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EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements of our report
dated March 7, 2005, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of SafeNet,
Inc. and subsidiaries included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31,
2004. Registration Statements on Form S-8RegistrationName
    
    Number
    
    Date FiledCommon Stock of SafeNet, Inc. issuable upon exercise of options assumed by SafeNet, Inc. in
connection with the certain agreement and plan of reorganization by and among SafeNet, Inc.,
Snowflake Acquisition Corp. and Datakey, Inc. dated as of September 9, 2004 (the Merger
Agreement), which were originally issued under the following stock option plans:
    
    333-122886
    
    February 17, 2005Datakey, Inc. 1997 Stock Option PlanIndividual Stock Option AgreementsCommon Stock of SafeNet, Inc. issuable upon exercise of options assumed by SafeNet, Inc. in
connection with the certain agreement and plan of reorganization by and among SafeNet, Inc.,
Ravens Acquisition Corp and Rainbow Technologies, Inc. dated as of October 22, 2003 (the
Merger Agreement), which were originally issued under the following stock option plans:
    
    333-113784
    
    March 22, 2004Rainbow Technologies, Inc. 2003 Stock Option PlanRainbow Technologies, Inc. 2001 Nonstatutory Stock Option PlanRainbow Technologies, Inc. 2002 Stock Option PlanRainbow Technologies, Inc. Restated 1990 Stock Option PlanSafeNet, Inc. 2001 Omnibus Stock Plan,
(Formerly 2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan)
    
    333-107621
    
    August 4, 2003Common Stock of SafeNet, Inc. issuable upon exercise of options assumed by SafeNet, Inc. in
connection with the certain agreement and plan of reorganization by and among SafeNet, Inc.,
Sapphire Acquisition Corp. and Cylink Corporation date as of October 30, 2002 (the Merger
Agreement), which were originally issued under the following stock option plans:Cylink Corporation 2001 Non-Qualified Stock Incentive PlanCylink/ARL 1997 Stock Option PlanCylink Corporation Amended and Restated 1994 Flexible Stock Incentive Plan
    
    333-103063
    
    February 10, 2003SafeNet, Inc. 2001 Omnibus Stock Plan,
(Formerly 2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan)
    
    333-62584
    
    June 8, 2001SafeNet, Inc. 2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan
    
    333-50772
    
    November 28, 2000Information Resource Engineering, Inc. 2000 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan
    
    333-43062
    
    August 4, 2000Information Resource Engineering, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Option Plan, 1999 Stock Bonus
Plan, 1999 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan
    
    333-91877
    
    December 1, 1999Information Resource Engineering, Inc. Stock Option Plan
    
    333-08343
    
    July 18, 1996




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Registration Statements on Form S-3Registration
    
    
    
    RegistrationNumber
    
    Date Filed
    
    Number
    
    Date Filed333-109694
    
    February 13, 2004
    
    333-89282
    
    June 12, 2002333-109694
    
    October 15, 2003
    
    333-89282
    
    May 29, 2002333-106084
    
    July 9, 2003
    
    333-93371
    
    December 22, 1999333-106084
    
    June 25, 2003
    
    333-90237
    
    November 3, 1999333-106084
    
    June 24, 2003
    
    333-04907
    
    May 31, 1996333-89282
    
    June 18, 2002
    
    033-94046
    
    August 18, 1995333-106084
    
    June 13, 2003
    
    033-94046
    
    June 28, 1995
 /s/ Ernst & Young LLP Baltimore, Maryland
March 14, 2005