WISeKey, Continent 8 Technologies extend its footprint to Gibraltar to provide trust services
Gibraltar, United Kingdom & Geneva, Switzerland – WISeKey International Holding, a cybersecurity IoT and AI company, announced the signing of an agreement with Continent 8 Technologies (Continent 8), a global managed hosting, connectivity and security company, to deploy a local node of the WISeKey platform, capable of delivering trusted managed services for digital identity, IoT and NFT-related projects.
In September 2021, WISeKey announced the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Fabian Picardo, chief minister of Gibraltar and the Mayor of La Línea de la Concepción, Juan Franco, for the development of a joint 4th Industrial revolution centre of excellence (LLG 4IR centre of excellence) spearheading innovation in the region.
This announcement confirms the commitment of WISeKey with the project and a solid advance towards the achievement of the goals to establish a node of the WISeKey platform in the Campo de Gibraltar region. The 4th industrial revolution changes the dynamics of the technology and value creation chain, cross-border collaboration and the way companies integrate their research and technology to create value for their customers. New business and cooperation models emerge through integrating business partners and clients. The business model of the joint LLG 4IR centre of excellence is to assist innovative start-ups in areas such as AI, blockchain, cloud, IoT, satellite, IoT, drones, cybersecurity and quantum to perform collective R&D activities, promote their technologies internationally, facilitate the rapid adaptation and on-boarding of 4IR-based solutions, foster stronger collaboration between the public, private and academic sectors and cooperate to ensure that the latest technological standards are made available in a safe and trusted manner. The LLG 4IR centre of excellence node in Gibraltar is securely with the WISeKey Geneva centre of excellence and will coordinate with other 4IR centres around the world, allowing all partners to fully benefit from shared experiences and resources. Each Centre of Excellence has developed particular expertise that can be shared among all centres.
With this localised node, the platform delivered by WISeKey will facilitate access to digital identity leveraging the use of PKI and the OISTE Root of Trust. Based in Switzerland, WISeKey can ensure the independency of its trust services, allowing its customers to issue digital identities that are recognised worldwide. Companies and citizens will also benefit of the benefits of the jurisdiction of Gibraltar, particularly open to exploit new technologies such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies and NFT.
The Gibraltar Node will be connected with the WISeSat Antena installation, carried out on the roof of the La Línea de la Concepción City Hall building, that lays the foundations for the LLG 4IR centre of excellence, to become the connection point for the deployment, control, and communication of IoT satellites, such as the constellation WISeSat developed by WISeKey. WISeSat is a dedicated and secure IoT connectivity solution anywhere on Earth that uses picosatellites and low-power sensors, among other satellite deployments from FOSSA Systems.
Continent 8 is a global provider of managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity services. Its cybersecurity offering include DDoS, WAAP, EDR & MDR and SIEM & SOC solutions. The company has a private connected network spanning almost 90 locations across four continents. Connecting Gibraltar to the rest of the world, Continent 8 has established itself as the infrastructure provider in Gibraltar, with the most secure and well-equipped hosting site in the jurisdiction, located deep inside the Rock.
The company will be a key partner in WISeKey’s initiative, reducing notably the time needed to this new node of the WISeKey platform, which, by its own nature, requires state-of-the-art technical infrastructures, protected under the highest standards of physical and logical security countermeasures.
“This new move demonstrates our commitment with the project and the signatories of the memoranda to build this center of excellence. We are happy to have Continent 8 as key partner in this initiative,” says Carlos Moreira, founder and CEO of WISeKey.
“We have been providing world-leading managed hosting, connectivity and cybersecurity services to businesses operating in and from Gibraltar since 2011. We are delighted to be working with WISeKey as they develop their Trusted Managed Services offering in new regions, as well as their exciting plans surrounding the development of a 4th industrial revolution centre of Excellence. As a company that is passionate about a local focus while providing global reach, I am confident that we are a great fit for WISeKey’s ambitious future,” says David Black, managing director EMEA of Continent 8 Technologies.
The deployment project has already started, with the expectation to be in full production in Q1 2023.
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