Industry-First Encryption Technology Secures Microdrive Data From Security Breaches
Fairfax, VA., April 3, 2002 -- Trust Digital LLC, a subsidiary of Applied Technologies, Inc., brings peace of mind to users of handheld devices with a first-of-its-kind software application that protects sensitive data stored on the IBM Microdrive. As more companies arm their mobile employees with proprietary information -- much of which is saved on removable storage media cards such as the Microdrive -- the need to secure data on mobile devices is not only important, it's business critical. Trust Digital's new line of encryption software, PDASecure, is designed to safeguard mobile information stored on the IBM Microdrive. Using password protection, data encryption and a variety of administration control features, Trust Digital's encryption software protects data stored on expansion memory cards such as the Microdrive from internal and external fraud, theft, sabotage and hacking.
PDASecure works by allowing users to encrypt data on memory cards, either in full or only securing to specific files, by converting data into "ciphertext," the unreadable content that is viewed on the device's screen before it is unlocked by an authorized user. Users are also able to define who can access their encrypted information and to safeguard data across their entire collection of mobile devices including PDAs, handhelds, laptops and digital cameras.
"A wide variety of encryption products are available on the market today, but few address the critical issue of data security in the handheld space," said Kevin Shahbazi, Trust Digital's vice president of marketing. "By developing applications like SecureCard that protect the data stored on the IBM Microdrive, Trust Digital is holding mobile information to the same high-security standards that all critical, confidential information has traditionally been subject to in the past."
PDASecure, ForeverSecure and SecureCard make up Trust Digital's mobile product line, which automatically transitions data to the correct encryption format depending on the digital device in which the Microdrive is being accessed. Because Trust Digital's encryption technology adapts the data stored on the drive to the appropriate format, the security software is turned on the moment users log on to their systems; the user-friendly system does all the work, making the security process virtually invisible.
PDASecure's transparent operation is one of the application's key attributes, as portable device users do not want to be bogged down with security concerns while transferring information between digital devices. But it's the Microdrive's versatility that enables the seamless storage and retrieval of data across the gamut of digital devices, including laptops, PDAs, handhelds, digital cameras and MP3 players.
"With an increasingly large mobile workforce, more employees are storing confidential information on the storage media in their PDAs and laptops," said John Osterhout, worldwide director of marketing for Microdrive products at IBM. "Encrypting this sensitive information is equally, if not more important than securing data stored on personal computers because the Microdrive enables data sharing across a wide range of portable devices and is used interchangeably among various platforms."
For example, imagine mobile visiting nurses using the Secure Card application to encrypt confidential patient medical records and storing them on the Microdrive in their PDA, eliminating the need to access stationary PCs or search through hard-copy file folders to retrieve time-critical patient data. A secretary could hand a nurse his or her Microdrive in the morning, which would be inserted into a PDA to access the day's schedule complete with maps to patients' homes, medical records, pictures of injuries and lists of allergies -- sensitive information that can all be stored, updated and kept confidential using Trust Digital's encryption software and the Microdrive. After a day of patient visits, the nurse would simply hand the Microdrive back to the secretary, and he or she would upload the new information into the computer.
Similarly, with a large number of government employees in organizations such as the CIA, FBI and Department of Justice working outside traditional office environments, mobile field workers are transitioning data to handheld devices to save space; PDASecure applications enable these employees to safeguard confidential records so they can access the same important information without risking a security breach.
Trust Digital's line of security-enhancing applications is winning praise in the press, recently receiving the "Best Enterprise Security Application Award" from Handheld Computing Magazine. The PDASecure application was also a finalist for the "Best of Comdex 2001" award in the security product category. The software is currently installed or under evaluation for massive deployment by major government, security, law enforcement, financial services and health care corporations worldwide.
The PDASecure product line is available now, with prices starting at $29.95. The IBM Microdrive is being offered at price points beginning at $199 for the 340 MB and $379 for the 1 GB. Additional information on the Microdrive can be found below, by visiting http://www.ibm.com/storage/microdrive , or calling 1-888-426-5214.
About Trust Digital LLC and Applied Technologies, Inc. (ATI)
Trust Digital LLC was formed as a subsidiary to market and support PDASecure and other data security products developed over a two year period by its parent, Applied Technologies, Inc. (ATI) of Fairfax, Virginia. ATI has over ten years of expertise in network security and is a privately held Value-Added Reseller of GoldMine Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software that also develops third party products as an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) for CRM vendors. ATI recently won an award from GoldMine as "Marketer of the Year" and "ISV of the Year" in 2000. Trust Digital is currently co-located with ATI, which is based in Fairfax, Virginia. Information on PDASecure is available at www.trustdigital.com or by calling (703) 246-9198, FAX (703) 246-9496.
About the IBM Microdrive
The IBM Microdrive offers breakthrough storage capacity for the portable electronic devices industry. With capacities ranging from 340 MB to 1 GB on a single one-inch diameter hard disk drive, the IBM family of Microdrives provides high-capacity and cost-effective personal storage in an industry-standard CompactFlash Type II form factor. Weighing just over half an ounce (16 grams), the Microdrive provides outstanding capacity in a compact, portable package -- a key requirement for today's handheld devices.
The Microdrive is supported by a host of portable handheld devices including digital music players, personal digital assistants, and digital cameras. In addition, the Microdrive supports multiple data types including MP3, text, JPEG, voice, etc., and can hold up 1000 standard digital photographs, a thousand 200-page novels or nearly 18 hours of high-quality digital audio music. The Microdrive continues IBM's tradition and leadership in the innovation of hard disk drives.
# # #
Palm OS and PalmSource are registered trademarks, and Palm and Palm Powered are trademarks of Palm, Inc. All other products, services and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or services marks of their respective owners.