Biometric Associates Partners with SteelCloud to Deliver DoD-approved Bluetooth Headset -- Security Today

Biometric Associates Partners with SteelCloud to Deliver DoD-approved Bluetooth Headset

May 03, 2011

Biometric Associates LP, a provider of secure wireless communications devices, and SteelCloud Inc., a developer of secure mobility appliance and VMware solutions, have announced a partnership to market the first Bluetooth mobile headset approved for use by the Department of Defense.

BAL uses advanced 128-bit encryption, a randomly generated PIN, and other specialized firmware techniques to secure its Bluetooth products. The blueARMOR 100 headset is the only commercially available Bluetooth headset to pass all of the tests required by National Security Agency (NSA) and Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). The headset received DoD approval in the DISA mobility Security Technical Implementation Guide published last week.

DISA’s approval requires that the blueARMOR headset be paired with a BlackBerry device running Bluetooth version 2.1 or higher managed by BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5. SteelCloud’s SteelWorks FedMobile appliance and VMware solutions for BlackBerry, together with Fixmo’s Sentinel product, will incorporate the policies necessary to effectively secure the new Bluetooth capability.

“As those in our business are well aware, Bluetooth if not properly secured, creates significant vulnerabilities for hackers to penetrate a customer’s network,” said Brian Hajost, SteelCloud president, and CEO. “Biometric Associates LP provides products distinguished by superior security protection, as now proven though NSA’s testing and recognized by DISA and the Department of Defense. Since the blueARMOR 100 is the only approved Bluetooth headset for use within the DoD, we are optimistic about significant demand for BAL’s secure headset as our military leverages this new Bluetooth capability. We are excited by the synergies that we have now created with the recent alliances between BAL, SteelCloud and Fixmo.”

Douglas Kozlay, BAL president and CEO added that “This is a product that people have been requesting for several years. Eight states and most military bases prohibit cell phone use while driving. A Bluetooth headset is the obvious answer, but the security vulnerabilities of standard Bluetooth headsets have been well documented. We are pleased to offer a secure, hands free solution to both those in the military and those who desire military-grade security.”

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