Local tech company contributes to security industry

A secure computer system developed by a Carson City company is being used by federal agencies and international finance companies to protect against cyber criminals.

"It brings peace of mind to businesses that don't have to worry about customer lists disappearing, or the government worrying about missing information," said Jim Zakzeski, the vice president of marketing and sales for Cubix Corp.

Cubix's newest product is used in terrorist tracking and counterintelligence work, Zakzeski said Friday. All product development, manufacturing and testing is done at the 2800 Lockheed Way location by 70 employees. The company moved to Carson City in 1979 from Southern California.

The Cubix LaserBlade system has sold to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Security Agency and the U.S. Army. Since distribution started in February, other national and international companies have also purchased it.

Cyber crime in 2006 will net $105 billion, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

"Security is important because people are highly motivated to compromise systems and steal data," said Ron Baker, president of JFG Systems Inc., a local tech networking business. "Their goal is to make money on what they steal."

That could mean the theft of a laptop computer containing the personal information of veterans, the secret formula of Coke or other corporate secrets.

The LaserBlade PC is split into two parts. The mother board, hard drive and network interface card are placed in a secure location and connected to the monitor and keyboard with a fiber optic cable. Zakzeski said this fiber optic cable is "snoop proof" - which is why the government likes the technology.

The cable runs to a remote desk top box, which is then connected to the monitor and keyboard. It supports all Intel and AMD chip sets. The computer system costs about $1,600.

"It will operate like a normal PC, but from a security sense, the network administrator doesn't have to worry about someone getting into the hard drive and removing data," he said.

Baker said the Cubix system may not be great for everyone because some businesses need employees to be able to take work away from the office. In a mobile world, executives often need to handle business on a laptop. But for confidential information, the system seems like it would work, he said.

Zakzeski said 50 percent of LaserBlade customers are in Washington, D.C., another 20 percent overseas and the rest in companies across the country.

"It has applications for the manufacturing sector and finance companies," he said. "If a local business is interested in this, we are right around the corner."

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.