M-Systems has launched a suite of products to make USB Flash drives more attractive for enterprise storage. The suite ensures data on the drives is encrypted, and includes tools to track devices and apply corporate security policies.
The mTrust suite consists of mTrust Shield, a tool to let administrators control which devices can connect to PC USB ports, plus mTrust Manager, which enables central deployment of passwords to access USB Flash drives. However, many of the features of the suite require special mTrust-ready Flash drives.
Many businesses have banned portable storage because of security issues, according M-Systems. "Firms are afraid of people walking in with an iPod and taking away anything up to 60GB worth of data," said Nimrod Reichenberg, head of marketing for Enterprise Solutions at the firm. Using mTrust Shield, administrators can enforce policy and block the use of unauthorised devices, he added.
Similar tools are already offered by other security vendors, but mTrust Manager is unique, according to Reichenberg, as it centrally manages mTrust Flash drives deployed by the IT department, enabling administrators to set or change passwords. The tool communicates with a software agent running in each one and maintains an audit trail of all file operations carried out, and can also be configured to periodically back up files to a central server.
The mTrust-ready drives are sold by vendors including Verbatim and Kingston Technology. Hardware encryption and mandatory passwords prevent data being read if a device is lost or stolen, Reichenberg said.
The mTrust suite is available through resellers. MTrust Shield costs $20 to $40 (£11 to£22) per endpoint, while mTrust Manager licensing costs depend on the number of USB Flash drives managed.
Secure Portable Office provides virtual desktop for accessing remote applications 27 Aug 2008
Flash drive forces users to protect their data 07 Jul 2008
Two new Whitehall departments and a manufacturing technology centre aim to attract overseas investment in UK clean-tech firms 08 Sep 2008
In the wake of the eWaste scandal, fresh evidence emerges that waste intended for recycling is also being illegally shipped to the developing world 08 Sep 2008
Software's capacity to model solutions to complex problems, enhance communication and enable e-commerce should help cut carbon emissions 08 Sep 2008
More news
Leading green architects argue that until sustainability becomes central to building design, green innovations will struggle to make it into the mainstream 08 Sep 2008
Once your company has gathered up all the low-hanging fruit, what comes next? Sarah Fister Gale finds that the answer lies in everything from multi-million dollar energy efficiency programmes to printers powered by exercise bikes 03 Sep 2008
Slow journey times mean airships are highly unlikely to replace passenger jets, but, as Danny Bradbury discovers, a flotilla of new companies are convinced that low-fuel costs mean the old-fashioned aircraft could have huge appeal to freight operators 02 Sep 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
