Tech Bytes: Northern Telecom Spinoff to Open in D.C.

Entrust Technologies Inc., the data security and cryptography company known as Nortrust Secure Networks before its recent spinoff from Northern Telecom, said it will establish its U.S. headquarters in Washington.

Most of the employees will continue to be based at its product development center in Ottawa.

Chief executive officer John Ryan said the presence in the two national capitals will be useful for Entrust's considerable government-related work. He also noted that the Washington area is a hotbed of Internet business activity.

Entrust is a major provider of cryptographic technology used in government, financial institutions, other major corporations, and systems offered by Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Tandem Computers, among others.

Mr. Ryan, 40, was named permanent CEO after serving on an interim basis when Entrust was officially launched in early January. He spent 15 years at Northern Telecom, most recently as vice president and general manager of multimedia and Internet solutions.