The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding today between the three parties is especially timely given Infocomms Development Authority’s survey report issued yesterday which recognised Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) as the best security solution available in fostering a conducive and trusted environment for e-commerce, and a call for industry partners to work together to raise public awareness and knowledge on PKI issues.

PKI is a system that offers users double protection by issuing a password and a security token (e.g. Smart Card) which protects the private key, the holder’s identity and other private information. In this way, PKI provides more security than Password/ID systems in terms of its authentication process and ability to detect security compromises.

Under the agreement, Odyssey Technologies will provide the software to Temasek Polytechnic to train diploma students on the use of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Internet security technologies.

Netrust will undertake the installation and configuration of the technical software for the Network Security Laboratory to be set up in Temasek Polytechnic. In addition, Netrust in partnership with Odyssey, will provide on and off-site technical support, consultation and professional services.

In turn, Temasek Polytechnic’s Network Security Laboratory will provide the campus test bed for the latest PKI applications, product and solutions showcase, and training centres.

Said Mr Foo Jong Ai, CEO of Netrust, "Because of the lack of 'face-to-face' interaction in Internet commerce, we need a means of identifying and authenticating the parties involved in the transaction. This will prevent fraud and facilitate non-repudiation of contracts. PKI, when administered by a Certification Authority, provides that positive element of trust.

"This is where Netrust, as the leading Digital ID Service Provider in Southeast Asia, takes the lead in building the same degree of trust and confidence in the Internet commerce environment.

"Today’s initiative with Odyssey and Temasek Polytechnic is another step forward in sharing and building knowledge in PKI issues. Central to our programme is the delivery of high quality training and development programmes to improve human capital in Internet Security field."

Mr Foo also added that increasingly, as countries all over the world engage in e-transactions and governments recognise digital signatures, PKI will be critical in digitally verifying those signatures and serving as electronic credentials to the legality of the documents.

According to Dr N Varaprasad, "This collaboration provides a unique opportunity for Temasek Polytechnic to work together with network security leaders Netrust and Odyssey, to develop curriculum content in the areas of Internet security. Our staff will benefit from developmental work on the software and our students will remain relevant to the industry’s latest trends."

Mr.Robert Raja said, "As a pioneer in PKI Products and Services in the Asia Pacific, Odyssey is pleased to be associated with Netrust and Temasek Polytechnic.

"Singapore leads in e-commerce adoption; PKI and such partnerships between industry leaders like Netrust, Odyssey and a renowned academic institution like Temasek Polytechnic will play a vital part in Singapore being the Trusted e-commerce hub in Asia Pacific.

"Odyssey will benefit from the PKI application development effort at Temasek Polytechnic and the availability of trained resources to design and build a Secure and Trusted ecommerce environment."

For further information, please contact: Ms Ann Chiu of Keppel Group Corporate Communications at Tel: +65 68857 435 or ann.chiu@kepcorp.com

About Netrust

Netrust is the pioneer and leading Certification Authority in Singapore for government organisations, enterprises and individuals to conduct trusted and secure electronic commerce and communications over the Internet.

Netrust is authorised to issue public key certificates (similar to a passport concept) used to identify users over the Internet. In the passport analogy, Netrust acts like a Passport Office, which verifies the user's identification, creates a trusted document, which certifies the users and then issues the relevant document to the user.

Besides verifying the identities of the parties involved and protecting their interests, Netrust maintains the integrity of users' messages while ensuring transacting parties will not be able to repudiate their actions.

Netrust Public Key Infrastructure provides the security assurance to enable e-commerce sessions in a trusted environment without the risk of fraudulent identities among the transacting parties.

Netrust is a joint venture between Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation Ltd and Network for Electronic Transfer (Singapore) Pte Ltd (NETS).

For more information on Netrust's digital certificate services, you can access the Company's Website at www.netrust.net or call: 6212 1388.

About Odyssey Technologies Limited

Odyssey Technologies Ltd is a pioneer in the Internet Security business in Asia-Pacific, developing and marketing robust products and solutions for providing encryption-based security on the Internet. Odyssey offers end-to-end Security and Trust solutions to ebusinesses that are embracing e-commerce and moving their information assets to open networks like the Internet.

The company focuses on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)-widely acknowledged as the most reliable model for Internet security today. PKI, as defined in the PKIX standards, provides scalability and the best combination of security and trust currently available on the Internet for ebusiness.

Odyssey offers a range of PKI -Products, Solutions and Services including Certrix- Certification Server, Certrix-R Registration Server and CryptoMagic- Security toolkit.

For more information on Odyssey’s Public Key Infrastructure please visit the company’s website at www.odysseytec.com

About Temasek Polytechnic

Temasek Polytechnic was established in April 1990 to meet the growing demand and need for para-professional education in a variety of areas, principally Engineering and IT.

Situated in the eastern half of the island, the Polytechnic sits on a 30-hectare plot of land fronting the scenic Bedok Reservoir. The Polytechnic's campus is built for a capacity of 12,000 students. The Polytechnic currently runs 29 full-time diploma courses in the areas of Business, Design, Engineering, Information Technology and Applied Science. Two new courses will be introduced in July 2001 – the Diploma in Biomedical Informatics and Engineering and the Diploma in Communications and Media Management. The Polytechnic also has over 40 certificated part-time courses, up to Advanced Diploma.

Temasek Polytechnic is a pioneer in Problem-based Learning (PBL). The PBL concept forms the cornerstone of the Polytechnic's educational philosophy to prepare school-leavers adequately for the world of work and a future of dynamic change. The curriculum is delivered to students through a series of real-life or simulated problems. This paradigm prepares them to manage the processes and strategies to manage new and unknown problems and technologies as they develop in the future. Students also engage in real-life hands-on business activity in various training laboratories such as the Travelab (a travel agency), Saffron (a fine-dining restaurant cum kitchen), 1st Avenue (a retail outlet), a Logistics & Operations Management Centre, Eagles Mediation Centre, and Human-Computer Interaction Lab, to name a few.