nCipher Delivers Cryptographic Security Solution to Volvo IT; nShield Hardware Security Modules Protect Volvo Group Secure Email and PKI

CAMBRIDGE, England--May 9, 2005--nCipher plc (LSE:NCH), a leading provider of cryptographic IT security solutions, today announced that Volvo IT has selected its nShield(TM) hardware security module (HSM) to underpin its use of digital certificates to secure Volvo Group's global email service.

Volvo IT is using nCipher's nShield HSM to protect the vital cryptographic keys that underpin the root of Volvo Group's global Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Certificate Authority (CA). The PKI is being used as the platform to deliver strong authentication, encryption and message integrity for securing the email service that is offered to over 80,000 Volvo Group employees worldwide.

Volvo IT's decision to develop Volvo Group's own in-house PKI and CA to issue and manage digital certificates, digital signatures and encryption throughout the organisation means that it is independent from other certificate authorities and has complete control over its enterprise security. Nothing is more critical to the security of a PKI than the integrity and secrecy of its private keys.

nShield provides a tamper-resistant hardware environment for the management of cryptographic keys and protection of sensitive applications. Independently certified to FIPS 140-2 level 3, the de facto security benchmark for cryptographic modules, nShield can be deployed rapidly into most commercial server platforms and integrated with tailor-made cryptographic applications, creating a trusted hardware platform for critical security processes.

"Volvo IT's decision to develop, deploy and manage its own PKI and CA for Volvo Group reflects an increasing trend among major corporations," said Colin Bastable, VP worldwide sales at nCipher. "Our hardware platforms deliver the highest levels of security, scalability and flexibility to protect the growing number of cryptographic keys used by large international organizations such as Volvo Group across a wide range of applications - from strong authentication and secure email to encryption of valuable intellectual property and SSL."

About Volvo Group

Volvo Group is one of the world's largest producers of trucks, buses and construction equipment as well as marine and industrial power systems and aircraft engine components.

About nCipher

nCipher is a leading provider of cryptographic security, enabling our customers to meet the challenges of verifying identity, protecting data and complying with security regulations. nCipher's solutions provide a unified approach to cryptographic management providing strict access controls and high assurance trusted processing, overcoming traditional issues of scalability, performance and weak platform security. The world's leading organizations work with nCipher to protect security critical systems such as web site infrastructure, online banking and payment processing networks, PKI, web services, databases and digital rights management schemes.

nCipher is the winner of the Microsoft Security Solution of the Year award 2004. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:NCH) and is a member of the FTSE TechMARK and FTSE4Good indices with offices in Cambridge, UK; Boston, Washington, Hamburg and Tokyo. For more information on nCipher, visit www.ncipher.com