Tens of thousands of U.S. Army personnel use Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry® Smart Card Reader devices for mobile voice and data communications. To ensure security, most users connected Common Access Card (CAC) readers to their devices. This, however, was susceptible to multiple failures.
The RIM Bluetooth®-enabled BlackBerry® Smart Card Reader appeared to meet the Army’s requirements. But the Army needed a security evaluation completed in six weeks—a process that usually took six months. Booz Allen Hamilton was engaged to perform rigorous security tests of the device in a very short timeframe.
Booz Allen understood the deep protocol level in Bluetooth® technology, and drew upon its relationships with the Army, Department of Defense (DoD), and National Security Agency (NSA) to create a stakeholder team that could quickly address security issues. The firm also provided the facility, equipment, and methodology for security testing—already approved by the DoD and intelligence agencies.
After the tests demonstrated that the BlackBerry® Smart Card Reader met Army requirements, it was approved for use by the Army and all military services.
Booz Allen also provided technical guidance on how to ensure secure communications with the RIM wireless card reader. The DoD is using the firm’s methodology for testing the security of all Bluetooth®-enabled smart card readers, and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) built on Booz Allen’s study to create an implementation guide for securing BlackBerry® devices.
The firm is working with DISA and NSA to analyze other wireless technologies.
Download a PDF version of the case study entitled, "U.S. Army: Technical Security Evaluations."
2009 case study
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