SAN FRANCISCO: HP has strengthened its security portfolio, HP Secure Advantage, with the introduction of several products that increase data protection and compliance in storage environments.

New to the portfolio are a secure fabric switch; an encryption kit for tape autoloaders and libraries; integration of compliance and key management appliances; and, an online security assessment tool.

These offerings provide customers with a holistic approach to data security, from evaluating existing security strategies to identifying and combating potential security threats. As a result, companies can reduce the risk of security breaches, achieve regulatory compliance and safeguard against lost intellectual property, revenue or corporate reputation.

"Companies of all sizes are grappling with how to handle increased business risks associated with data center sprawl, network attacks and new regulatory pressures," said Jon Oltsik, senior analyst of Information Security at analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group. "The breadth of HP's Secure Advantage portfolio, combined with its services strength, addresses evolving challenges with security and compliance."

In a recent survey of technology security professionals, respondents cited data protection as their No. 1 priority for 2008. The survey revealed that the number of company records exposed due to security breaches increased threefold in 2007 over the previous year.

HP has been protecting the majority of the world's financial transactions for the past 35 years, safeguarding ATM, point-of-sale networks, credit card information and electronic funds transfers. HP Secure Advantage bolsters this effort by delivering a portfolio of servers, storage, software and services that provides customers with integrated security solutions – from the desktop to the data center.

Data protection and compliance in storage environments

HP added new storage encryption, key management and compliance capabilities to its Secure Advantage portfolio, including:

• The HP C-Series MDS 9000 Storage Media Encryption (SME) fabric switch secures data stored on tape drives and virtual tape libraries in a storage area network environment. The SME feature is designed to run on the MDS 9000 family, offering encryption and key management functionality for legacy tape devices to ensure maximum protection of existing product investments.
• The HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 & MSL LTO-4 Encryption Kit offers small to midsize businesses data encryption capabilities. This easy-to-install encryption accessory kit is designed specifically for the HP 1/8 G2 Tape Autoloader and MSL Tape Libraries  with LTO-4 tape technology. It generates and retains encryption keys so critical business information remains private in the event that tapes are lost or stolen.
• HP has integrated the HP StorgaeWorks Secure Key Manger with the HP Compliance Log Warehouse to deliver a comprehensive compliance validation solution for LTO-4 enterprise tape libraries. The combined solution provides a secure audit trail through features that centralize event log collection and long-term retention. The HP Compliance Log Warehouse also collects the business intelligence needed to generate regulatory reports for forensic investigations with a single click of the mouse.
• The HO Storage Security Assessment tool, available on the HP website, enables customers to gauge their most critical storage privacy vulnerabilities online and free of charge. Customers answer a series of questions and receive a personalized report to better manage risk, protect sensitive data and comply with data privacy regulations. This tool was developed by the HP Consulting & Integration Security and Risk Management Practice.