Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

KSV 21

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The KSV-21 Enhanced Crypto Card is a US National Security Agency-approved PC card that provides Type 1 encryption functions and key storage to the STE secure telephones and other devices.

The KSV-21 was originally built by SafeNet but has since been purchased by Raytheon as a tamper-resistant reprogrammable module and is backwards compatible with the KOV-14 Fortezza Plus card. It adds features including support for SCIP, Enhanced Firefly and NSA's 21st century Key Management Initiative. It can perform Type 1 encryption and hash operations at 80 Mbit/s. As of 2008, the KOV-14 is beginning to be phased out and replaced by the KSV-21.

The US version is certified to protect classified data through the Top Secret/SCI level as well as unclassified sensitive information. Versions are available for use with other nations, including:

  • Canadian national (KSV-22)
  • Combined Communications Electronics Board (CCEB) (KSV-30)
  • NATO (KSV-40)
  • Coalition Partners (SSV-50)
  • Prices range from $900 for single units to under $400/each in multi-thousand lot quantities as of 2008.

    As of February 2012, the KSV-21 and several related cards had been placed on "end -of-life" status by SafeNet.

    References

    KSV-21 Wikipedia