Avaya Needed a TSG-6 Secure SIP Phone to Support Government Installations in Secure Facilities

All electronic devices emit compromising emanations, including IP phones. Avaya needed theirs to satisfy US Government standards for installation in SCIFs.

Synopsis
Avaya wanted to deliver its advanced telephones to US Government and NATO Alliance customers in Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) around the world. But they had a problem. The device transmitted unwanted voice signals (compromising emanations) and couldn't pass the rigorous TSG-6 certification. They needed to overcome the micro-phonic properties inherent in all electronic devices; when on-hook or even unpowered, Avaya phones could be unintended sources of voice emanation from sensitive government facilities. Avaya approached Patton Electronics for a solution.

The Picture

The Success
  • Patton was tasked with discovering voice frequency emanation caused by inadvertent microphonic physics, and silencing them. Vital to this task was the need for the IP Phone to be absolutely quiet, whether on-hook or off-hook; powered or unpowered.
  • This was a tremendous, but welcomed challenge. To achieve the desired success, Patton designed and built a custom Microphonic Test Chamber.
  • Patton engineers developed testing procedures to discover from where the voice frequencies emanated, isolate, then eliminate them. All of this was accomplished "flying blind" as there are no published procedures or methods.
  • Patton's innovation, hardware and software engineering expertise created testing facilities and diagnostics procedures resulted in the realization of a Secure and Certified IP Phone the government declared to be "as quiet as a mouse".
  • Patton designed and engineered custom testing facilities and procedures to discover and eliminate unwanted voice emanations.
  • Each wire of the Ethernet interface - even the ground braid - is free of intelligible voice information even when the phone is on-hook or unpowered.
  • The phone earned TSG-6 type-acceptance CNSS Class-A certification from the National Telecommunications Security Working Group (NTSWG).
  • All security features are added into the phone at Patton's factory in the USA. Patton continues to make aftermarket modifications to Avaya SIP phones to support TSG-6 compliance for Avaya Government.
The Story
Avaya Government Solutions has a mission is to transform Federal networks by helping clients become agencies of the future. They offer collaboration, communication and professional services solutions that support citizens, government employees and war fighters. The Avaya Government portfolio includes secure, certified hardware and software solutions for unified communications, contact centers, data networking, video and mobility.

Avaya wanted to deliver its advanced telephones to US Government and NATO Alliance customers in Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) around the world. But they had a problem. The device transmitted unwanted voice signals (compromising emanations) and couldn't pass the rigorous TSG-6 certification. TSG is the Telecommunications Security Working Group and TSG-6 refers to requirements specified in the CNSS (Committee on National Security Systems) to prevent microphonic emanations (audio signals) from being surveilled.

Avaya Government Solutions wanted to enter this important segment of the Government market and needed a solution. Patton has a long history of defense-grade device and network hardening, but had never been tasked with discovering voice frequency emanation caused by inadvertent microphonic physics, and silencing them. Vital to this task was the need for the phone to be absolutely quiet, whether on-hook or off-hook; powered or unpowered.

This was a tremendous, but welcomed challenge. To achieve the desired success, Patton designed and built a custom Microphonic Test Chamber. In addition, Patton engineers developed testing procedures to discover from where the voice frequencies emanated, isolate, then eliminate them. All of this was accomplished "flying blind" as there are no published procedures or methods. Patton's innovation, hardware and software engineering expertise created testing facilities and diagnostics procedures which resulted in a telephone the government declared to be "as quiet as a mouse" and an excellent product success for Avaya.

Patton continues to make aftermarket modifications to Avaya SIP phones to support TSG-6 compliance for Avaya Government.