SAN FRANCISCO–Thales, the leader in information systems and communications security, and Layer 7 Technologies, the leader in Gateways for service-oriented integration, cloud connectivity and Web-to-mobile information sharing, announce the integration of the Thales nShield family of Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) within Layer 7 Gateways. This enhancement provides Layer 7’s security-conscious customers with new levels of security whenever they encrypt or digitally sign sensitive data to be shared across security boundaries, such as those that separate cloud-based applications, mobile device and networks of external partners.

“The integrated Thales nShield solutions are especially valuable to our federal government and military customers, as well as other organizations in regulated industries like healthcare and financial services, who must demonstrate FIPS-compliance around password security and other user access issues.”

By selecting the option to embed a Thales nShield HSM in a Layer 7 Gateway hardware appliance, customers required to follow cryptographic best-practices to ensure strong encryption and hardware-based key management now have access to a field-proven, one-stop solution from Layer 7. Thales nShield HSMs are certified to FIPS 140-2 Level 3 and Common Criteria EAL4+, delivering the highest levels of cryptographic security and best-in-class performance for cryptographic operations, including accelerated SSL termination and high-speed digital signing of messages. The integrated solution helps streamline compliance tasks and delivers FIPS-compliance for government and defense, banking and finance customers.

“By integrating Thales nShield HSMs with Layer 7 Gateways, we can give our customers out-of-the-box FIPS-compliant data and encryption key security, allowing them to protect their public key infrastructures with a cost-effective, drop-in solution when compared to integrating and certifying a separate HSM,” said Phil Walston, vice president of product management at Layer 7. “The integrated Thales nShield solutions are especially valuable to our federal government and military customers, as well as other organizations in regulated industries like healthcare and financial services, who must demonstrate FIPS-compliance around password security and other user access issues.”

“As enterprises, governments, and service providers look to cloud-based initiatives, it is imperative the solutions available deliver the highest levels of security required to give these organizations the confidence to embrace these new services,” says Cynthia Provin, President Thales e-Security Inc. “With a long-established track record in providing best-practice security and FIPS-certified encryption solutions, we are delighted that Layer 7 has turned to Thales to help protect their customers’ sensitive data.”

Visit Thales (booth #2023) at the RSA Conference, Moscone Center, San Francisco, February 14-18, 2011

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About Layer 7 Technologies
Layer 7 Technologies helps organizations secure and govern integrations that span the Internet and cloud. Through its award-winning line of SecureSpan SOA Gateways and CloudSpan Cloud Brokers, Layer 7 gives enterprises the ability to control identity, data security, SLA and visibility requirements for sharing application data and functionality across organizational boundaries. With more than 100 customers spanning six continents, Layer 7 supports the most demanding commercial and government organizations. Layer 7 solutions are FIPS compliant, STIG vulnerability tested and have met Common Criteria EAL4+ security assurance.

Notes to editors

The Information Technology Security activities of Thales
Thales e-Security is a leading global provider of data encryption solutions to the financial services, high technology manufacturing, government and technology sectors. With a 40-year track record of protecting corporate and government information, Thales solutions are used by four of the five largest energy and aerospace companies, 22 NATO countries, and they secure more than 70 percent of worldwide payment transactions. Thales e-Security has offices in France, Hong Kong, Norway, United States and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.thales-esecurity.com

About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace and Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of 12.9 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com.