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by Zaki Khalid and Uzma Mushtaque
[Terminal X Report]
When national security is the focus of attention, there can be no compromise on professionalism, commitment and the pursuit of excellence.
With the world increasingly becoming a playground for hostile elements who wish to intercept and exploit the communication systems of targeted states, Pakistan's finest scientists and engineers at the government-run National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) realized that the secret to security and stability lies in developing indigenous products and solutions for Pakistan's critical infrastructure, be it the strategic forces of country's defence institutions or government sectors who deal with sensitive national data.
In view of these necessities, the Centre for Network Centric Technologies (CENTech) was established under the auspices of NESCOM, which is itself subordinate to the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Implementation of security, however, needs cryptographic devices and security applications. Whenever the option of deploying foreign/alien devices at Pakistan's strategic networks is considered, the question of availability, reliability, interoperability, back-up support, integration, customization, and cost arises. The answer to these questions lies in the indigenous development of security products. With this objective emerged the Cyber Security division of CENTech in 2010. It has a workforce of 365 (three-hundred and sixty-five) personnel, who work round-the-clock to ensure that the country's most sensitive assets are secure from any sort of information and communication security threats.
The developed products range from software based cryptographic applications to rugged hardware security appliances including NESCOM security gateways (IP-encryptors), vulnerability scanners, firewalls, file/folder encryption and e-shredder.
Apart from this, CENTech provides network-related services which include design & planning of secure network, configuration of network devices, data centre design, simulation of strategic networks, deployment and management of security devices across networks. The responsibility also includes the emulation of strategic network before deployment for identifying the possible vulnerabilities and incompatibilities during the deployment phase. CENTech extends information security services and trainings to strategic forces and commissions as well as to public sector organizations.
During the 2nd National Conference on Information Assurance-2013, we visited CENTech's exhibit in the Expo. There, we noticed several interactive booths. One of them showcased e-shredding technology, whereas the other booths displayed encryptors, security gateways and even VOIP equipment. While holding discussions with a few demonstrators, who were from CENTech, it was revealed that the division is primarily providing services to the strategic forces of the Pakistan Armed Forces including the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), Air Force Strategic Forces Command (AFSFC) and Naval Strategic Forces Command (NSFC). In particular, the ASFC entirely uses equipment and solutions developed by CENTech ranging from situational monitoring to battlefield deployment purposes.
While talking to a senior official of NESCOM whose identity has been kept confidential, it was revealed that the idea for CENTech came from a group of 4 to 5 experts at NESCOM who were taking issues of information and communication security very seriously. After a detailed report on their findings was presented to the Chairman, it was approved, thereby resulting in the creation of a dedicated Cyber Security division. Although the funding for CENTech is still not more than that of other competing sub-organizations, the passionate male and female scientists and engineers who work here struggle to bring as much diversity to their existing list of achievements as possible to encompass a wide range of disciplines, besides the ones they are already engaged in.
According to the official, from the team of 365 highly-qualified personnel, the core R&D work is carried out by roughly 2o to 25 people whose guidance and vision inspires the rest to work collectively in the pursuit of Quality Assurance. As another representative of CENTech said during a briefing to participants of NCIA 2013 on 11 December, "If we can do it, everybody can. We love our work and we feel pride in working for Pakistan".
Among the successes of CENTech is its unique distinction of certifying indigenously-developed crypto module from the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST). CENTech's Tahir Pak Crypto Library (TPCL) is the first ever product of Pakistan certified by the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). TPCL provides functionality of standard cryptographic algorithms through API, including AES (128, 192, 256-ECB, CBC), SHA (224, 256, 384, 512), HMAC (224, 256, 384, 512), CTR-DRBG, DSA and key generation module. In addition, CENTech's achievement through TPCL has earned it another unique honour of being the only Muslim country in the world today to have a NIST-certified crypto module.
When we inquired about the background to the name "Tahir" in TPCL, we were told that it has been kept in memory of the late Brigadier (retd) Muhammad Tahir Baig, who was one of the pioneers at CENTech.
Are CENTech's ambitions limited for the national security organizations only? Not completely. Although the armed forces' strategic organizations and forces are CENTech's primary focus of attention, the organization also aims to serve the government sector across Pakistan in a broader sense. It is in view of this that it has also kept room for holding information security training workshops and seminars in the future.
In all this, among other notable mentions of CENTech, is the fact that one of its key programs is being headed by a very competent lady, who we were also honoured to meet. There are thousands of talented personnel working at NESCOM, hidden away from the public eye. These devoted men and women together build and maintain the foundations of a secure and stable Pakistan. They yearn neither for public recognition, nor glory. Their ultimate sense of pride and achievement is realized when their combined efforts yield success for Pakistan at large.
The next time we hear, for example, a brief mention of the Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS) in press clippings of missile tests, we can be sure of the fact that these unseen men and women have worked hard to turn that concept from a vision into reality.
