NSA certifies new GD secure phone

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- General Dynamics' new Sectera secure phone has been certified by the U.S. National Security Agency.

General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, said in a statement last week that the Sectera vIPer Phone had been "certified by the National Security Agency to protect classified communications via voice over Internet Protocol -- VoIP -- networks at the Top Secret level and below."

"Compliant with the U.S. government sponsored Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol -- SCIP -- the vIPer Phone is also interoperable with existing SCIP secure communication devices, including Secure Terminal Equipment -- STE, Sectera phones and terminals. The Sectera vIPer Phone must be used in conjunction with the appropriate VoIP network gateway to achieve interoperability with existing SCIP devices," the company said.

"Network compatibility for the vIPer phone includes the Cisco Skinny Client Control Protocol -- SCCP -- today and Session Initiation Protocol -- SIP -- in a future enhancement. The SCCP and SIP protocols are two common network configurations for U.S. military and government VoIP networks, enabling vIPer phone users from federal agencies to tactical operation centers to have secure VoIP communications," General Dynamics said.

"Information security is a critical component of the military and government's transition to VoIP communications," said John Cole, vice president and general manager of information assurance for General Dynamics C4 Systems. "For VoIP networks, the vIPer phone will protect the information that is used to protect the nation.''

"The Sectera vIPer Phone was introduced in March 2006 and is designed to eliminate the need for multiple phones for secure and non-secure voice or data communications," General Dynamics said.

General Dynamics C4 Systems described itself as "a leading integrator of secure communication and information systems and technology."