Toshiba Announces Wipe Technology for Self-Encrypting Disk Drives

News from Tokyo indicate that Toshiba Corporation has introduced Wipe for Toshiba Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) models, a technology that allows special security capabilities, such as the world's first ability for sensitive user data to be securely erased when a system is powered-down or when a SED HDD is removed from the system. According to the announcement made available on Toshiba’s website, the feature can also be used to securely erase user data prior to returning a leased system, system disposal or re-purposing. The technology was created as an enhancement to Toshiba's Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) hard disk drives.

Toshiba announced its latest 2.5" 7200rpm SED HDD model in July 2010, to address the increasing need for IT departments to comply with privacy laws and regulations governing data security. Designed to the Trusted Computing Group "Opal" Specification, Toshiba's SED models provide advanced access security and on-board encryption for client systems such as notebook computers.

The new technology is aimed at improving data security and reducing the risk of data leakage associated with document image data stored on copier and printer systems.  Toshiba’s Wipe technology can automatically invalidate an HDD security key when its power supply is turned off, instantly making all data in the drive indecipherable. Toshiba's innovative new Wipe Technology adds advanced storage security features to enable system makers to transparently and automatically secure private data.

Toshiba's Wipe Technology may be used to set data invalidation attributes for multiple data ranges. This flexibility provides systems designers with a powerful set of data security capabilities that can be easily incorporated into existing system architecture. Attributes include:

- Data encryption and secure invalidation on power cycle.
- Data encryption and preservation on power cycle.

In addition to sensitive data stored on client PCs and removable storage devices, many organizations realize that security of "data at rest" must also extend to document images stored on the hard disk drives within copier and printer systems. Toshiba's innovative new Wipe Technology provides advanced storage security features to enable systems makers to transparently and automatically secure private data on office copiers, printers and other types of business imaging systems.

Source: www.toshiba.co.jp