Quo Vadis Launches World's First Offshore Commercial Certificate Authority

Mandy Robinson, Tax-news.com, London

27 March 2001

It's official - QuoVadis has launched the world's first offshore commercial certificate authority. Last week the company issued its first Bermuda-based digital certificates to Renee Webb, Bermuda's Minister of Telecommunications and E-Commerce who electronically signed the proclamation of the commissioning and commercial launch of QuoVadis Limited's system, saying: 'The launch of QuoVadis invigorates Bermuda's e-commerce vision by making offshore PKI available on a commercial basis for the first time ever.'

Bermuda was one of the first jurisdictions in the world to enact legislation via its Electronic Transactions Act dealing with the formation of electronic contracts and the validity of digital signatures in 1999. Long a home to leading insurance and investment companies, the island now hosts a growing convergence of global e-business companies and service providers.

In a press release from QuoVadis, chief executive officer Tony Nagel stated: 'Bermuda and other offshore centers are focal points in the development of international e-business. Many local operations sit at the hub of business networks that extend around the world, dealing with high value transactions and confidential transfers of information. Use of a Bermuda certificate authority increases the overall security of our clients' businesses and reinforces their affiliation to their preferred offshore regulatory, legal, and fiscal environment.'

Digital certificates are a form of secure electronic ID used on corporate and institutional networks to identify users and protect content. Known as public key infrastructure (or PKI), the technology is used online to enable strong access control, privacy, authentication of users, integrity of data, and non-repudiation. PKI also provides the mechanism for legally enforceable electronic signatures. QuoVadis says it can now offer a suite of trusted products to assist clients in taking full advantage of PKI across their business. These include options for secure e-mail and web forms, access control, VPNs, smartcards, and others. The company has already commenced pilot implementations with several Bermuda-based companies and is developing vertical solutions with other industry-specific partners.

QuoVadis joined forces with Baltimore Technologies to provide the world-class e-security necessary for the PKI service. Aidan Gallagher, Executive Vice President of Global Business Development for Baltimore Technologies said: 'Baltimore Technologies is pleased to work with QuoVadis in creating a commercial security service for Bermuda and other countries in the offshore world. While the Internet itself may be borderless, business is not - businesses want to align with the legal, tax, and regulatory frameworks of certain countries whether or not they are in the real world or cyberspace.'

QuoVadis also teamed up with Ernst & Young which served as the company's key advisor on strategic and policy issues. 'Ernst & Young is proud to serve as QuoVadis' trusted business advisor,' says Cam Johnston a Partner in the Security and Technology Solutions practice, 'sophisticated technology is not enough to support trust in e-business. QuoVadis has developed a world class trust service that includes the legal and operating framework to help companies integrate PKI into both their applications and their businesses.'

According to Stephen Davidson, Vice President of QuoVadis, the company has plans to expand its operations into a worldwide concern. He said: 'QuoVadis has developed a tailored trust model for the offshore world, we are now developing peer certificate authorities in other offshore jurisdictions to facilitate the inter-relationships between our customers and their clients, employees, and business partners.'

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