The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs protects its tablets with ERCOM
How to benefit from innovative mobile features with high-end security
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development has modernized its information system while putting a priority on end-user services, while respecting strict security policies. The Ministry has launched a collaborative platform named “Diplomatie”. It is both an internal application and cross-ministry platform with up to Restricted Level information. In parallel, since diplomats are heavy travelers, they have an extensive need of mobility solutions. The Ministry has thus decided to deploy hundreds of tablets to allow them to access its collaborative platform all over the world. This choice has an impact: the need to secure heavily both the handset and the data communications. To answer to such a challenge, the Ministry has chosen the Cryptosmart solution from Ercom, provided by Orange Business Services.
Mr. Nicolas CHAPUIS, Chief Information Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, highlights : « Diplomatie has been developed to share the work of our diplomats both internally and with the rest of the administration and to enhance our efficiency ». The idea of a collaborative platform for diplomats is to mix both a cross-administration portal of diplomatic data and a social network of public servants. French diplomats and representatives of other Ministries can now have access to data from their desktop and from their tablets.
For more than five centuries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has protected its communications and used encryption. Thus, the Ministry is fully aware of cybersecurity challenges. It was mandatory to deploy a solution which was certified and qualified by the French authorities, robust and recognized by their peers. The Ministry chose Cryptosmart from Ercom thanks to its numerous certifications:
- Use of Common Criteria EAL5+ smartcards
- Cryptosmart Applet certified EAL4+ and installed on the smartcards
- Cryptosmart solution certified Restricted Level by the French ANSSI (Agence Nationale de Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information, the French National Information Systems’ Security Agency).
The Cryptosmart product family provides the following benefits to the Ministry:
- On the tablets: strengthening of the lockscreen, local encryption of all the data stored on the device, remote erasing, strong authentication thanks to the smartcard in microSD format, anti-rooting and anti-trapping features, and ports control;
- On the networks : encryption of all the data communications between the tablets and the Gateways installed in the customer premises;
- IT access: mutual authentication of devices and central points and communication integrity.
Cryptosmart is compatible with Android tablets. Users benefit from best-in-class tablets in terms of features and ergonomics while being protected up to Restricted Level for governmental use.
According to Yannick DUPUCH, ERCOM CEO: « We are very pleased to have been selected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide our solution to secure their tablets. It shows that an SME high tech company is well positioned on the high-end market of governmental mobile security with worldwide coverage. As far as we know, this project of government-grade tablets is one of the largest deployments to date. Both the Ministry and Ercom teams can be proud of such an achievement. »
About Ercom
Founded in 1986, Ercom is a French-based manufacturer specializing in secure communications and wireless-network optimization.
The Ercom teams have been developing technologies and high-range telecommunications solutions for almost 30 years and, today, are focusing on two principal product ranges: the LTE/4G network-optimisation systems, on the one hand, and secure-communications solutions, on the other.
Ercom continues to pursue its aim of improving its solutions and extending its activities worldwide.
Contacts
ERCOM
Diane Coquillette
Tél : 01 39 46 50 50
diane.coquillette@ercom.com
OXYGEN pour ERCOM
Adeline Babel / Monique Kindrebeogo
01 41 11 23 99
monique@oxygen-rp.com
