In an industry marked by furtiveness and indirection, it is refreshing to come across and do business with PKI Electronics, a company so candid about its niche you’d think you were shopping in a mall instead of with one of the world’s most sophisticated and diverse providers of electronic surveillance technologies. PKI Electronics is like a “Kingsman” outlet for everyone … [Read more...]
Enterprise Differentiation: How’s That Working for SS8?
Ask any industry observer to name the top global players in lawful intercept (LI) and they’ll list the usual market giants: Verint, SS8, BAE Systems, Cellebrite, Septier and Utimaco. But ask what advantage one firm offers over another and you're apt to draw a blank stare. Market befuddlement on this point underscores an ongoing challenge to LI vendors: the need to … [Read more...]
“All Greek to Them” – The Debate over Lawful Intercept Security
Greece’s recent subpoena of a former U.S. Embassy official with suspected ties to the CIA has revived a long-running debate over lawful intercept security. Do surveillance systems pose security risks via backdoors that can be opened by law enforcement, intelligence agencies -- or anyone? The answer: Given all the other ways to intercept mobile, why bother? Surveillance … [Read more...]
Next Week: SS8, Chinese Hackathon + Backdoor Man – CIA’s Role in Greek Vodafone Intercept
Next week C5IS travels 'round the planet for a close-up on some of the more intriguing players and events in the electronic surveillance sector. First up: a review of U.S. surveillance player, SS8. Widely known for its work in lawful intercept, analytics and social media monitoring, SS8 is a market leader going head-to-head with Verint and other big box providers. But what's … [Read more...]
Utimaco LIMS: Porsche of Lawful Intercept (at Audi Prices)
When Time scribbles the history of 2011’s Arab Spring it will be a shocker: how fanatics traded stability for bloody chaos, unleashed the demons of Islamic fascism (arguably to the point of making those they “liberated” sentimental for dictatorial rule) -- and gave respected lawful intercept companies such as Utimaco an undeserved black eye or doing the honest job of protecting … [Read more...]