Seagate Technology
has started shipping 2.5in encrypted hard drives for
laptops.
The
Momentus 5400 FDE.2 is already shipping to
ASI Computer
Technologies, and will feature Wave Systems’ security
management software to simplify enterprise deployments.
Other laptop manufacturers are expected to bundle the Seagate
drive in response to user demand for sensitive data encryption to
meet their compliance needs.
Seagate’s Momentus 5400 FDE.2 hard drive comes with
perpendicular recording technology to deliver up to 160GBytes of
capacity, a fast Serial ATA interface, and hardware-based AES
encryption.
AES encryption is a government-grade security protocol used to
encrypt all hard-drive information transparently and automatically,
preventing unauthorised access to data on lost or stolen
laptops.
The encrypting hard drive also gives organisations an easy way
to repurpose or retire laptops without compromising sensitive
information, and to comply with the growing number of data privacy
laws calling for the protection of consumer information using
government-grade encryption.
ASI Computer Technologies, a leading channel provider of laptop
PCs, will offer the drive in its ASI C8015 whitebook system. For
additional security, the ASI C8015, which is expected to be
available in April, will contain a biometric fingerprint
reader.
The laptop will target healthcare, legal, finance, government
and other industries requiring strong protection of information
stored on laptops.
The ASI C8015 will come with
Wave Systems’ Embassy Security Center’s Trusted Drive
Manager to simplify setup and configuration of Momentus 5400
FDE.2 drives.
Trusted Drive Manager helps administrators and users to create
and back up passwords, and makes it easier to control hard-drive
policies and security settings.
The software also uses Seagate’s DriveTrust technology, which
allows administrators to instantly and easily erase all data
cryptographically so the drive can be safely redeployed or
discarded.
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