The FBI Announced Successful Deployment of its Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

Washington, DC -- The FBI announced that it has successfully completed deployment of its Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The deployment of PKI is critical to the FBI's Sentinel program, as PKI's enhanced security features enable the FBI to move towards an automated, paperless case management system, which further enables information sharing with law enforcement partners and members of the Intelligence Community.

PKI was deployed to 33,000 desktop computers and has made advanced security features available to 28,000 FBI employees, taskforce members, and contract employees. This deployment was made possible through an effective partnership between FBI management and PKI contractor Northrop-Grumman Information Technology and its subcontractors PEC, Entrust, and BAE. Through this partnership, the PKI capability was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget.

PKI provides individuals with a Digital Identity, eliminating the need for "wet" signature hard copies. This new capability allows for digital signature approval, which further supports the FBI's goal of developing Sentinel, a fully automated information management system.

PKI also provides more robust security safeguards through enhanced encryption. It protects the FBI's computer systems and the information stored on them by requiring users to prove their identity twice, through the use of their smartcard and personal password. The smartcard also unites the FBI through a single identification card FBI-wide and serves as an access card to FBI facilities.

The FBI's Chief Information Officer, Zalmai Azmi stated: "PKI technology provides the FBI with the access control necessary to protect critical systems and crucial information. This security technology was a pre-requisite for our Sentinel program and further enhances our ability to efficiently make information available to those in need."

The FBI's Sentinel program will follow the program management guidelines that facilitated the successful completion of the PKI program. The FBI is now deploying PKI to its international locations.