Entrust to provide PKI for FBI

Northrop Grumman Information Technology selected Entrust Inc. to provide public-key infrastructure (PKI) for the FBI.

Entrust won a contract from Northrop Grumman IT to provide solutions to authenticate FBI personnel for access to electronic systems and secure information exchange among intelligence agencies. Entrust officials say the software will also let agents encrypt data and digitally sign documents and e-mail messages.

The software initially will be used for employees at FBI headquarters using Entrust Digital IDs. The project then will be extended to support the bureau's 50,000 users nationwide and abroad.

Addison, Tex.-based Entrust will work with Northrop Grumman IT and subcontractors PEC Solutions Inc. and Schlumberger Ltd.

Northrop Grumman IT announced the contract award from the FBI in September to provide PKI technology. Its initial value is $4 million and could rise to $8 million if federal officials extend the program to the entire Justice Department, Northrop Grumman officials said at the time.

"Clearly, the FBI understands that without cybersecurity, there is no physical security," said Bill Conner, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Entrust, in a statement. "They have set an aggressive timetable to develop and deploy a secure PKI architecture that meets the IT security needs of their dedicated staff while also aiding to combat the growing threats against our citizens."