ClevX has developed a new self-encrypting drive (SED) platform that is independent of host hardware and operating system and can be deployed in minutes. ClevX DataLock BT Secured can be applied to almost any internal or external SSD or HDD. All it needs is a small chip, a Bluetooth antenna, software from ClevX and a modern smartphone. The platform can even guarantee that a drive can only be unlocked in certain geolocations.
Although DataLock BT Secured by ClevX offers very powerful security features, it is a relatively simple platform. On the hardware side, it is made up of a small chip that encrypts data using an AES-256 algorithm, contains the unique PIN code to unlock the data, and a Bluetooth antenna. This little chip can be installed on any SSD or HDD, as long as it has the right controller and the right firmware. Since ClevX works with all major SSD controller developers, including Marvell, Phison, and Silicon Motion, drive manufacturers are spoiled for choice.
External storage devices with ClevX’s DataLock KP can be equipped with a keyboard to enter the password (see Kingston’s IronKey 200 keyboard), but for internal DataLock BT-enabled drives (M.2, 2.5 inches, etc.), a smartphone running Android or iOS is sufficient – even Apple Watch will work. ClevX’s smartphone software sends a unique encrypted PIN to the reader if all the conditions are met: the password is correct, the biometrics match, the geolocation and synchronization are appropriate, etc.
ClevX’s DataLock SED platform is FIPS 140-2/3 Level 3 compliant, supports remote management (requires smartphone management program), but does not require any special drivers, updates software, BIOS upgrade, TPM, or administrative setup for installation. . As an added bonus, ClevX’s DataLock SED platform supports cloud-based data loss prevention – a separate service that naturally costs more.
One of the main advantages of the ClevX DataLock security platform is its flexibility. In addition to mainstream M.2 and 2.5-inch SSDs, it can be applied to all form factors and devices. For example, modern printers and scanners store a large amount of data that no one would want to see in the wrong hands. The same goes for NAS, IoT, medical and industrial devices. Adding ClevX’s DataLock BT Secured encryption chip and a Bluetooth receiver will not significantly increase the BOM cost, complexity or size of the device, so DataLock hardware can be applied to virtually all types of storage devices.
Another great thing about ClevX’s DataLock BT Secured is that it’s transparent to operating systems, so it can be used for machines running Windows, Linux, Chrome, various operating systems at times. real and industrial, and even Apple’s MacOS (at least for external systems/add-on storage devices) which currently relies on encryption enabled by Apple’s processors.
Data protection is vital for both organizations and individuals, but when it comes to security, there is always a balance between the strength of protection and its ease of use. Essentially, the more complex the deployment and authentication process, the less convenient it is to use, which is why in some cases people are skipping precautions altogether. In other words, too tight security can end up costing tens of millions of dollars if it’s too inconvenient. (A good example of this is a scandal with data encryption by Morgan Stanley).
There are two ways to protect data on the client: using software encryption like Windows BitLocker or analogues from ESET or McAfee, or using SEDs which are particularly difficult to deploy when dealing with client systems. (Note that Apple’s latest platforms have SED capabilities these days.) Software encryption and SEDs have known vulnerabilities. Moreover, SEDs are not easy to manage.
ClevX DataLock BT Secured is a self-contained platform that is transparent to host hardware and software, uses powerful AES-256 encryption algorithms to encrypt data, and utilizes modern smartphone security capabilities to unlock data – the capabilities that many people are already using. ClevX provides reference designs to hardware manufacturers, and its DataLock software is available from Apple’s and Google’s app stores.
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