Bytes and Becrypt join forces to fight cyber crime

To help businesses curb the growing threats of cyber based crime, Bytes Systems Integration (SI), has entered into a partnership with UK based company Becrypt.

Becrypt is currently a market leader and largest supplier of highly specialised encryption and data security solutions to the UK Government, and has a growing number of corporate clients. As per the agreement with Bytes SI the company will now act a local strategic partner of Becrypt, offerings its products, solutions and services to South African customers.

‚At Bytes SI we have made a strategic decision to expand on our existing security offering by now providing security end-points,‚ says Patrick Hastings, Divisional Director at Advanced Technology Services at Bytes SI. ‚Fuelling our decision to extend our services beyond the perimeter has been the impending Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act as well as recommendations contained in KING III.‚

The partnership with Becrypt will provide Bytes SI with a way in which to help customers protect data held on Laptops and Notebooks PCs. As more and more organisations implement mobile working, the number of Laptop PCs has increased dramatically. Without proper protection each Laptop can pose a risk to the organisation, if a machine is lost or stolen data can easily get into the wrong hands.

Social Networks and the use of Web 2.0 technologies, have sparked a surge in Malware that is now reaching record numbers. The attacks are particularly prevalent in identity theft, industrial espionage and sabotage, as well as fraud and other related cyber crimes. Using unmanaged or un-trusted PCs (such as an employee’s home PC) to access the Network, introduces the potential for malware to enter the Corporate Network.

In addition, history and experience have shown that major world sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup Tournament that is to be hosted in June, as well as increased bandwidth options such as those South Africa is now experiencing, all contribute to increased cyber attacks. With Becrypt, Bytes Si’s clients can better approach their battle with attacks beyond the network perimeter.

The Becrypt solutions include: Disk Protect a full disk and removable device encryption solution: Media Client a file, folder and email attachment encryption solution: and Connect Protect a comprehensive port control and management solution offering complete end-point protection.

‚We are very exited about the partnership with Becrypt, it was a natural fit into our business model,‚ adds Hastings. ‚While we have always provided security on the perimeter, escalating incidents of cyber crime over the past 18 months has pushed us to align our focus to include Data Security and Encryption solutions, which with Becrypt we are now able to do.‚

The one solution that differentiates Becrypt from its competitors is Trusted Client, a secure encrypted working environment on a flash drive providing security for unmanaged end points. Trusted Client gives cost effective and highly secure access for mobile workers, it is an easy to use solution that transforms an unmanaged machine into a secure access point, simply by inserting the Trusted Client into a USB port and re-booting a secure environment is launched, providing a user interface, web browser, email access and standalone applications.

The package offers a hardened and encrypted operating system (Linux) on a USB Memory Stick with can be configured to offer thin client support and is configurable to include only pre-specified applications, or to restrict the user to approved IP destinations, ports, and protocols, such as the corporate intranet, virtual private network (VPN) or specific hosts.

According to Henry Peens, Becrypt Territory Manager for Africa: ‚Trusted Client is truly an innovative and cost effective ultra-mobile solution for remote workers, contractors and brokers.‚

The solution provides flexibility and security to safely use unmanaged machines, additional plug-in files for 3G, VPN clients, e-mail clients and Remote Desktop to name a few can also be added.

‚Since our inception in 2001 Becrypt has grown to become UK’s largest specialist encryption company providing high assurance software to Government and Corporate organisations‚ , says Clive Larkin, VP Business Development at Becrypt.

‚The initial requirement from the UK government allowed us to develop solutions based on stringent standards. We have expanded our operation to cover the European Commission and NATO and through partnerships with leading systems integrators and solution partners have managed to take our solutions into the United States, Nordics, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and now South Africa,‚ ends Larkin.