back to article Defence firm Ultra goes cyber with AEP buy

UK-based defence conglomerate Ultra Electronics has acquired security appliance firm AEP Networks in a deal valued at up to $75m. Ultra Electronics agreed to pay $57.5m plus a further $17.5m, depending on sales figures, for the remote appliance firm. AEP Networks specialises in SSL VPN appliances that allow workers to securely …

COMMENTS

This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Probably a good deal for both companies

    CESG are mandating a switch to AEP boxes for any organisation connecting to the xCJX (criminal justice system extranet) at a truly obscene cost per unit.

    I doubt that EAP will have any problem making the necessary numbers to trigger the additional $17.5 million.

    1. InITForTheMoney

      Wasn't CESG who mandated this...

      NPIA had the option of those or Barron McCann X-Kryptor's and chose the AEP's because they have superior key management and the ability to update keys over the wire without having to visit the encryptor or send out the updated key mat to the local force IT team. They actually pay for C&W to manage the encryptors on their behalf.

      Forces had the option of either having CONF enclaves (a CONF network in a room) and having all xCJX workstations linked to a single AEP ED20 unit via a local switch, or they could have individual CONF machines dotted around their force networks, in which case they needed an AEP Net Remote encryptor for each individual workstation (Net Remote is a personal VPN encryption device designed for remote workers) to allow them to tunnel back to xCJX over the force network. It was the force decision which they chose, some forces decided that they would do all xCJX access from a bureau service, others that they would have scattered workstations, it depends on the geography of the force.

      Police Force IT security is notoriously lax, a lot of the forces I am aware of don't even comply with the CESG guidelines for the RESTRICTED data they hold on their networks, mainly because they have little experience or budget to afford the security devices that are required.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        InITForTheMoney - pretty much on the money

        Your description is exactly right.

        The spanner(s) in the works were Barron McCann announcing that they weren't planning to re-certify (CAPS) the X-Kryptors that most forces already had when the certification period was up and the subsequent outsourcing of the xCJX to C&W, guided towards AEP by the guys from CESG. This was pitched to Force Security Officers by the NPIA and CESG as a sensible choice because a number of organisations already using AEP kit were also being connected to xCJX.

        Oh, and all 43 forces finally having to have their RESTRICTED capabilities accredited to enable them to fulfil their PND connection obligations!

        The result: carnage!

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    S'pect it's more about the CAPS approved crypto and comms (ex-Vados) gear

    I expect this acquisition is far more about the CAPS approved crypto and comms (ex-Vados) gear than the consumer SSL VPN stuff (good though it is) as it'll fit right in with what they already do.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Combine this "business plan" with the guys that are making the open source hardware for audio visuals, then you have a very desirable small box to do vpn with no configuration and low costs.

    In fact most of the circuitry must already be present in power socket plugs with networking. Probably could be usb powered for laptops.

This topic is closed for new posts.