Data Protection
Data Protection
Self-encrypting Drive (SED) solutions based on TCG specifications enable integrated encryption and access control within the protected hardware of the drive. Self-encrypting drives provide the industry's preferred solution for full disk encryption, protecting data when the machines or drives are lost or stolen, as well as re-purposed, warranty repair, and end-of-life. TCG's open standards provide multivendor interoperability, allowing application vendors to provide management for multiple SED providers.
Self Encrypting Drive Benefits
Encryption
- Proven standards for data confidentiality
- Hardware-based and optimized within the drive electronics
Loss Prevention
- Compliance to state, federal, and international breach notification legislation; enables an encryption-based 'safe-harbor'
- Minimize risk of data theft when compared to traditional drive disposal technique
Better Performance
- Encryption hardware, integrated into the drive controller, allows the drive to operate at full data rate with no performance degradation
- Scalable solution - every drive contains an encryption engine
Stronger Security
- Encryption always on and transparent to the user - major compliance requirement
- Keys for encryption are generated in the drive and never leave the drive
- User authentication is performed by the drive before it will unlock, independent of the operating system
Easier to Use
- Encryption is transparent to both users and application software
- No impact on end-to-end processes, like compression, de-duplication, or data loss prevention
Lower Cost of Ownership
- No need for complex infrastructure to manage encryption keys
- Main processor cycles not used for encryption
- No modifications to the operating system, applications or tools
- Crypto-erase provides instant repurposing/decommissioning; drive is not destroyed
Self-Encrypting Drives in the Marketplace
Almost all HDD and SSD makers offer self-encrypting drives based on TCG specifications for laptop form factors and for enterprise drives, and a number of software vendors provide management software for enterprise deployment. Drives are offered in systems from Dell and many other PC makers.
A 2011 market analysis for SEDs from Coughlin Associates:
- By 2017, all hard drives will be SED capable (encryption integration into the controller); over 25 percent are SED enabled today
- By 2013, 80 percent of solid state drives, or SSDs, are SED capable; by 2014, penetration will near 100 percent
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