Senetas encryptors gain PKTN status to secure Malaysia’s networks

Senetas has received certification under Malaysia's Produk Kriptografi Terpercaya Negara (PKTN) scheme at the Confidential level for its CN Series network encryptors.

The PKTN certification represents the first instance in Malaysia where sovereign-grade hardware encryptors have achieved this status. The recognition enables Senetas' CN Series encryptors to be deployed across Malaysia's Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) sectors.

PKTN, an initiative under the National Cryptography Policy (NCP), seeks to guarantee that cryptographic products meet stringent national standards prior to implementation in systems that handle Malaysia's sensitive and critical digital assets. The evaluation process for PKTN status is comprehensive, involving technical validation, penetration testing, and assessment by a specialist committee, culminating in official approval from CyberSecurity Malaysia.

Following this multi-stage process, Senetas network encryptors are now formally acknowledged as trusted technologies for safeguarding sensitive government and commercial communication platforms. The Confidential classification affirms that the solutions are capable of securing communications in line with Malaysia's national security objectives.

Trusted network protection

The certification allows the deployment of Senetas's technology in sectors such as defence, finance, energy, and telecommunications. These areas are regarded as vital for national infrastructure and security, and demand robust protection measures.

Senetas' certification arrives amid increasing complexity and sophistication of cyber threats targeting national infrastructure. The PKTN framework gives Malaysia assurance that acclaimed products with cryptographic validation are delivering protection against contemporary and emerging risks, including those posed by anticipated quantum-era technologies. The result is an added layer of resilience for the country's digital landscape, providing assurance in the event of evolving cyber threat scenarios.

Collaborative achievement

Achieving PKTN certification involved cooperation between Senetas, its global distribution partner Thales, and Malaysian technology partner NRM Technology. The effort demonstrates the significance of combining international and domestic expertise to strengthen the cybersecurity posture of Malaysia and ensure advanced security technology is accessible for CNII protection.

"We are honoured to have achieved PKTN certification in Malaysia for our quantum-resistant network encryptors," said Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at Senetas. "This significant milestone demonstrates that our technology meets the nation's highest standards for trusted cryptography and strengthens our commitment to supporting Malaysia's digital sovereignty and national security priorities".

This milestone is considered important not only in terms of technical accomplishment, but for its strategic contribution to Malaysia's cyber defence policies. By certifying products that can contribute to quantum-resilient cybersecurity, Malaysia signals its intention to proactively address both current and future challenges to national digital infrastructure.

National cyber strategy

As Malaysia continues to develop its digital economy, safeguarding CNII forms a core part of national strategy. The PKTN framework's aim for cryptographic validation ensures that only evaluated, approved solutions can be implemented, providing an assurance of data protection and infrastructure resilience at the highest levels of sensitivity.

Senetas now joins the list of approved vendors whose technologies may be employed across high-risk digital environments within Malaysia. This is expected to further bolster the capabilities of government agencies and key industries as they aim to prevent cyber-attacks and data breaches that could impact public and economic interests.

The PKTN certification is also anticipated to contribute to Malaysia's goal of establishing a secure and trusted national cyber ecosystem, where critical communications infrastructure is protected against both existing and future forms of cyber threats.

The partnership between Senetas, NRM Technology and Thales is set to continue, supporting wider deployment of PKTN-certified encryptors and advancing Malaysia's efforts to build out a digital environment that is resilient, sovereign and compliant with strict national standards on cybersecurity and data protection.