ViaSat offers networking products and managed network services for enterprise IP applications. The company has received certification from the National Security Agency (NSA) for its fully compliant Foreign Interoperability (FI) feature set for the programmable KG-250 network encryptor.
    The KG-250 Release 1.4 is the first NSA-certified Type 1 Suite B High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) product, and is also the first solution to be in full compliance with the HAIPE Interoperability Specification, Foreign Interoperability (HAIPE IS-FI) standard. With this new certification, ViaSat can provide its flagship network encryptor to a wider user community, including U.S. Department of Defense customers, Homeland Security, and authorized international governments. The KG-250 Release 1.4 is created to better support multinational operations by allowing users to switch between Type 1 Suite A and/or Type 1 Suite B cryptographic algorithms and through improved key management functions. Because the KG-250 is a programmable encryptor, owners can upgrade to the new FI features in the field. NSA awarded ViaSat the development contract for the HAIPIE IS-FI upgrade in September, 2005.

    The KG-250 is a part of the ViaSat AltaSec® family of inline network encryptors (INEs), and is based on ViaSat’s PSIAM cryptosystem, which is created to meet the challenges of the NSA Crypto Modernization initiative because it can be reprogrammed. The implementation of the HAIPE IS-FI extension is another example of the ability of the PSIAM cryptosystem to adapt to changing operational requirements without replacing or recalling systems in the field.

    The KG-250 offers the tactical user on the move the advantage of a very portable, quick-setup, high-throughput node on any IP-capable medium. By integrating the latest networking features, this equipment brings easy-to-use, full mesh network operation to the classified user in an intuitively managed package. HAIPE IS compliant network encryptors are emerging as important components for the DoD realization of the Global Information Grid, a secure network that offer warfighters with data when and where it is needed, and as the cornerstone of the transformational communications initiative. ViaSat AltaSec products, through their high speed algorithms and crypto-key agility, are particularly suited for these networking applications.

    The company also received a $10 million contract from the NSA in July, 2006 to implement the next generation HAIPE IS, Version 3 (HAIPE IS v3) on its KG-250 and KG-255 (Gigabit device) INEs, including those designed for mobile applications (KG-250T and KG-250M). As with the KG-250 Release 1.4 upgrade, KG-250 and KG-255 users will be able to upgrade and reprogram products in the field to the new HAIPE IS v3.