IBM has developed a low-cost system for securing
sensitive information held on digital media, medical devices,
defence systems and consumer products.
Codenamed Secure Blue, the technology can be built into a
processor, making it more effective than some software encryption
systems, said IBM.
It was developed by IBM Research to encrypt confidential
information, including documents, presentations and software, as
well as the keys that are used to secure communications, or digital
signatures. Secure Blue is designed to prevent their unauthorised
use, even if a malicious user has physical access to or control of
the device, said IBM.
IBM said Secure Blue was the first technology to make encryption
affordable to buyers of low-cost, relatively low-performance
electronics such as mobile phones and PDAs.
IBM Technology Collaboration Solutions plans to work with users
and partners across consumer electronics, medical, government and
digital media industries to integrate Secure Blue into products and
IT systems.
“Security is the highest priority in the datacentre and in a
secure network, but it is only half the equation. To have a truly
secure system, security must be addressed end to end, from the
datacentre all the way to the end-user,” said Charles Palmer,
manager security and privacy at IBM Research.
“Secure Blue has the potential to be a security ‘seal of
approval’ in industries such as consumer, medical, government and
defence and digital media,” he said.