United States National Security Agency has asked smartphone users of Government and Private Organizations to bolster the features of their mobile security with the technology of virtualization. US Commercial solutions for Classified List has already drafted a proposal on this issue as soon as the first virtualization based smartphone security system made by HTC was made available to users for the test.
As per our sources of Cybersecurity Insiders, HTC has made its A9 smartphone available to agencies in order to test its significance. Technically, the phone is loaded with security hardened software called D4 virtualization platform devised by Cog Systems.
NOTE- Virtualization in computing language is a technique to create a virtual version of a device or resource using software. It can be a virtual server, storage device, network or even an operating system where the framework splits the resource into 1 or more executable environments.
Thus, the mobile phone will be the first of its kind to present itself as a competitor for Samsung Galaxy phones used profusely by private and public entities in the US seeking utmost security and privacy.
Cog Systems has recently released a media update saying that its A9 mobile phone has two separate virtual machines on the D4 virtualization platform meant to run communications functions.
Thus, this phone will be the first of its kind to attain a place in the list of Commercial Solutions for Classified Program (CSFC) devised by NSA.
NOTE- CSFC is an NSA developed program used to help the government as well as private agencies to build layered security systems from approved components to serve those working for US government.
COG Systems is yet to seek a certification for the D4 loaded A9 against a combination of the National Information Assurance Partnership’s mobile platform and IPSec VPN Client Protection Profiles.
Usually, as per norms, vendors are typically granted six months to obtain the certification in order to remain on the list of CSFC. And the certificate will cost COG Systems a whopping $500,000-$700,000 USD.
HTC A9 loaded with a layered security of COG Systems is available as a beta version for companies to test.
More details are available on the website of Cog Systems.
