Analogic’s COBRA Checkpoint CT Gets U.K. Approval
Analogic [ALOG] says its COBRA checkpoint computed tomography (CT) system has been approved by the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport as an Advanced Cabin Baggage X-Ray (ABCX) system. The approval, combined with an earlier approval by the European Union, paves the way for the system to undergo operational testing at Europe’s largest airports for checkpoint screening of carry-on bags. In March the COBRA checkpoint system became the only system to meet the Standard 2 detection level in Type D operations, where liquids, aerosols and gels remain inside passenger carry-on bags, and Type D+ operations where LAGS and complex electronics such as laptops, remain inside passenger carry-on bags. CT technology is basis for current explosive detection systems used to screen check bags at airports worldwide. “We believe that CT technology is the future of the checkpoint, resulting in increased passenger throughput, enhanced detection of explosives and other threats, and an improved passenger experience, while allowing liquids and laptops to remain in carry-on bags, ultimately reducing airport operating costs,” says Jim Green, the company’s president and CEO.
U.S. Patent Office Rules in Favor of AS&E in Case with Rapiscan
American Science & Engineering [ASEI] says it has reached a confidential settlement with OSI Systems [OSIS] Rapiscan Systems division regarding patent interference before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. AS&E says the Patent Trial and Appeal Board awarded judgment in its favor and cancelled all of the claims in the Rapiscan patent. AS&E The proceeding involved technology used in personnel scanners based on backscatter X-Ray detection. AS&E says that is patent application now resumes to an ordinary examination and is directed to aspects of dual-sided, high-throughput X-Ray inspection systems that employ multiple detectors and sources to quickly screen people for explosive threats and contraband.
Intellicheck Mobilisa Access Control Systems Receives FIPS-201 Certification
Intellicheck Mobilisa says the General Services Administration has certified its Fugitive Finder access control system and added it to the FIPS-201 Approved Product List, making it easier for government agencies to purchase the product. The FIPS-201 standard specifies personal identity verification requirements for federal employees and contractors. Intellicheck Mobilisa says that using the Fugitive Finder Security System, handheld mobile devices read barcodes, magnetic stripes, RFID and OCR codes printed on various ID forms, comparing the data to over 100 watchlists. “We believe the military and federal agencies that employ Fugitive Finder will find it to be an extremely effective and user friendly security tool to scan IDs,” says Nelson Ludlow, the company’s CEO.
BAE Systems, Bayshore Networks, Partner on Cyber Security Solutions
BAE Systems and Bayshore Networks, Inc., have expanded an existing strategic partnership to include cyber security solutions to defense, intelligence and critical infrastructure customers facing increasingly sophisticated adversaries and advanced persistent threats (APTs). The agreement calls for BAE to resell and distribute a number of Bayshore’s products that provide firewalls for large enterprise and government defense networks, critical infrastructure environments, and products for real-time threat analytics and situational awareness. The agreement also allows customers to use BAE’s around-the-clock technical support infrastructure and to leverage its intellectual property to reduce the risk of introducing APT malware into their networks. “BAE Systems and Bayshore Networks provide high performance defense and assurance against advanced malware threats for the most sophisticated government and critical infrastructure organizations worldwide,” says William Mabon, director of Cybersecurity Products Portfolio at BAE. “This expanded partnership will help us further understand, support and protect the interests of those customers.”
DHS S&T Unveils Smartphone App for Bomb Threats
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) branch and its partners in the public and private sectors have develop a new application for smartphones and computers, the First Responder Support Tools (FiRST), which brings together a variety of useful information following an event such as a bomb detonation in an urban environment. The app provides information directly to first responders in order to quickly define safe distances to cordon-off around a potential bomb location, calculate rough damage and injury contours, suggest appropriate roadblocks, determine when mandatory evacuation or shelter-in-place circumstances apply, and to identify nearby areas of particular concern such as schools and hospitals. The app also provides the geospatial information regarding injury, glass, or structural damage impact area. DHS S&T’s partners include he Office of Bombing Prevention within DHS, and Applied Research Associates. “Bomb threat scenarios do no reflect a one-size-fits-all approach, and this app allows users to customize information to help them make informed decisions for response,” says Christine Lee, FiRST program manager in S&T’s First Responder Group. The application is available for $12 for mobile devices and $100 for a Windows PC version.
Cisco Acquiring Sourefire in $2.7B Deal
Cisco [CSCO] is acquiring cyber security solutions provider Sourcefire, Inc. [FIRE] in a $2.7 billion deal to build out its security solutions platform. Cisco says its customers are driving demand for more holistic, integrated security architectures and that the acquisition of Sourcefire, which is expected to close during the second half of 2013, would accelerate its ability to offer comprehensive security solutions. “The goal of our strategy is to deliver to our customers what they want, a continuous and highly automated approach to protection across the entire attack continuum before, during and after an attack while driving cost and complexity out of the system,” says Chris Young, senior vice president of Cisco’s Security Group. He says the security market is moving beyond point detection products to “integrated, intelligent solutions” that provide continuous defense and remediation of threats. Sourcefire has more than 2,500 customers in more than 180 countries. One of the company’s key products is its Snort intrusion detection and prevention technology, an open source software tool with nearly 4 million downloads. Sourcefire had $223.1 million in sales in 2012 and net income of $5 million.
U.S. Patent Office Issues Implant Sciences Patent for New Trace Sampling Technique
Implant Sciences [IMSC] says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued the company a patent related to a method of leveraging air jets and or aerosols to aid in the dislodging of particulates from a surface in order to facilitate the detection and identification of trace amounts of substances such as explosives or drugs. The Trace Chemical Particle Release Nozzle patent is “an example of Implant Sciences looking beyond traditional trace detection methods to enhance sampling and transport,” says Todd Silvestri, the company’s vice president of Technology.
Raytheon, Twisted Pair Develop Dispatch Center for California Sheriff Office
Raytheon [RTN] and Twisted Pair Solutions have deployed an IP-based Dispatch Center for the San Luis Obispo, California Sheriff’s Department, which allows the department to take advantage of and integrate their existing land mobile radio system with smartphone and tablet technology. The new center also allows all government agencies within the county to communicate with each other, which was not possible before with their existing land mobile radio systems. The Raytheon-provided solution uses the company’s interoperability gateway to enable communications with the county’s existing radio systems, and incorporates Twisted Pair’s WAVE Dispatch Communicator that turns a standards-based PC into a richly-featured communications dispatch console. The WAVE Mobile Communicator turns any Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile smartphone into a multi-channel land mobile radio handset for secure, on-demand push-to-talk communication.
Citrix Pilots Mobile Platforms with Government Agencies
Citrix [CTXS], a Florida-based mobile solutions and cloud service provider, is piloting its mobile offerings with the armed forces, the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security, the company says. Citrix offers its products on a per user basis, rather than per device. This allows all of a user’s devices to be covered under the same license and to function in the same environment, says Tom Simmons, vice president for the U.S. Public Sector at Citrix. The company offers a suite of products related to mobility, but Simmons says that Citrix’ advantage is its ability to streamline any laptop, tablet or smartphone with the same interface. “The IT manager in DoD is not bound by a particular device,” he says. “The device becomes less of a limiting factor.” Citrix’ XenMobile is a Mobile Device Management product that allows users to have both personal and government data on their devices while keeping them separate.