data security

Which Industries Keep The Most Records And Why?

February 4, 2014 Leave a Comment

These days, business is all about data. It’s what drives success and designs our future but just who is using the most? And why?

Industries such as healthcare and medicine, IT, and other customer-facing industries store the most information and here we look at why they need to.

The law

Thanks to the Data Protection Act and other legal rulings, businesses and industries must keep certain records for specific lengths of time. These must be stored securely and any industry or company which fails in their duty can face harsh penalties as a result.[Read More]

CIA paid AT&T for phone records

November 8, 2013 Leave a Comment

CIA paid AT&T for phone records (via AFP)

The CIA pays AT&T more than $10 million a year to provide phone records with possible links to suspected terrorists, the New York Times reported Thursday, citing government officials. The arrangement is voluntary and there is no court order requiring…

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Toshiba Wipe Adds More Security for Sensitive Data

August 12, 2010 Leave a Comment

Paranoid about the sensitive data you have in your hard drive? Toshiba just might have the answer for you with their new technology called Wipe. This technology involves self-encrypted hard drives. Basically, the security lies in the fact that sensitive data can be wiped out from the drive when the system is turned off or when the hard drive is taken out of the system. In case someone tries to steal your HDD, you are safe!

Here’s an excerpt from the press release made by Toshiba:

…Wipe for Toshiba Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) models, a technology that allows special security capabilities, such as the world’s first ability for sensitive user data to be securely erased when a system is powered-down or when a SED HDD is removed from the system. The feature can also be used to securely erase user data prior to returning a leased system, system disposal or re-purposing. Wipe was created as an enhancement to Toshiba’s Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) hard disk drives.

Toshiba announced its latest 2.5″ 7200rpm SED HDD model in July 2010, to address the increasing need for IT departments to comply with privacy laws and regulations governing data security. Designed to the Trusted Computing Group “Opal” Specification, Toshiba’s SED models provide advanced access security and on-board encryption for client systems such as notebook computers.

This technology can be applied to hard drives for laptops and other mobile devices. Businesses that use electronic equipment such as printers and photocopiers with hard drives can also benefit from this new technology.

It is easy to see how individuals and entities who have particularly sensitive information will find great use for Wipe. The question is this: just how much will this set you back? So far, it doesn’t seem like exact figures have been released. We’ll find out soon enough, I am sure.