

The first thing I did was to start typing very rapidly on the red network and then switch over to the green one. I designated my classified network as red and my public one as green. I then connected those systems to the Belkin KVM and also attached the optional Belkin keyboard.
Belkin kvm switch software#
One of the first things I did was to set up capture software on two separate computers that recorded everything - data and sound - that happened on them. It’s worth noting that both devices were certified by NIAP for Common Criteria under Protection Profile 4.0, so I was pretty sure how these tests would turn out - but I decided to try anyway. The new features make it obvious what network users are working on, so there should be no accidental messages or activities occurring at the wrong security classification.īut in government, the main purpose of a KVM is security, so I tested to see how well the second-generation KVMs held up to the rigorous standards set by earlier devices. The visual enhancements offered by Belkin’s second-generation KVM, and especially the KVM remote control with integrated keyboard, are impressive.

At a glance, it’s easy to tell where a user is working.ĭISCOVER: Planned tech upgrades provided happy surprises for federal agencies. Often, users would color-code their switches with stickers.īelkin has added those colors to the buttons on the KVM so that, for example, the public network button is illuminated green and the classified one is red. First-generation KVMs generally had LEDs that lit up to tell users what network they were on, but they had to remember that Network 1 was public, Network 2 was classified, and so on. The major improvements are visual, and work toward eliminating human error rather than any flaws in the switch itself.

It’s clear that Belkin kept proven security features in place when upgrading its KVM line. I tested several scenarios in which I tried to bleed data across networks connected by the KVM, and nothing got through. Security Features Keep Data in Placeīoth the Belkin keyboard and KVM comply with the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) Protection Profile 4.0, designed for DOD and other government agencies. That is Belkin’s goal with its second-generation KVM switches and remote control keyboards. It works, but could stand for a little improvement. That has been the format used in government for many years. Secure KVMs are certified to ensure that no information, either audio or data, is ever allowed to jump networks. KVMs allow for multiple network connections to run into the switch, so users need only one computer and one set of peripherals for multiple networks.
