Storage outfit Western Digital has introduced a next gen security system for its rugged drives that allows managers to give remote permission to users to lock and unlock drives using the face recognition and thumbprint recognition on their phones.
The first product to use the ArmorLock™ Security Platform is the new G-Technology™ ArmorLock™ encrypted NVMe™ SSD, billed as an “easy-to-use, high-performance, high-grade security storage solution for creators in the media and entertainment industry.”
Western Digital says that while much of the industry’s focus has been on cloud security, data often remains vulnerable on the portable storage devices holding critical commercial content and unlike password-based encryption technologies that interrupt workflows and prevent fast availability to digital assets, the ArmorLock Security Platform “delivers unmatched security that allows the content owner to control how data is accessed and by whom.”
“For our customers, data and digital assets are their essential competitive advantage, and encryption has become mandatory in order to protect these resources in many industries. We built the ArmorLock Security Platform with the belief that the world needs new, fundamental technologies to enable data privacy without hampering data availability while helping to protect against data breaches,” said Jim Welsh, senior vice president and general manager of Consumer Solutions Products, Western Digital. “By combining this new platform with our world-class NVMe SSD products, we are addressing the real pain points our customers face when trying to secure their creative workflows while also allowing them to capture, preserve and access their data at scale and at speed.”
The ArmorLock encrypted NVMe SSD – delivering up to 1000MB/s read and write speeds via a SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps port. With the ArmorLock app, users can unlock the device wirelessly with their phone, using face recognition, a fingerprint, or the phone’s passcode ensuring lost passwords don’t cause missed deadlines.
The ArmorLock mobile and desktop apps also provide managers the ability to configure and manage multiple drives and multiple users to control who has access. Especially important for collaborative workflows that require safe shipping of content between physical locations, the next-gen security in ArmorLock devices enables teams to authorize remote users before sharing the drives using popular messaging and email services.
Other key features of the ArmorLock encrypted NVMe SSD and ArmorLock app include:
· Simple to setup and easy unlock with your smartphone via the ArmorLock app
· High-grade 256-bit AES-XTS hardware encryption
· Secure erase and reformat to your favorite file system in one step
· Track the last known location of the drive on a map
· In-field updates for continued security support, improvements, and new features
· Ultra-rugged durability with IP67 dust/water resistance, up to 3M drop protection*** and 1000lb crush resistance
The ArmorLock encrypted NVMe SSD is available now. The SSD is available in 2TB for MSRP £559.99 in the UK. The ArmorLock app for iOS and macOS is available for free download: https://GetArmorLock.com/Apps.
Tom Mitchell, Technical Director, Mission Digital, said: “We have always gravitated toward G-Technology drives as they have used well-built components that have offered enhanced reliability and performance. With big studios and streaming services wanting to protect their assets, there has been a big move to using encrypted media, but in some cases, that comes with a performance hit. ArmorLock fills those needs perfectly; providing a drive that is fast, rugged, water-resistant, reliable and encrypted! It’s the drive the industry has been crying out for.”
Jon Creamer
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