• Home
• Network Security
• Storage
• Network Infrastructure
• Services
• VOIP
• Partners
• Downloads
• Clients
• News
• Contact us

Network Storage

Storage Security

Modern systems are well protected against external intrusion by a large number of specialist appliances and software; internal intrusion is defended against by access control, audit systems and by only giving people access to information they need. But to ensure the data can be recovered in the event of a disaster, system malfunction or even human error, data needs to be backed up and kept at a place away from the system.

The security of data is of paramount importance to all businesses, and off-site storage has always been accepted as the only acceptable method of securing data. The modern day threats from terrorist attacks have made this even more true. The question is how to keep the data secure once it leaves the confines of the data centre. When data travels off site, the safest means of securing it is encryption.

One solution is a hardware encryption system, specifically designed for one purpose and one purpose only - to encrypt data written to backup tape or optical disk. This is suitable for all size of customers from SMEs through to large international corporations and Governmental departments. One such system is DISUK’s Paranoia2. The Paranoia2 offers a simple and straightforward means of adding removable storage security to existing tape and optical discs units without the need for changes in the operating system, backup software or procedures.

The Paranoia2 provides on the fly data encryption or decryption to the 3DES standards via a two-part key. The first of these is via a unique secure silicon chip installed when the unit is manufactured, the other is a firmware key that is decided and installed by the end user. Both parts of this unique key must be present for the encryption / decryption to take place. Paranoia2 also supports pre-compression before encryption. This feature enables the unit to maintain or often exceed the transfer rates achieved prior to installation, even when writing or reading in dual interlaced 3DES mode.

Another solution uses an appliance from NeoScale Systems called CryptoStor that automates the encryption of data that is either in-flight over a storage network or at-rest on disk, virtual tape, or tape media. NeoScale Systems, Inc. is the independent leader of storage security, providing transparent, wire-speed protection of storage data regardless of application, transport, media type, or location. With its unique, three-tiered approach to global key management, CryptoStor enables organizations to securely automate the recovery of information from primary or secondary storage. Because NeoScale appliances are purpose-built to meet the unique requirements of storage applications, customers can deploy a storage security solution with minimal operational complexity and impact at the lowest cost.