Blue Ridge's secure platform assures compliance with HSPD-12 data access mandates.

Blue Ridge Networks, the premier provider of secure communications products and managed VPN services, announced recently that its BorderGuard Secure Communications Platform meets the mandates of Homeland Security Presidential Directive #12 (HSPD-12) and can assist in meeting process and supporting infrastructure requirements defined by the FIPS 201 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Standard.

HSPD-12 guidelines call for electronic identity cards to be issued to all federal employees and contractors by October 27, 2006, with the first of several deadlines arising next week. On June 27, 2005 agencies will be required to submit their HSPD-12 compliance plans for review. The directive is not only aimed at assuring physical security at federally controlled facilities, but also at securing electronic access to the Government's information systems. It stipulates that identity must be verified by rapid, two-factor electronic authentication--specifically, the infrastructure used must support identification cards that contain both public key certificates and a PIN or password.

"As agencies evaluate smart cards, biometrics and public key infrastructure systems, they should remember that the requirement is for a strong authentication solution that uses these same tools to secure access to their data networks," noted Tom Gilbert, Chief Technology Officer for Blue Ridge Networks. "Two-factor authentication is something Blue Ridge Networks has been providing agencies of the Federal Government for over ten years."

The Blue Ridge Networks BorderGuard platform, which secures both wireless and wired access, has earned several US Federal Government certifications and is among a select few remote data access solutions in the marketplace that have earned both Common Criteria Certification and FIPS 140-2 Validation.

"The same forward-looking agencies that began adopting two-factor authentication years ago are today choosing authentication solutions that will work for wireless networks and their legacy systems," said Gilbert. "We work with our government customers to maintain an understanding of emerging needs like wireless security and to develop long-term strategies for compliance."

Blue Ridge Networks leaders are also actively involved with NIST and other government bodies to assure its solutions continue to evolve in advance of standards.

"While the timelines for these initiatives are tight, HSPD-12 and FIPS 201 are examples of government getting it right when it comes to security," added Gilbert. "Our interaction with the standards bodies and ongoing dialogue with a diverse group of federal agencies enables us to provide our customers with solutions that are fully compliant out of the box."

Blue Ridge Networks develops secure communications solutions for wireless and wired environments. The company was responsible for the industry's first commercial virtual private network and has completed widespread deployments across commercial and government sectors. The Blue Ridge Networks BorderGuard product suite has been deployed globally and in demanding applications such as wireless LAN, extranets, site-to-site and remote access VPN, and thin client computing. The company has earned several government agency certifications, including: FIPS 140-2 Validation, Common Criteria Certification, HIPAA compliance, and the Department of Defense SPOCK Validation. Blue Ridge Networks is a GSA Schedule 70 contract holder and is classified as a small business.