Russian firm Avtomatika Develops Firewall-on-Chip for Military Networks

Avtomatika Concern, a subsidiary of state-owned Rostec, has completed the technical design of a new generation firewall for cybersecurity.

The device will be a completely domestic processor module, the firmware of which will allow performing network security functions. In the future, based on the solution, it is planned to create a line of firewalls. First prototypes of the devices are expected in early 2021, the company said in a release Thursday.

“We took an innovative approach and moved away from the principle of a 'monolithic product of network security'. In our solution, the network security functions are placed directly on the CPU module. We are actually creating a SSoC (Secured System on Chip) class system, or a secure system on a chip. The potential market for a new product is unlimited: a firewall can become the basis for any industry solution. The emergence of an affordable, competitive and completely domestic product will become a new step in ensuring the security of domestic telecommunication networks,” said Vladimir Kabanov, General Director of the Avtomatika Concern.

At present, NII Schot, a member of the concern, is creating prototypes of processor modules that will host the screen functionality. It is also necessary to develop debugging kits for them for prototyping and setting up various configurations of network security devices: from gateways for IoT devices and subscriber access devices to full-size firewalls.

Earlier, at CIPR-2020, Rostec presented the work of the Russian base station of the 5G mobile network. According to the roadmap developed jointly by Rostec and Rostelecom, commercial operation of the equipment will begin in 2023.