Samsung unveils first self-encrypting SSD

On Thursday, Samsung Electronics unveiled the first hardware-based self-encrypting solid-state drive (SSD) in the world. Data is transparently encrypted as it is written to the SSD--which will be available in varying capacities ranging from 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB, in either 1.8-inch or 2.5-inch form factors.

The use of hardware full disk encryption (FDE) is considered more secure and less complex to manage, since encryption keys and access credentials are stored within the storage drive itself. Competitors such as Seagate have previously introduced similar encryption technology, but only on standard hard disk drives so far.

The implementation of hardware-based FDE onto a flash medium not only allows for robust security, but bestows the drive with the superior performance inherent to a SSD. In addition, each Samsung SSD will come bundled with management software from Wave Systems Corp to facilitate pre-boot authentication to the drive and enroll drive administrators and users.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at InformationWeek

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