In an ever-changing world where threats are both internal and external, security has become one of the most important factors when choosing hardware and software vendors for your application. Security is ever more important when your simulation platforms are connected to a wide-area network.

Driven by Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 8500.1, trainers and equipment are now required to follow a strict set of rules handed down by the likes of Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), National Security Agency (NSA) and others.

In response, ASTi has taken the initiative to develop enhancements and options for its current suite of products—including DACS and Telestra systems—that assist our customers in meeting today's evolving information assurance (IA) and security requirements.

ASTi now offers a fully-embedded version of its popular DACS platform with no operating system or hard drive installed. Runtime operation is achieved via a read-only Compact Flash module featuring a security-configured version of our Model Builder software. Model and system configuration are performed offline from a customer-supplied Windows XP or other secure workstation.

For DACS systems already in the field, a secure DACS configuration kit is available, providing an easy and cost-effective upgrade solution.

ASTi has incorporated many security enhancements into our Telestra products, and now offers additional security options to help customers meet their security requirements.

Every Telestra software release is tested against the latest applicable Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and Security Readiness Review (SRR) scripts.

This testing philosophy ensures that any new requirements and updates provided by DISA are addressed. And with the secure Telestra option, ASTi eliminates all category one and two issues, while minimizing category three and four vulnerabilities.

Secure configurations also provide necessary IA control features such as security logging and disk fingerprinting tools.

To aid with system security authorization agreement (SSAA) submittals and IA plan support, ASTi provides an easy-to-read explanation and recommendation report that addresses each test result in the Security Readiness Review process.

While these current offerings allow our customers to take advantage of secure versions of their current ASTi systems, they also provide a look into the future of ASTi's product development, where the latest network security practices will be incorporated in all of our new products from the drawing board to customer sign-off.