Thales launches payShield 9000, the next generation hardware security module for payment security systems

Thales payShield 9000 delivers unrivalled performance, resilience, and key management features

Thales, a leader in information systems and communications security, announces payShield 9000, its next generation of payment Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), providing world leading cryptographic performance and resiliency options to meet the business continuity requirements necessary to support the growth in global transaction volumes. Designed specifically to secure card payment systems, payShield 9000 is a high-performance tamper-resistant security platform that protects cryptographic keys and other sensitive information such as customer PINs and cardholder data.

Thales is the first provider to offer dual power supplies in a payment HSM supporting the resiliency needs of high-capacity shared infrastructures in mission-critical security systems within modern data centers. payShield 9000 also satisfies the ever increasing demand for performance by delivering the highest global performance figures in the industry – processing up to 1,500 transactions per second (TPS). Thales Remote HSM Manager facilitates the secure remote management of devices, reducing operational costs for customers with remote or multiple HSM sites. payShield 9000 can be shared between different applications without compromising security responsibilities by cryptographically isolating the keys each application uses. Each set of keys can be independently administered by different areas of the business. These key features not only address the operational and management requirements of centralized resources but reduce the costs of operating HSMs deployed in today’s “lights out” data centers.

Thales payShield 9000 includes a new range of software licenses, enabling card issuers, acquirers, and payment processors, to select specific packages and functionality that match their needs. Issuers of magnetic stripe and EMV cards will benefit from packages enabling them to meet the latest industry mandates and best practices for security and deploy effective solutions in the fight against card fraud.

The new hardware platform is Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) ready, to support future payment system requirements. It is also designed to meet both FIPS 140-2 level 3, the most widely adopted security benchmark for cryptographic modules, and the recently introduced Payment Card Industry Hardware Security Module standard (PCI HSM).

“The payment card industry constantly faces new challenges just to remain competitive, with an increasing need to support a wide range of new business offerings such as remote payment channels, increased protection for cardholder data and the growing trend for contactless cards and mobile applications,” says Franck Greverie, Vice President, Managing Director for the information systems security activities of Thales. “For more than 20 years, Thales has been at the forefront of security and payments technology. payShield 9000 further demonstrates this commitment and has been designed to meet the high availability and business continuity needs of our customers whilst delivering features to meet their future requirements.”

Thales payShield 9000 is fully backwards compatible with the Thales HSM 8000 and RG7000 product lines. Customers can therefore deploy payShield 9000 models with minimal impact on existing applications and avoid costly integration work.

For more information visit http://iss.thalesgroup.com/

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Notes to editor

Thales is one of the world leaders in the provision of Information and Communication Systems Security solutions for government, defence, critical infrastructure operators, enterprises and the finance industry. Thales’s unique position in the market is due to its end-to-end security offering spanning the entire value chain in the security domain. The comprehensive offering includes architecture design, security and encryption product development, evaluation and certification preparation and through-life management services.

Thales has forty years of unrivalled track record in protecting information from Sensitive But Unclassified up to Top Secret and a comprehensive portfolio of security products and services, which includes network security products, application security products and secured telephony products.

About Thales

Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008, the company generated revenues of 12.7 billion euros with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com

Contacts:

Liz Harris

Thales, Security Solutions & Services

+44 (0)1223 723612

liz.harris {at} thales-esecurity(.)com