Read more: CENTech: Providing IT solutions and services for Pakistan's strategic organizations | Terminal X
[Terminal X Report]
When national security is the focus of attention, there can be no compromise on professionalism, commitment and the pursuit of excellence.
With the world increasingly becoming a playground for hostile elements who wish to intercept and exploit the communication systems of targeted states, Pakistan's finest scientists and engineers at the government-run National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) realized that the secret to security and stability lies in developing indigenous products and solutions for Pakistan's critical infrastructure, be it the strategic forces of country's defence institutions or government sectors who deal with sensitive national data.
In view of these necessities, the Centre for Network Centric Technologies (CENTech) was established under the auspices of NESCOM, which is itself subordinate to the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Implementation of security, however, needs cryptographic devices and security applications. Whenever the option of deploying foreign/alien devices at Pakistan's strategic networks is considered, the question of availability, reliability, interoperability, back-up support, integration, customization, and cost arises. The answer to these questions lies in the indigenous development of security products. With this objective emerged the Cyber Security division of CENTech in 2010. It has a workforce of 365 (three-hundred and sixty-five) personnel, who work round-the-clock to ensure that the country's most sensitive assets are secure from any sort of information and communication security threats.
The developed products range from software based cryptographic applications to rugged hardware security appliances including NESCOM security gateways (IP-encryptors), vulnerability scanners, firewalls, file/folder encryption and e-shredder.
Apart from this, CENTech provides network-related services which include design & planning of secure network, configuration of network devices, data centre design, simulation of strategic networks, deployment and management of security devices across networks. The responsibility also includes the emulation of strategic network before deployment for identifying the possible vulnerabilities and incompatibilities during the deployment phase. CENTech extends information security services and trainings to strategic forces and commissions as well as to public sector organizations.
During the 2nd National Conference on Information Assurance-2013, we visited CENTech's exhibit in the Expo. There, we noticed several interactive booths. One of them showcased e-shredding technology, whereas the other booths displayed encryptors, security gateways and even VOIP equipment. While holding discussions with a few demonstrators, who were from CENTech, it was revealed that the division is primarily providing services to the strategic forces of the Pakistan Armed Forces including the Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC), Air Force Strategic Forces Command (AFSFC) and Naval Strategic Forces Command (NSFC). In particular, the ASFC entirely uses equipment and solutions developed by CENTech ranging from situational monitoring to battlefield deployment purposes.
While talking to a senior official of NESCOM whose identity has been kept confidential, it was revealed that the idea for CENTech came from a group of 4 to 5 experts at NESCOM who were taking issues of information and communication security very seriously. After a detailed report on their findings was presented to the Chairman, it was approved, thereby resulting in the creation of a dedicated Cyber Security division. Although the funding for CENTech is still not more than that of other competing sub-organizations, the passionate male and female scientists and engineers who work here struggle to bring as much diversity to their existing list of achievements as possible to encompass a wide range of disciplines, besides the ones they are already engaged in.
According to the official, from the team of 365 highly-qualified personnel, the core R&D work is carried out by roughly 2o to 25 people whose guidance and vision inspires the rest to work collectively in the pursuit of Quality Assurance. As another representative of CENTech said during a briefing to participants of NCIA 2013 on 11 December, "If we can do it, everybody can. We love our work and we feel pride in working for Pakistan".
Among the successes of CENTech is its unique distinction of certifying indigenously-developed crypto module from the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST). CENTech's Tahir Pak Crypto Library (TPCL) is the first ever product of Pakistan certified by the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). TPCL provides functionality of standard cryptographic algorithms through API, including AES (128, 192, 256-ECB, CBC), SHA (224, 256, 384, 512), HMAC (224, 256, 384, 512), CTR-DRBG, DSA and key generation module. In addition, CENTech's achievement through TPCL has earned it another unique honour of being the only Muslim country in the world today to have a NIST-certified crypto module.
When we inquired about the background to the name "Tahir" in TPCL, we were told that it has been kept in memory of the late Brigadier (retd) Muhammad Tahir Baig, who was one of the pioneers at CENTech.
Are CENTech's ambitions limited for the national security organizations only? Not completely. Although the armed forces' strategic organizations and forces are CENTech's primary focus of attention, the organization also aims to serve the government sector across Pakistan in a broader sense. It is in view of this that it has also kept room for holding information security training workshops and seminars in the future.
In all this, among other notable mentions of CENTech, is the fact that one of its key programs is being headed by a very competent lady, who we were also honoured to meet. There are thousands of talented personnel working at NESCOM, hidden away from the public eye. These devoted men and women together build and maintain the foundations of a secure and stable Pakistan. They yearn neither for public recognition, nor glory. Their ultimate sense of pride and achievement is realized when their combined efforts yield success for Pakistan at large.
The next time we hear, for example, a brief mention of the Strategic Command and Control Support System (SCCSS) in press clippings of missile tests, we can be sure of the fact that these unseen men and women have worked hard to turn that concept from a vision into reality.
Read more: CENTech: Providing IT solutions and services for Pakistan's strategic organizations | Terminal X
