Toshiba Storage Device Division (SDD) and Wave Systems Corp. announced an alliance to develop a robust standards-based solution for the secure encryption of data on mobile computing platforms, such as laptop PCs.

The full disk encryption solution integrates Toshiba’s HDD encryption technology and an enhanced version of Wave’s EMBASSY Trusted Drive Manager and Remote Administration Server products for the management and administration of encrypting hard drives. Toshiba and Wave will demonstrate development versions of these products at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, August 19-21.

Wave has extended its client software, EMBASSY Trust Suite (ETS), which includes the Trusted Drive Manager, and the EMBASSY Remote Administration Server, to provide cross-vendor support for encrypting HDDs from multiple disk drive OEMs, including Toshiba's HDD encryption technology. ETS also manages other PC trusted computing hardware components such as Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), biometric finger print sensors and smart card readers. ETS is an industry-leading trusted computing software, with more than 30 million copies shipped via Wave’s major PC OEM partners.

Toshiba's HDD encryption technology uses design principles from the evolving draft specifications for trusted storage devices. The solution provides high-performance data encryption integrated into the drive hardware, with strong protection of the encryption keys and secure authentication as integral elements of the HDD design. Availability of Toshiba HDD models incorporating the encrypting technology will be announced at a later date.

"Stronger security for information on mobile PCs is becoming a high-demand feature as customers look for solutions to protect sensitive personal and business data," said Maciek Brzeski, vice president of marketing at Toshiba Storage Device Division. "Building on our legacy of HDD innovation and technology leadership, our partnership with Wave Systems enhances our current encryption technology platform and provides mobile PC manufacturers with advanced security features to deliver the data protection mobile users require."

When combined, Toshiba and Wave's state-of-the-art components provide a highly secure, easy-to-use and remotely manageable data protection solution for mobile PCs. Wave’s solution also assists enterprises with the compliance assertion tools required by many stringent data protection laws and regulations worldwide.

"As trusted computing hardware, including encrypting HDDs, becomes integrated into more mobile PCs, having components and software designed with common principles centered on strong access and data security becomes important for interoperability and cross platform management," said Lark Allen, executive vice president, Wave Systems. "Wave Systems is committed to being an industry leader in implementing existing and developing trusted computing standards. Toshiba’s HDD encryption technology represents an important step toward delivering strong access security to enhance the protection of data - particularly data on mobile PCs."