Does the law require you to register as a cryptography provider (sometimes also called a crypto provider)? Are you in need of cryptography provider registration services? If yes and are planning to do it yourself, you should prepare for a possibly daunting registration process. The information is not easily available. You need all the help you can get to find your way around the process and avoid the uncertainty of not knowing which Government doors to knock on. We can help.

Cryptography provider registration

Certain countries draw a distinction between two kinds of cryptography, military cryptography, on the one hand, and cryptography in the private sector, on the other hand. The countries, then, tend to use different laws to regulate the two. The government departments responsible for military defence in those countries usually handle military cryptography.

For the private sector, different laws regulate the use of cryptography, with the responsible department ranging from the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) to the Department of Communications (DoC) or some other variation, depending on the country.

Using Chapter 5 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECT) as an example, you find that the department now responsible for registering cryptography providers is the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. The ECT Act requires that suppliers (not users) of “cryptography” services or products register certain details with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.

  • Their names and addresses.
  • The names of their products with a brief description.
  • Any other relevant documents.

The ECT Act also states that unless the (local or foreign) supplier has registered, they cannot provide their services or products.

In March 2006, when the DoC still handled cryptography provider registration, it published regulations to administer and regulate the activities of crypto providers (GN R216 of 2006 in Government Gazette 28594 of 10 March 2006). These regulations are still valid and binding even though the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies is now the department in charge of registering crypto providers.

Actions you can take

  • Successfully register as a cryptography provider in various countries by instructing us to register you. We can save you time because we know how to do it. If you would like us to provide you with a quote for you to register with the DoC as a crypto provider, please complete this online questionnaire.
  • Find out more about cryptography laws in different countries by using our List of Cryptography Laws.
  • Understand cryptography laws in a specific country by asking us all your questions.
  • Find out if cryptography laws apply to you and whether you have to take any steps, by asking us to provide you with an opinion.

What is the purpose of cryptography provider registration laws?

Registration with the department allows investigative authorities, such as the police, to identify which organisation provides the encryption technologies intercepted by them in terms of monitoring and interception laws. This will enable the investigative authorities to approach these service providers to assist with decrypting the encrypted messages.

Our experience and knowledge

We have years of experience and knowledge regards the registration of cryptography providers. Our clients include certification authorities and both local and international security vendors.