EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION COPY

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     AGREEMENT, dated the 17th day of October 2006 (“the Effective Date”) between SafeNet, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Walter W. Straub (the “Executive”).

WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to enter into an employment and compensation arrangement on the following terms and conditions;

1. Employment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to employ the Executive as its Chief Executive Officer during the Employment Period (as defined below) and to perform such acts and duties and furnish such services to the Company and its affiliates and related parties as the Company’s Board of Directors shall from time to time direct. The Executive hereby accepts such employment and agrees to devote his full time and best efforts to the duties, provided that, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Executive may engage in other business activities which (i) involve no conflict of interest with the interest of the Company and (ii) do not interfere with the performance by the Executive of his duties under this Agreement.

2. Compensation. For services rendered to the Company during the term of this Agreement, the Company shall compensate the Executive with an initial salary, payable in bi-weekly installments, of Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($450,000) per annum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Executive’s salary be less than Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($450,000) per annum during the Employment Period or any extension thereof, if any.

3. Incentive Compensation; Stock Options.

     a. The Executive shall also be entitled to annual incentive cash compensation of no less than fifty percent (50%) of the applicable base salary actually earned by the Executive during the Employment Period if sales objectives and any other annual objectives specified by the Compensation Committee are achieved. The nature and extent of such incentive compensation shall be determined by the Compensation Committee and shall be paid to the Executive no later than ninety (90) days following the end of the calendar year.

     b. Additional awards of long term incentive compensation, which may include cash, stock or stock options, or other equivalent long term incentive compensation, may be awarded annually as approved by the Compensation Committee.

     c. As soon as administratively feasible after the Effective Date, the Company shall grant to Executive an option, pursuant to the SafeNet, Inc. 2001 Omnibus Stock Plan or any successor thereto (the “Stock Plan”), to purchase 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The option granted pursuant to this Section 3.c. shall have a per-share strike price equal to the closing price of a share of the Employer’s common stock as of the date of the grant and shall vest immediately.

     d. If the Executive’s employment is terminated (i) on account of his death or Disability, (ii) by the Company for any reason other than for Cause or (iii) by the Executive for Good Reason:

     (x) The stock options described in Section 3.c. above that are outstanding and not yet vested shall become fully vested; and

     (y) Each such stock option granted to the Executive shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the third anniversary of the Termination Date or (B) the date on which the option terminates pursuant to the terms of the applicable Stock Plan.

     In the event any provision in this Section 3.c. and Section 3.d. is inconsistent with a provision in a stock option award agreement entered into on or after the Effective Date, the provision in this Section 3.c. and Section 3.d. shall govern, unless expressly provided otherwise.

4. Benefits. During the term of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall be eligible to receive such employee benefits as are provided to other similarly situated executive officers of the Company, including family medical and dental, disability and life insurance, and participation in pension and retirement plans, incentive compensation plans, stock option plans and other benefit plans, in each case in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans, as in effect from time to time. During the term of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Company may provide or cause to be provided to the Executive such additional benefits as the Company may deem appropriate from time to time. The Company shall also provide the Executive with the use of an automobile at Company expense, in accordance with the Company’s automobile policy or practice as in effect from time to time. The Company shall provide mutually agreeable housing for the Executive in the BelCamp area, plus such additional amounts as necessary to pay any federal, state, or local income, employment and other taxes incurred with respect to the housing provided pursuant to this Section 4 and to place the Executive in the same after-tax position as he would be in if such housing were not subject to any tax.

5. Vacation. The Executive shall be entitled to annual vacations in accordance with the Company’s vacation policies in effect from time to time for executive officers of the Company.

6. Employment Period. The “Employment Period” shall commence on the Effective Date of this Agreement and shall terminate six (6) months thereafter. If the Executive shall remain in the full time employ of the Company beyond the Employment Period without any written agreement between the parties, this Agreement shall be deemed to continue on a month to month basis and either party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at the end of any ensuing calendar month on written notice of at least 30 days.

