Viasat Inc. Introduces Next-Generation Data-At-Rest Encryption Storage Device for Global Defence Customers
September 14, 2021 at 03:00 am EDT
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Viasat Inc. announced a next-generation encryption storage solution, the data-at-rest cryptography solid state drive (DARC-SSD), as the latest addition to Viasat's hardware encryption family, providing secure data protection for government and defence agencies around the world. Data-at-rest technology safeguards against when a device is stolen, lost or attacked, enabling the data to be entirely protected and secure, even without the device on hand. With threats increasing from adversaries, new encryption technology is critical to maintaining secure control over Intellectual Property (IP), personal and financial data, as well as protecting sensitive mission information that could put military operations at risk. DARC-SSD expands on Viasat's successful line of Eclypt® encryption solutions and is the first encryption storage device in Viasat's new family of data-at-rest solutions. Unlike previous Viasat encryption solutions, the DARC-SSD uses a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) interface, which offers increased compatibility and integration with the latest commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) devices. Its small hardware footprint (M.2 2280) is designed to offer defence customers advanced data-at-rest encryption capabilities for protecting sensitive information on smaller, more compact laptops, tablets and small form factor (SFF) machines at Top Secret level and below. DARC-SSD was built with direct input from the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to meet the requirements for securing highly sensitive defence and national security information. The military level 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) hardware offers full drive hardware encryption for all data and the operating system. The DARC-SSD works by decrypting data upon bootup of the device with the proper mandatory two-factor authentication and then encrypting data immediately when the device is powered off. Unlike software encryption done by the operating system, hardware encryption has no impact on overall device performance. Additional benefits of DARC-SSD include quicker loading times and lower power consumption, and it will be available to defence customers in 256GB, 512GB and 1 terabyte (TB) storage options.
ViaSat, Inc. is a global communications company. Its segments include satellite services, commercial networks and government systems. The satellite services segment provides satellite-based broadband and related services to residential customers, prepaid Internet users, enterprises, commercial airlines and other mobile broadband customers. The commercial networks segment develops and offers advanced satellite and wireless broadband platforms, ground networking equipment, radio frequency and advanced microwave solutions, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip design, satellite payload development and space-to-earth connectivity systems. The government systems segment provides global mobile broadband services to military and government users and develops and offers network-centric, Internet protocol (IP)-based fixed and mobile secure communications products and solutions. The Company also holds a multi-layered, global spectrum portfolio, covering L-band, Ka-band, and S-band.