Complimentary white paper

Managing Encryption: 10 essential issues to overcome security leaks
in your P25 network

This free white paper proposes 10 key issues that can be addressed to improve the security of radio communications and a threat matrix table for quick reference when troubleshooting encryption issues.

Secure radio communications are essential for public safety organizations wanting to improve the safety of their staff and the communities they serve. Often crucial and sensitive information may be exchanged by staff using a radio communications network, especially those staff carrying out tactical operations. However, if intercepted by third parties, this information could assist criminal movements or compromise the safety of staff as well as the general public. Hence the reason public safety organizations choose to incorporate encryption into a radio solution.

Encryption in a P25 radio is a service provided to enable secure voice and data communication. A group of radios may be assigned a unique key to allow users to communicate securely. Users of these radios can then send a message which is digitized and encrypted (locked) and can only be decrypted (unlocked) and received by those radio users with the same unique key.

Encryption is commonly believed to be the silver bullet to solving issues with insecure communications. However, investing in encryption is a long-term commitment. Purchasing encrypted radios and keying tools is only the start.

There are a number of threats to any secure radio communications and, perhaps surprisingly, the primary threat to any encryption is not someone guessing or calculating the key. The biggest threat to secure encryption comes internally. In particular, key and radio mismanagement can leave an organization more vulnerable than if they do not have encryption.

If encryption is compromised as a result of poor key management procedures it can often lead to a heavily increased workload, result in heavy financial costs or worse: put first responders and the public in danger. Here are some issues for public safety decision makers to consider when assessing the security needs of their radio communications.

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