Pacific 2012: Wireless Defence | ADM Dec 2011 / Jan 2012

There are changes happening in the way governments build their communications networks. Decades old policies are being dismantled and in their place new policies are paving the way for greater mobility in departments and agencies such as Defence and Foreign Affairs.

Until now, government employees in confidential environments have had to work from a desktop computer, at a desk in a secure building. Expensive, bespoke and ruggedised equipment that has previously been required in order to meet strict security standards and handling guidelines, has tied government departments into long-term contracts with proprietary equipment and ensured they paid a premium.

Workplace mobility is proven to have benefits for both employer and employee in the corporate world. Cost pressures and ‘anywhere, anytime’ access requirements are driving governments to support commercial wireless solutions and Aruba Networks earlier this year launched the first enterprise wireless technology that can support SuiteB cryptography. With Suite B, for the first time commercial mobile devices can be used to securely access confidential networks, giving users all the benefits of mobility at a fraction of the cost of traditional communications solutions. Aruba is the only company to combine advanced WLAN technology, military-grade cryptography and security certification compliance to safely allow mobile devices to access government networks that handle sensitive but unclassified, confidential and classified information.

Dave Logan, Vice President of Aruba Networks Government Solutions, said: “Secure wireless networks do not change the need for operational security. Staff will still not be able to work on classified information in an airport lounge on a tablet device, where someone could easily glance over their shoulder. However, it will give government departments the freedom to release staff from pods in secure buildings and enable them to work securely from home, or a hotel room, for instance.

“Further, the cost benefits are significant. Instead of spending $5,000 on a bespoke ruggedised tablet, the army could, for example, purchase a $500 off-the-shelf tablet and a rugged case, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of dollars across wide technology deployments.”