Huawei hoo-ha
China's Huawei Technologies, which makes telecommunications kit, has lifted the lid on a security centre that opened in Britain last month, allowing the firm to test its products and software.
The opening of the 'Cyber Security Evaluation Centre' in Banbury last month was attended by company reps from BT, Everything Everywhere, HMG, O2 and Vodafone.
It is believed the firm has waited to announce its new business venture to allay fears that a Chinese cyber security business in the UK could be a problem, as it has got the approval of key UK firms plus the government and has been operating just fine without any problems.
Huawei thinks telecoms networks are becoming increasingly integrated, open and vulnerable to security threats with the rise of IP-based telecoms networks, increased business integration and the proliferation of smart devices. The company said it is working on building a ‘state-of-the-art, end-to-end cyber security assurance system that will further protect equipment and network operations.'
"CESG will work with Huawei to ensure their products meet UK government security standards. This security centre will not work in isolation. Robust operational management and network architectures will also contribute to enabling the UK to benefit from new technology whilst tackling the cyber security risks," said a spokesperson from the government body.
John Frieslaar, MD of the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre, said: "This centre is like a glasshouse - transparent, readily accessible, and open to regulators and our customers."
In praise of the UK government, Ken Hu, SVP of Huawei and chairman of Huawei's Global Network Security Committee said: "We are truly grateful to the UK government for being open-minded, practical and far-sighted. The practice of the UK government will not only play a positive role in facilitating the continuous development of the UK telecom industry, but will also become a benchmark in the area of cyber security worldwide."
