Winmagic has introduced a cross-platform, full-disk encryption utility.

Securedoc, which supports Mac and 64-bit Windows clients, offers enterprise-class level encryption for heterogeneous computing environments.

'Comprehensive data security requires protection across many types of endpoints and many platforms,' explained Winmagic CEO Thi Nguyen-Huu. 'With more organisations utilising a combination of operating systems, it simply makes sense to provide a single solution that provides cost-effective and user-friendly full-disk encryption for heterogeneous environments. Securedoc now makes it simple for the administrator and end user to ensure all data on all devices is protected at all times – whether they are working on Windows [or] Mac.'

According to Nguyen-Huu, Mac computers are often omitted from encryption deployments, as
the majority of enterprise networks remain Windows-based. However, Securedoc allows users to implement encryption options for Mac machines from the same console used to manage Windows PCs. 

The utility also supports a number of hardware-encrypted disk drives, including those designed using TCG's (Trusted Computing Group) 'Opal' specification.

As IT Examiner previously reported, vendors have already begun shipping self-encrypting hard drives based on standards formulated by TCG, which allows companies to manufacture self-encrypting storage devices capable of automatically securing and erasing data in milliseconds.

'TCG's new specifications for self-encrypting drives give users an easy, transparent way to protect important data on laptop PCs and in data centres. By purchasing systems with these drives, user data will be protected if the system is lost or stolen,' Seagate spokesperson Robert Thibadeau told IT Examiner. 'Self-encrypting drives also help enterprises comply with various data protection regulations and allow them to re-use drives more easily. All of these benefits come with no impact on system performance, which has been an issue with software-based encryption.'

Rob Enderle, president of Enderle Group, concurred. 'TCG's new storage security specifications and resulting drives from the vendors that support them have been needed for some time and address a number of high-performance, interoperability, and security concerns. This change represents a significant improvement for the storage industry and will benefit vendors as well as users who must protect their data,' said Enderle.

According to TCG, placing cryptographic operations in an actual drive ensures that the unit is always encrypted and protected by hardware that 'cannot be observed by other parts of the system.' In addition, self-encrypting drives do not interfere with system maintenance, compression, de-duplication, or end-to-end integrity metrics. TGC's specification is compatible with AES and other cryptographic algorithms, as well as optional security features added by third-parties. X

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