Based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), Certicom's new AMI 7000^® series of meter communication encryption and key management appliances will integrate with OpenWay, securing end-to-end network messages from the OpenWay Collection Engine down to the OpenWay CENTRON^® meter.

The security architecture inherent to OpenWay, combined with Certicom signing and encryption capabilities, is designed to meet the two-way command and control needs for AMI and Smart Grid network platforms. It provides strong integrity of control, non-repudiation, availability and confidentiality.

"Itron is dedicated to providing the most robust security available to protect our utility customers and their end users," said Russ Vanos, vice president of marketing for Itron. "Certicom's infrastructure offers unparalleled network and metering system security, further enhancing our energy management and measurement technologies as we work toward development of the Smart Grid."

The Certicom AMI platform is tightly integrated into the OpenWay Collection Engine, leveraging its open-standards and solid two-way communications capability. The interval data collection and mass market demand response functionality of OpenWay and OpenWay-compatible meters are secured by Certicom's meter security agent. The agent also provides a protected communications pathway into the home via ZigBee Smart Energy devices, and back to the headend via the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) C12.22 meter data management protocol. It uses AES-128 equivalent strength encryption to secure all sensitive data and keying material.

Other features include:

• Designed to meet NERC CIP requirements
• Designed to adhere to NSA Suite B requirements
• Uses FIPS 197 approved encryption algorithms
• Uses FIPS 186-2 approved signature algorithms
• Uses FIPS 180-2 approved hashing algorithms
• Provides digital signatures for strong message authentication
• Provides key management and key rollover events
• Meets FIPS 140-2 Level 3 for cryptographic modules

"We are pleased the leading AMI provider has partnered with Certicom to offer its customers an enhanced, highly secure AMI system," said Karna Gupta, Certicom. "Our new AMI security appliances offer Itron customers' peace of mind that their network and metering data is always protected."