Toshiba launches self-encrypting hard drives

Toshiba claimed to have released the world’s first series of self-encrypting drives, with its Wipe Technology targeting the enterprise market.

The 2.5-type MK6461GSYG family was announced today in five different models, ranging from 160GB to 640GB, and has been designed for use in copiers, printers, PCs and other IT devices.

The technology can invalidate encryption keys and data when the drive is removed from its housing or hooked up to an unauthorised host system.

Samples will make their way out to the market by the end of the month, with mass production due to start at the end of June.

“Today, most office copier and printing systems utilise HDD capacity and performance to support productivity and the security of recorded document image data that must be maintained,” Toshiba said in a statement.

“Furthermore, data invalidation required overwriting for hours or physically disrupting until now.”

Toshiba said it was looking at ways to introduce its Wipe Technology in the MK6461GSYG family into solid state drives (SSDs).

The firm started developing its Wipe Technology in August 2010.

“Reflecting voice of customers to meet varying using conditions, MK6461GSYG family drives not only offer the latest version of Wipe Technology adding the third level of control, but also configure areas for invalidation and encryption, achieving an optimised solution for data security,” Toshiba added.

With some significant data breaches in the UK of late, and with the rise in data breach costs, such technology may perform well on these shores.

This article originally appeared at itpro.co.uk