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Samsung Offers Self-Encrypting SSDs

By Antone Gonsalves, InformationWeek

Samsung Electronics on Thursday introduced what the company claims are the first hardware-based self-encrypting solid-state drives.

The 256-, 128-, and 64-GB SSDs provide full-disk encryption using Wave Systems' technology, which activates and manages the encryption. Computer maker Dell said it plans to offer the drives in laptops in the coming months.

Samsung claims the added security does not affect the performance of the SSDs, which will be available in 1.8- and 2.5-inch form factors. The company also claims to be the first to offer SSDs that incorporate hardware-based encryption.

Such encryption provides better security than the software alternative, because encryption keys and access credentials are generated and stored within the drive hardware, making it more difficult to hack, according to Samsung.

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