Editing Fortezza

{{Short description|Information security system}}
{{about|Fortezza the security system|town in [[Italy]]|Franzensfeste}}

[[Image:Mykotronx Fortezza card.navy.jpg|thumb|A Fortezza card made by Mykotronx Corp.]]
'''Fortezza''' is an [[information security]] system<ref>{{cite IETF |title=Internet Security Glossary, Version 2 |rfc=4949 |sectionname=Definitions |section= |page=133 |last=Shirey |first=Robert |authorlink= |date=August 2007 |publisher=[[Internet Engineering Task Force|IETF]] |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref> that uses the '''Fortezza Crypto Card''',  a [[PC Card]]-based [[security token]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc962054.aspx |title=FIPS-140-1 Security and FORTEZZA Crypto Cards |author= |date= |work=Choosing Security Solutions That Use Public Key Technology |publisher=Microsoft |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref> It was developed for the U.S. government's [[Clipper chip]] project and has been used by the U.S. Government in various applications.

Each individual who is authorized to see protected information is issued a ''Fortezza card'' that stores [[public key|private keys]] and other data needed to gain access. It contains an NSA approved security microprocessor called ''[[Capstone (cryptography)|Capstone]]'' ([[MYK-80]]) that implements the [[Skipjack (cipher)|Skipjack]] [[encryption]] algorithm.

The original Fortezza card (KOV-8) is a [[Type 2 encryption|Type 2]] product which means it cannot be used for [[classified information]]. The most widely used [[Type 1 encryption]] card is the KOV-12 Fortezza card which is used extensively for the [[Defense Message System]] (DMS). The KOV-12 is cleared up to TOP SECRET/SCI. A later version, called [[KOV-14]] or '''Fortezza Plus''', uses a [[Krypton microprocessor]] that implements stronger, [[Type 1 encryption]] and may be used for information [[Classified information in the United States|classified]] up to TOP SECRET/SCI. It, in turn, is being replaced by the newer [[KSV-21]] PC card with more modern algorithms and additional capabilities.
The cards are interchangeable within the many types of equipment that support Fortezza and can be rekeyed and reprogrammed by the owners, making them easy to issue and reuse. This simplifies the process of rekeying equipment for crypto changes: instead of requiring an expensive [[fill device]], a technician is able to put a new Fortezza card in the device's PCMCIA slot.

The Fortezza Plus card and its successors are used with NSA's [[Secure Terminal Equipment]] voice and data encryption systems that are replacing the [[STU-III]]. It is manufactured by the [[Mykotronx]] Corporation and by [[Spyrus]]. Each card costs about $240 and they are commonly used with card readers sold by [[Litronic]] Corporation.

The Fortezza card has been used in government, military, and banking applications to protect sensitive data.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CMN/is_/ai_16967291 |title=NSA provides value-added crypto security - National Security Agency; Group Technology's Fortezza Crypto Card |author=John R. Vacca |date=May 1995 |work=Communications News |publisher=Nelson Publishing |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
*{{cite web |url=http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Military-Communications/FORTEZZA-crypto-card-United-States.html |title=FORTEZZA crypto card |author= |date=Aug 10, 2009 |work=Jane's Military Communications |publisher=Jane's Information Group |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}
*{{cite web |url=http://cryptome.org/jya/fortcert.htm |title=Basic Certification Requirements for FORTEZZA™ Applications |author=Workstation Security Products Division  |date=2 January 1997 |website= |publisher=National Security Agency |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NSA+provides+value-added+crypto+security.-a016967291 |title=NSA provides value-added crypto security.}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.cryptomuseum.com/crypto/usa/fortezza/index.htm |title=Fortezza Crypto Card |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Crypto Museum |accessdate=February 16, 2012}}
*{{cite book|editor=Kenneth W. Dam and Herbert S. Lin|others=National Research Council|title=Cryptography's role in securing the information society|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xunSilIFTh4C&pg=PA176|accessdate=16 February 2012|year=1996|publisher=National Academy Press|location=Washington, DC|isbn=978-0-309-05475-1|pages=176–177|chapter=The Capstone/Fortezza Initiative}}
*{{cite book|author=Peter Gutmann|title=Cryptographic security architecture: design and verification|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MKcaOgrUYoMC&pg=PA236|accessdate=16 February 2012|year=2004|publisher=Springer|location=New York|isbn=978-0-387-95387-8|pages=236–237|chapter=The Capstone/Fortezza Generator}}

==External links==
*[http://www.safenet-inc.com SafeNet web site (Mykotronx is a division of SafeNet)]
*[http://www.spyrus.com Spyrus web site]
*[http://www.litronic.com Litronic web site]

[[Category:National Security Agency encryption devices]]