Seagate Technology: Kudos for Encrypted Hard Drive for System Builders

Seagate Technology has begun providing system builders with a new computer hard disk with built-in AES encryption.  The hard disks are being offered under the Momentus® line of products. 

The Momentus® 5400 FDE.2 hard disk drive offers hardware based encryption with support for the AES encryption algorithm, 5400 RPM performance, built in 8-MB cache, and SATA 1.5GB/s interface support. 

Ok, beyond the geek factor this drive provokes some important thoughts in terms of recent news stories of stolen or "misplaced" computer laptops in recent months.  Hopefully more hard drive vendors will follow Seagate's efforts to provide hardware based solutions to protect data stored in mobile computers.  Although hardware vendors' efforts are commendable, the real responsibility for the protection of data stored in mobile computers lies squarely at the feet of those responsible for information security and technology in organizations. 

Hardware or software end point solutions will never be the cure-all to stop lapses in judgment, poor information security policies and enforcement, and most importantly human behavior.  What technologies like hard disks with firmware based encryption do provide is one less excuse for poor information security policies and management in today's business organizations. 

It is time for those in areas of responsibility to act responsibly and attempt to prevent serious lapses in corporate information security. 

For more information:

Seagate
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/laptops/momentus/momentus_5400_fde.2/