7. Termination.

     a. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will.” Either the Company or the Executive may terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment at any time, with or without Cause or Good Reason (as such terms are defined below), in its or his sole discretion, upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of termination, subject to Section 8 of this Agreement.

     b. Without limiting the foregoing Section 7.a., (i) the Executive may terminate his employment with the Company at any time for Good Reason, or (ii) the Company may terminate his employment at any time for Cause. “Good Reason” shall mean death, Disability (as defined below), a substantial diminution in the Executive’s duties and/or responsibilities (including but not limited to a diminution in title, or an adverse change in reporting structure), relocation of either Executive’s office or the Company’s Headquarters greater than fifty (50) miles from their current locations, or the Company’s failure or refusal to perform its obligations hereunder (including but not limited to payment of all compensation due hereunder in full when due) following ten (10) days written notice to such effect. “Cause” shall mean (i) the Executive’s willful, repeated or grossly negligent failure to perform his duties hereunder or to comply with any reasonable or proper direction given by or on behalf of the Company’s CEO which failure remains uncured for greater than ten (10) days after Executive’s receipt of formal written notice of such failure; (ii) the Executive’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude; (iv) the Executive’s being found guilty of, or pleading no contest to, any act of fraud, theft or dishonesty, or any intentional tort against the Company; (v) the Executive’s violation of any of the material terms, covenants, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement, which violation remains uncured for greater than ten (10) days after Executive’s receipt of formal written notice of such violation; or (vi) the Executive engaging in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which causes financial or reputational harm to the Company.

     c. “Disability” shall mean that the Executive, in the good faith determination of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is unable to render services of the character contemplated hereby and that such inability (i) may be expected to be permanent, or (ii) may be expected to continue for a period of at least three (3) consecutive months (or for shorter periods totaling more than six (6) months during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months). Termination resulting from Disability may only be effected after at least thirty (30) days written notice by the Company of its intention to terminate the Executive’s employment.

     d. “Termination Date” shall mean (i) if this Agreement is terminated on account of death, the date of death; (ii) if this Agreement is terminated for Disability, the date established by the Company pursuant to Section 7.c. hereof; (iii) if this Agreement is terminated by the Executive, the date the Executive thereafter ceases work; or (v) if this Agreement expires by its terms, the last day of the term of this Agreement.

8. Severance.

     a. If the Company terminates the employment of the Executive against his will and without Cause, or the Executive terminates his employment for a Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to receive, subject to receipt by the Company of an executed release and waiver of claims (that has not be revoked during any applicable revocation period) in a form acceptable to the Company: (i) salary and target incentive compensation accrued through the Termination Date, plus (ii) the balance of the Executive’s compensation hereunder to the end of the Employment Period computed using the latest applicable salary rate. The Company shall make severance payments pursuant to this section, in full, within 30 days of the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to pay any severance pay for any period following the Termination Date if the Executive violates the provisions of Section 14, Section 15 or Section 16 of this Agreement. In such event, the Company shall provide written notice to the Executive detailing such violation.

     b. If the Executive is terminated by the Company for Cause or the Executive terminates employment other than for Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive compensation and incentive compensation earned through the Termination Date only.

     c. The Executive acknowledges that, upon termination of his employment, he is entitled to no other compensation, severance or other benefits other than those specifically set forth in this Agreement or any applicable stock option agreement.

     d. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent COBRA shall be applicable to the Company or as provided by law, the Executive shall be entitled to continuation of group health plan benefits following the Termination Date if the Executive makes the appropriate conversion and payments.

9. Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all expenses normally reimbursed by the Company, reasonably incurred by him in furtherance of his duties hereunder an authorized and approved by the Company in compliance with such rules relating there to as the Company may, from time to time, adopt and as may be required in order to permit such payments as proper deductions to the Company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the rule and regulations adopted pursuant thereto now or hereafter in effect. In addition to the foregoing, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the Executive for the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement, subject to the expense documentation requirements of the Company’s expense reimbursement policy.

10. Facilities and Services. The Company shall furnish the Executive with office space, secretarial, support staff and such other facilities and services as shall be reasonably necessary for the performance of his duties under this Agreement.

