SISTex's Assure(R) Basic product provides security features including access controls and transparent file encryption (using the Data Encryption Standard) in a DOS/Windows environment. To meet the needs of certain customers, we converted the DES based file encryption to use NSA's Fortezza card, which uses the Skipjack algorithm. Despite our expectations, Fortezza was not a clean replacement for DES. The paper discusses some of the thorny technical problems encountered during product development.
Index Terms:
cryptography; Fortezza; transparent file encryption; SISTex; Assure Basic product; security features; access controls; Data Encryption Standard; DOS/Windows environment; DES based file encryption; Fortezza card; Skipjack algorithm; technical problems; product development
Citation:
J. Epstein, T. Williams, "Using Fortezza For Transparent File Encryption," acsac, pp.140, 12th Annual Computer Security Applications Conference (ACSAC '96), 1996