Samsung and Sectra in Cooperation for a Secure Smartphone for European Governmental Agencies

Samsung Electronics and Sectra, a leading European provider of secure mobile solutions, have entered a technical partnership to integrate the Samsung KNOX platform in Sectra’s solution for secure smartphone communication. The next-generation secure smartphone, which is the result of this cooperation, will be showcased on NIAS in Mons, Belgium, Sept 15-17.

There is an increasing demand, for example within government authorities and defense organizations, for a smartphone that satisfies both regular use and the capabilities of a security-dedicated device. Sectra’s encryption solution for smartphones, Sectra Tiger/R, is a response to this demand, enabling the use of smartphones to securely communicate classified information over ordinary mobile networks. It is designed for use at the RESTRICTED security classification level. A first delivery of Sectra Tiger/R on Samsung KNOX is currently being rolled out to a European defense organization.

“Through the cooperation with Samsung and the integration of Samsung KNOX in our Tiger solution, we combine our expertise in encryption technology and Samsung’s advanced knowledge in platform security” says Michael Bertilsson, President of Sectra Communications. “This strategic cooperation with Samsung allows us to focus on meeting our users’ needs in terms of communication security, availability, and mobility in an environment where new threats against smartphones appear on an increasing basis.”

The partnership enables Sectra to enhance the Sectra Tiger/R solution with the comprehensive smartphone security platform, Samsung KNOX. Whereas Sectra’s hardware-based encryption ensures communication security, Samsung KNOX ensures the integrity of the phone, substantially reducing vulnerability to malicious applications and tampering.

“Sectra is one of the pioneers in mobile voice encryption, with 20 years of experience in mastering mobile secure communication systems”, says Bjorn Hansen, Sales Director Telecom at Samsung Electronics. “Through close cooperation between the development teams behind Samsung KNOX and Sectra Tiger/R, we are making the technology available to users who were not previously able to benefit from it.”