Wave Systems Corp. (fka WAVXQ)

[awk]

From the NSA Trusted Computing Conference...

http://www.trustedcomputinggroup.org/community/2010/09/tcg_in_action_at_the_nsa_trusted_computing_conference_and_exposition_orlando_fl

The message was clear, not encrypted. The mere fact that the National Security Agency (NSA) was sponsoring an event with the press invited and in attendance meant they wanted to get the word out.

Michael Lamont, Chief of the Network Solutions Office, NSA/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) Commercial Solutions Center (NCSC) noted in his presentation in the initial plenary session why NSA wanted to make trusted computing a reality. NSA's goal comes straight out its May 2010 strategy for NSA/CSS. "Broad implementation of commodity trusted computing technologies will dramatically improve cyber security," he said.

One of the key takeaways from the conference was proposed early in the program by Neil Kittleson, Trusted Computing Portfolio Manager, NSA/CSS, NCSC. "You need to do something different," he admonished the 500 attendees. This is especially important since a 20 times increase in malware threats has occurred within the past four year.

With the use of a very well done and highly informative video example, Kittleson demonstrated the impact of network protection of a desktop PC versus a non-protected PC with both low side and high side (protected) virtual machines using HAP. To block attacks, HAP uses several commercial technologies. Hardware security components to protect memory and execution space is a key part of secure domain separation and TCG's Trusted Platform Module is an integral part of this hardware.

The use of TCG's TPM is a good example of a policy directive to enact change. "We have to turn them on and we have to use them," said Kittleson.

He wasn't at the conference but perhaps Bob Dylan said it best, "The times, they are a changin'."