11. Mitigation Not Required. In the event this Agreement is terminated, the Executive shall not be required to mitigate amounts payable pursuant hereto by seeking other employment or otherwise. The Executive’s acceptance of any such other employment shall not diminish or impair the amounts payable to the Executive pursuant hereto, except as provided in 8.c. above.

12. Place of Performance. The Executive shall perform his duties primarily in Belcamp, Maryland or locations within a reasonable proximity thereof, except for reasonable travel as the performance of Executive’s duties may require. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may perform his duties from the Company’s Torrance, California office for up to ten percent (10%) of the business days in the Employment Period, provided so doing does not adversely impact his ability to effectively perform his duties under this Agreement as determined by the Board of Directors in its discretion.

13. Insurance and Indemnity. During the Employment Period, if available at reasonable costs, the Company shall maintain, at its expense, officers and directors fiduciary liability insurance covering the Executive and all other executive officers and directors in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 per officer and/or director. The Company shall also indemnify the Executive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from any liability asserted against or incurred by the Executive by reason of the fact that the Executive is or was an officer or director of the Company or any affiliate or related party or is or was serving in any capacity at the request of the Company for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employment benefit plan or other enterprise, including reasonable attorneys fees incurred by Executive. This indemnity shall survive termination of this agreement. Executive shall be entitled to retain counsel of his choosing to defend against any third-party claims covered by this paragraph and Company hereby agrees to reimburse Executive for all reasonable attorneys fees incurred on behalf of Executive therefor. The Company shall advance all reasonable attorneys’ fees, including expenses, costs and obligations incurred by or on behalf of Executive in connection with this paragraph, within twenty days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Executive requesting such advance or advances from time to time. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the expenses incurred by Executive.

14. Noncompetition.

     a. The Executive agrees that, except in accordance with his duties under this Agreement on behalf of the Company, he will not, during his employment, or for a period of six (6) months from the Termination Date, participate in, be employed in any capacity by, serve as director, consultant, agent or representative for, or have any interest, directly or indirectly, in any enterprise which is engaged in the digital encryption business. In addition, the Executive agrees that for a period of six (6) months after the Termination Date, the Executive shall not own, either directly or indirectly or through or in conjunction with one or more members of his or his spouse’s family or through any trust or other contractual arrangement, a greater than five percent (5%) interest in, or otherwise control either directly or indirectly, any partnership, corporation, or other entity which is engaged in the digital encryption business. Executive further agrees, for such six (6) month period following the Termination Date to refrain from directly or indirectly soliciting Company’s vendors, customers (or potential customers whose identity became known to the Executive in connection with his relationship with or employment by the Company) or employees.

     b. The Executive hereby agrees that damages and any other remedy available at law would be inadequate to redress or remedy any loss or damage suffered by the Company upon any breach of the terms of this Section by the Executive, and the Executive therefore agrees that the Company, in addition to recovering on any claim for damages or obtaining any other remedy available at law, also may enforce the terms of the this Section by injunction or specific performance, and may obtain any other appropriate remedy available in equity.

15. Assignment of Patents. Executive shall disclose fully to the Company any and all discoveries he shall make and any and all ideas, concepts or inventions which he shall conceive or make during his period of employment, or during the period of six (6) months after his employment shall terminate if, in whole or in part, are the result of his work with the Company. Such disclosure is to be made promptly after each discovery or conception, and the discovery, idea concept or invention will become and remain the property of the Company, whether or not patent applications are filed thereon. Upon request and at the expense of the Company, the Executive shall make application through the patent solicitors of the Company for letters patent of the United States and any and all other countries at the discretion of the company on such discoveries, ideas and inventions, and to assign all such applications to the Company, or at its order, forthwith, without additional payment by the Company during his period of employment and for reasonable compensation for time actually spent by the Executive at such work at the request of the Company after the termination of the employment. He is to give the Company, its attorneys and solicitors, all reasonable assistance in preparing and prosecuting such applications and, on request of the Company, to execute all papers and do all things that may be reasonably necessary to protect the right of the Company and vest in it or its assigns the discoveries, ideas or inventions, applications and letters patent herein contemplated. Such cooperation shall also include all actions reasonably necessary to aid the Company in the defense of its rights in the event of litigation.

