Science and Technology ST Directorates Cyberspace Security Research and Development program initiated a Secure Wireless Data Communications Program with the goal of evaluating wireless communications for securely delivering information where and when needed to assist the mission of the Department of Homeland Security. To achieve this goal the DHS ST Directorate engaged with commercial industry to develop and evaluate solutions against the programs objectives. Voltage Security, Inc. partnered with DHS ST to provide secure communication solutions based on the Identity Based Encryption IBE public key technology for the program. As part of the Secure Wireless Data Communications Program and under the direction of the Canada-U.S. Public Security Technical Program PSTP DHS ST engaged in a collaborative exercise with Defence RD Canada DRDC. This exercise was called the CAN-US Security Enhanced Blackberry Trial. The Blackberry Trials focus was on commercial technologies that can be used to secure the existing commercial wireless infrastructure for the use of the public safety, emergency preparedness, and law enforcement communities. The Blackberry Trial focused on the RIM Blackberry device because of its wide acceptance across all levels of government and in commercial industry. This exercise evaluated security technologies that overlay the commercial infrastructure and gave a frank and objective assessment of their usefulness in the target environment.