Contract maintains role of CGI Group in cyber and crypto management for UK defence
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has taken steps to upgrade the cryptography in its communication systems through a new deal with IT services company CGI Group.
It has signed a two-year contract for ongoing support and post design services for the CODES communications security (comsec) asset management system. This is a distributed application that provides full control over comsec equipment, publications and encryption keys to provide protection from cyber threats, and underpins the secure communications systems used by the UK military around the world.
Under the deal, CGI will provide application support for CODES and hardware support for the IT infrastructure.
A spokesperson for GCI told UKAuthority it marks a progression from a service already provided by the company – which has a 40-year relationship with the MoD – by significantly enhancing the cryptography in the system.
The company developed the applications, which automate the operational functions to improve the tempo, accounting accuracy and control for the physical and electronic assets. This provides a component of a long term programme to modernise the MoD’s crypto capability.
CGI’s senior vice president for space, defence, national and cyber security, Steve Smart, said: “Our ongoing relationship will enable the MoD to sustain its crypto distribution capability, supported by CGI’s deep technical expertise and domain knowledge.
“It can be enhanced to support the MoD’s developing crypto capability and will strengthen our secure application development, support and hosting expertise and offerings.”
Image: Foxhound light protected vehicle from www.defenceimages.mod.uk, Open Government Licence v3
