Thales today announced that its MISTRAL VPN IP security system has been awarded Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level 3+ (EAL 3+) certification. Issued by France’s DCSSI EAL 3+ is mutually recognised by 16 signatory nations which include the UK, USA, France, Germany and Canada.

MISTRAL is a secure VPN IPSec system for sensitive government and business networks. As a flexible hardware and software solution, Mistral can be adapted to all network configurations and to the constraints imposed on them. This includes employee mobility, complete or partial outsourcing of network management and/or security policy, new architectures (Any to any, Hub & Spoke), and the exponential growth of multimedia traffic.

The award of the internationally recognized EAL 3+ Common Criteria certification was given after a rigorous testing process. It means that MISTRAL conforms to the standards defined by the ISO (International Standards Organization). EAL 3+ is one of the highest levels of technological certification and is granted only after thorough analysis of the product concept and development methodology, together with many tests.

MISTRAL VPN IP has been approved by the DCSSI and has been granted qualification at the standard level. This approval by DCSSI entitles the product to appear in a catalogue that is compiled by an official French government agency, the Central Information Security System Division. This catalogue can be viewed at www.ssi.gouv.fr, under “Product policy”.

Pierre-Jean Nicol, head of the Security Products department for Thales's e-Security business said; “This official recognition of MISTRAL VPN IP by the French government will give our customers complete assurance of the quality and reliability of our solutions. It puts us in a great position for the future to respond to tenders from government contracts or private companies that require this level of certification.

About Thales
Thales is an international electronics and systems corporation active in the defense, aerospace, and security markets. The group has 60,000 employees worldwide and posted sales of 10.3 billion euros in 2004.

Operating in three main markets covering e-security, card payment, and network security, Thales' e-Security activity addresses the business, government, and finance industries' need for cryptographic security products and solutions. Over half of the world's banks, together with the majority of the busiest exchanges, currently use Thales technology. .

Press Contacts:
Agence de Relations Presse
Clipping - traitdunion
Chrystèle Moriceau
Tél : +33 (0)1 44 59 68 95
E-mail : chrystele@clipping-tu.com

Contact Activité e-Security de Thales
Frédéric Hubert
Tél : +33 (0)1 46 13 27 50
E-mail : Frederic.HUBERT@fr.thalesgroup.com