Deal secures IRS agents in field

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2001/0122/web-irs-01-25-01.asp

BY Judi Hasson
01/25/2001

The Internal Revenue Service is arming its field agents with laptops
so secure they can access confidential data from the road.

More than 15,000 field agents were recently equipped with virtual
private network technology that gives them secure remote access to IRS
files.

The $2.9-million deal with SafeNet Inc., a Baltimore-based Internet
security firm, is one of the largest individual purchases of VPN
technology for secure business communications over the Internet.

Eventually, more than 30,000 IRS employees will be equipped with the
solution, said Tony Caputo, SafeNets chairman and chief executive
officer.

"Anyone attempting to access the IRS computers over the phone or
Internet access must use VPN technology," Caputo said.

Under the VPN arrangement, field agents receive secure software,
enabling them to dial into the IRS computer system, and a smart card
to verify their identity. The IRS system grants access to records
according to what the agent is authorized to do.

SafeNet also handles security at other government agencies, including
the State Department, where it secures e-mail from embassies, and the
Defense Department, where its used for a tactical battlefield
application.

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