Treasury announces computer security contract

The Internet security firm Entrust will handle security for Treasury Department networks and e-mail systems, the company announced Tuesday.

The $828,000 contract requires Entrust to provide capabilities for e-mail encryption, digital signatures on e-mail and documents and secure network identification and privacy.

"Secure communications within the department's dozen bureaus is essential, especially today," Treasury Chief Information Officer Mayi Canales said in a statement.

The Government Information Security Reform Act, a law requiring federal agencies to adhere to information security standards, will expire in October 2002, but language currently approved for inclusion in both the Senate and House homeland security bills also would require such standards.