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| Biodata IT and Exponªnt launch first free PKI platform in Africa
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| Users to benefit from a free, user-friendly and secure e-mail facility. |
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 IT security and communication specialist Biodata IT SA has partnered with its value-added reseller Exponªnt in order to secure private online conversation for Africa.
The companies will soon go live with Africa's first free e-mail encryption and Public Key Infrastructure platform. The www.keyserver.co.za web site promotes private digital conversation through the installation of free Public Key Infrastructure and software.
According to Johann Swart, Exponªnt CIO, "PKI is in our view strategically highly relevant for the IT industry. As IT system integrators, we are well positioned to confidently promote and implement PKI to our client base. Since our network infrastructure easily allows it, we took guardianship of the actual hosting of the public http://www.keyserver.co.za domain as well. Our partnership with Biodata IT couldn't have happened at a better time. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before security protocols become compulsory, and my money's on PKI to be the one of choice." |
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PKI is the technology that enables the user to safeguard e-mail correspondence by encoding or encrypting the message and rendering it unreadable to any potential eavesdroppers. The only way the receiver can read an encrypted e-mail is if he or she has the necessary PKI software and related infrastructure. Theis infrastructure is based primarily on the use of two digital keys - one public, the other private.
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| This is where the online platform comes in. Home users will be able to download Biodata's CryptoEX Outlook software off www.keyserver.co.za as a plug-in to Microsoft Outlook (not Express) and Lotus Notes. The online facility will also feature white papers with instructions on how to generate the necessary pair of keys. |
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Once generated, the public key can then be downloaded and made freely available on the platform. This is a crucial part of the development of this free service, and both companies encourage as many additions to the public key database as possible. The rationale behind this is that if enough people make their public keys available, the platform will truly live up to its expectation as an effective search engine for keys. |
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These keys are vital for the process of secure communication and encryption to work.
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Biodata IT SA director Christian Runte explains, "If person A wants to send an encrypted e- mail to person B, he or she has to know Person B's public key. The only way person B can then gain access to the protected e-mail, is if he or she verifies their status using their private key - and vice versa."
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Developers and experts on the subject stress that people must guard their private keys The only way to maintain a secure e-mail environment is if people maintain the integrity of private keys. |
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As solution architect at Exponªnt Sarel Wagner explains, the desire to create a secure and safe environment for digital communication through encrypted e-mail and PKI technology is not a new concept. But, he says, this is the first time that a freely accessible and functional platform facility has been made available in this part of the world.
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"Many South Africans are aware of this technology and the benefits it offers in terms of the right to private communication over the Internet. But, up till now, those people who use PKI technology have had no choice but to make their public keys available on international web sites. This, obviously takes more time and uses up more resources, is not always the most convenient. Now, with the introduction of a local PKI web site, everyone can access the site and gain their private keys, and download their public keys," says Wagner.
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Says Runte, "This is a freely available facility and the first of its kind in Africa. We see this as an investment into our industry, and a service to the community. We would like as many people to become involved and help develop the platform in order to establish a strong, secure and private means of electronic communication. Biodata is keen to gain the buy-in of local ISP's and we are confident that people will soon understand the benefit of acquiring and using the platform."
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"There are currently two standards within the PKI market. In order for the technology to work and users gain the benefit of private and encrypted communication, these two standards must match up. It will not work if one user encrypts using one standard, whilst the person he or she is communicating with is using another. Biodata's PKI product is the only one that caters for both standards, OpenPGP and S/MIME simultaneously" concludes Wagner. |
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This facility is near to completion and will be fully functional by the middle of May. |
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