Thales, a leading supplier of IT security products and solutions for critical infrastructures announced today the launch of its new Datacryptor® 100 Mbps Ethernet Link encryptor.

The Datacryptor 100 Mbps Ethernet encryptor is the newest member of the Thales’s family of encryptors, completing the range of flexible and cost effective Ethernet encryption options. Thales provides solutions for 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps Ethernet Networks. The new product employs AES (256 bit key lengths), simplified key management, and a single secure management application to securely configure, control, and monitor the devices on the network. Designed to, and pending certification, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 Level 3 and Common Criteria (CC) Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 3 requirements, the unit uses tamper resistance mechanisms to protect the cryptographic keys and provide a high level of security and performance with minimum latencies.

As a mature telecommunications standard, Ethernet is experiencing tremendous growth as it transitions from its roots in the Local Area Network (LAN) setting to the wider Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) environment. As a result of this transformation, Ethernet is now being used to transport increasing amounts of data and bandwidth intensive applications for distributed processing, including storage area networks, disaster recovery and business continuity applications. This is especially true in the area of cross linking locations in a metropolitan region.
The direct interconnection of Fast- or Gigabit-Ethernet structures results in a LAN spanning across several locations. Since parts of this LAN are linked via public networks, there is an increased vulnerability to the data for tapping and manipulation, which can result in a third party gaining access to the internal structure of the network.
Thales’s encryption solutions protect against these threats without interfering or causing changes in the network infrastructure and workflow. The Thales 100 Mbps Link Encryptor realizes this by integrating as a bump in the wire into the existing Ethernet network. The hardware encryption at network layer 2 allows a fully transparent operation with respect to higher protocols and does not cause measurable effect on LAN operation.

“With the growth of Ethernet as the protocol of choice across the entire network infrastructure, Thales continues to respond to our customer requirements by introducing new security solutions and technologies that meet their needs in this evolving market.” said James Kilazoglou, Vice President and Managing Director of the e-Security activities of Thales.

Datacryptor products can be centrally managed by a single secure management application, the Thales Element Manager, an application unique to Thales, enabling simplified operation and reduced training cost. The Thales Datacryptor portfolio of encryption products (Link, T1/E1, T3/E3, SONET/SDH, and Ethernet Layer 2) is highly recognized in both the government and enterprise sector for securing the confidentiality of critical data in transit.

Notes to Editor:
About the e-security activities of Thales

Thales is a world leader in the provision of cryptographic security products and solutions for all critical infrastructures including governments, the military, satellite networks, enterprises and the finance industry. Thales has 40 years of unrivalled track record in protecting networks up to TOP SECRET and a complete portfolio of products, which includes network encryption, access control and remote user solutions. In the financial world, Thales secures value bearing transactions, data preparation for card and PIN issuing, and provides advanced user and message authentication solutions supported by secure identity management and token issuing. Over half of the world's banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology and services.

About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, addressing defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide. Thales ' leading-edge technology is supported by 22,000 R&D engineers who offer a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy field-proven mission-critical information systems. To this end, the group's civil and military businesses develop in parallel and share a common base of technologies to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. The group builds its growth on its unique multi-domestic strategy based on trusted partnerships with national customers and market players, while leveraging its global expertise to support local technology and industrial development. Thales employs 68,000 people in 50 countries with forecast 2007 revenues in excess of €12 billion.

Press Contacts
Rochelle Hopke, Manager, Marketing Communications
Thales e-Security, Inc.
Tel: 954-888-6200/1-888-744-4976 (x-6297)
Email: Rochelle.Hopke@thalesesec.com