UK MOD hires CGI to support its Cryptography Management System
The UK Ministry of Defence has hired CGI to support the country’s Cryptography Management System. The IT consulting firm will continue to provide support for the Ministry’s communications security system, among which the distributed application CODES. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
Secure communication remains a key component of a wide range of organisations. For armies, being able to send commands to the front line that are not intercepted by the enemy remains as key as ever for winning battles and the war. The breaking of the Axis’ Enigma code during WW2 was said, by Dwight Eisenhower, to have been ‘decisive’ to victory for the Allies.
Since WW2, computer systems have become ever more complex, while state and non-state actors have become ever more proficient at penetrating the countries’ most critical systems. In a bid improve the UK’s defences against espionage, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has developed the CODES Communications Security (COMSEC) asset management system to secure the country’s sovereign security infrastructure, used by the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, for communications and applications across the world’s hot spots.
CGI, it was recently announced, has won a contract from the MOD to provide ongoing support and post design services for the software application side of CODES as well as for hardware support for the MOD’s IT infrastructure. The firm is tasked with continuing to support the cryptography management system developed for the MOD, providing it with end-user crypto custodians as well as accounting accuracy and control for both physical and electronic COMSEC assets. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.
CGI’s Steve Smart, Senior Vice President, Space, Defence, National and Cyber Security, in the UK comments, “Our ongoing relationship will enable the MOD to sustain its crypto distribution capability, supported by CGI’s deep technical expertise and domain knowledge. It can be enhanced to support the MOD’s developing crypto capability and will strengthen our secure application development, support and hosting expertise and offerings. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the MOD and delivering first class support.”