16. Trade Secrets.

     a. In the course of the term of this Agreement, it is anticipated that the Executive shall have access to secret or confidential technical and commercial information, records, data specifications, systems, methods, plans, policies, inventions, material and other knowledge (“Confidential Material”) owned by the Company and its subsidiaries. The Executive recognizes and acknowledges that included within the Confidential Material are the Company’s confidential commercial information, technology, methods of manufacture, designs, and any computer programs, source codes, object codes, executable codes and related materials, all as they may exist from time to time, and that they are valuable special and unique aspects of the Company’s business. All such Confidential Material shall be and remain the property of the Company. Except as required by his duties to the Company, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, either during the term of his employment or at any time thereafter, disclose or disseminate to anyone or make use of, for any purpose whatsoever, any Confidential Material. Upon termination of his employment, the Executive shall promptly deliver to the Company all Confidential Material (including all copies thereof, whether prepared by the Executive or others) that is in the possession or under the control of the Executive. The Executive shall not be deemed to have breached this Section if the Executive shall be specifically compelled by lawful order of any judicial, legislative, or administrative authority or body to disclose any confidential material.

     b. The Executive hereby agrees that damages and any other remedy available at law would be inadequate to redress or remedy any loss or damage suffered by the Company upon any breach of the terms of this Section by the Executive, and the Executive therefore agrees that the Company, in addition to recovering on any claim for damages or obtaining any other remedy available at law, also may enforce the terms of this Section by injunction or specific performance, and my obtain any other appropriate remedy available in equity.

17. Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to his residence in the case of the Executive, or to its principal office in the case of the Company, or to such other addresses as they may respectively designate in writing.

18. Entire Agreement; Waiver. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the employment relationship between Company and the Executive, and supercedes any prior agreements relating to such relationship, including any Change of Control Agreement, and may not be changed orally but only by an agreement in writing, signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification or discharge is sought. Waiver of or failure to exercise any rights provided by this Agreement in any respect shall not be deemed a waiver of any further or future rights.

19. Binding Effect; Assignment. The rights and obligations of this Agreement shall bind and inure to benefit of any successor of the Company by reorganization, merger or consolidation, or any assignee of all or substantially all of the Company’s business or properties. The Executive’s rights hereunder are personal to and shall not be transferable nor assignable by the Executive.

20. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

21. Governing Law; Arbitration. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed for all purposes by the laws and public policy of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed and to wholly performed within such state. Any dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereover. The arbitration shall be held in Wilimington, Delaware or in such other place as the parties hereto may agree. The Company acknowledges and agrees that it shall be solely responsible for payment of all filing fees and hearing fees in connection with any arbitration brought pursuant to this section. The prevailing party (if any, as determined by the arbitrator) in arbitration shall be entitled to reimbursement by the non-prevailing party of its reasonable attorneys fees incurred in connection with the arbitration.

22. Further Assurances. Each of the parties agrees to execute, acknowledge, deliver and perform, and cause to be executed, acknowledged, delivered and performed, at any time and from time to time, all such further acts, deeds, assignments, transfers, conveyances, powers of attorney and/or assurances as may be necessary or proper to carry out the provisions or intent of this Agreement.

23. Severability. The parties agree that if any one or more of the terms, provisions, covenants or restrictions of this Agreement shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restriction of this Agreement shall be in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

24. Counterparts. This Agreements maybe executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be and original, but all of which together will constitute on and the same Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SAFENET, INC. has caused this instrument to be signed by a duly authorized officer and the Executive has hereunto set his hand the day and year first above written.

SAFENET, INC.

By		/s/  Bruce Thaw
Name:  Bruce Thaw
Title:  Director
/s/ Walter W. Straub
Walter W. Straub