Secure jack catches on in networking

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 19, 2002

Sales of the AMP Netconnect MT-RJ secure jack connector have exceeded 50,000 since its commercial introduction in January 2001.

Sales of the AMP Netconnect MT-RJ secure jack connector have exceeded 50,000 since its commercial introduction in January 2001.

The MT-RJ Secure connector and cable assemblies or connector cable assemblies are key components in the complete AMP Netconnect MT-RJ Secure optical fibre cabling system product line, offering all the features and benefits of the standard MT-RJ connector system with the added advantage of physical network security.

Developing demand for additional measures of physical security for military installations, government facilities, financial institutions and enterprise data centres and storage area networks running highly sensitive or classified data is fuelling early adoption of the MT-RJ Secure connector.

To limit user access to specific networks and physically segregate network segments, the MT-RJ Secure connector takes advantage of moulded slots on the plug and moulded keys on the latching jack to reduce the chance of accessing the wrong network.

The plugs and jacks are keyed in four different colour-coded versions to assist network administrators in identifying the designated plug intended for an authorised workstation jack.

When mating the plug and jack, the colours must match.

Otherwise, the keying will prevent them from coupling and carrying the data transmission signal.

"Firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs) are important, useful security tools, but more breaches of network security come from within the organisation than from without", says Julian Riley, Business Manager for Tyco Electronics/AMP Netconnect: "This suggests that deterring internal threats is at least as important as guarding the network perimeter, and this is why the MT-RJ SECURE connector is so important".

One strategy often employed to bolster internal security is to create several entirely separate communications cabling plants - one carrying the most sensitive traffic, while one or more lower-security networks carry less-sensitive traffic.

With this approach however, there is always the possibility that the high-security network might surreptitiously or inadvertently become bridged to a lower-security network by the wrong connection of a single patch cord.

The MT-RJ Secure connector system eliminates these problems by allowing for multiple independent cabling systems, and is physically 'keyed' to prevent cross-connection between systems.

The MT-RJ Secure optical fibre cabling system is designed around the industry standard MT-RJ interface, and offers the same performance as standard MT-RJ connector system products.

Like standard MT-RJ connector products, the MT-RJ Secure connector products are designed to fit into conventional RJ-45 faceplates and patch-panel cutouts to provide the greatest density when converting from copper to optical fibre cabling.

The AMP Netconnect MT-RJ connector redefines the cost, size and ease-of-use factors associated with fibre optic cabling infrastructures.

Unlike other small form-factor connectors that terminate one fibre in one ferrule, the MT-RJ connector terminates two fibres in a single ferrule using a plug that is about the same size and shape as an RJ-45 modular plug.

This enables the MT-RJ connector to maintain the smallest size of all the duplex small form-factor connectors.

No other small form-factor fibre connector system allows as many fibres to be terminated in as small a panel space.

Equally important, the MT-RJ connector features epoxyless and polish-free fibre termination, which lowers installation time and labour overhead dramatically.