Emulex HBAs With Hardware Encryption

Emulex Corporation announced its OneSecure adapter, an 8Gb/s Fibre Channel encryption Host Bus Adapter (HBA) that provides high-performance, hardware-based encryption.

Emulex OneSecure adapters protect data on the wire and at-rest, encrypting data throughout the data lifecycle without impacting application performance. Additionally, EMC Corp. plans to integrate the Emulex OneSecure adapter’s hardware offload processing capabilities into its EMC PowerPath Encryption with RSA as well as in its EMC CLARiiON network storage and EMC Celerra unified storage systems as part of a complete security solution for Fibre Channel-connected hosts that encrypts data without sacrificing server performance, system uptime or stability for high workload data center environments.

"Customers are looking for a solution that addresses their ever increasing security demands and compliance regulation requirements without the complexity of other solutions on the market today," said Steve Daheb, chief marketing officer and senior vice president of business development, Emulex. "EMC PowerPath Encryption with RSA and CLARiiON Host Encryption, combined with Emulex’s OneSecure adapter, will provide leading storage encryption solutions for enterprise and midrange storage arrays, Microsoft Hyper-V environments and private and public cloud architectures with the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). In short, Emulex OneSecure adapters are a simple, game-changing solution to complex data encryption problems."

EMC has teamed with Emulex to develop a solution that will allow customers to easily and effectively meet their data security and compliance requirements. The capabilities – which will integrate Emulex’s OneSecure adapter with EMC PowerPath software and leverage RSA Key Manager for enterprise and mid-market key management – and planned integration with CLARiiON Host Encryption – will result in an industry leading, enterprise-class encryption solution.

"EMC is a leader in both storage and security and is expanding its capabilities with high-performing, hardware-based encryption options," said Barbara Robidoux, EMC’s Vice President of Storage Marketing. "Emulex’s OneSecure adapter is a key component of a unique storage security solution. By offloading EMC PowerPath, CLARiiON and Celerra Fibre Channel Host Encryption processing to the HBA, the result is near zero impact to the host CPU. What’s more, data is secured as it leaves the host and is secure while in transit from the host to disk on the array, and can be added without impacting application or database performance."

Emulex OneSecure adapter technology – initially unveiled in February 2009 – provides hardware encryption and advanced software for integration into solutions, such as those from EMC. Emulex’s OneSecure adapter delivers a distinct advantage in three important ways. First, it delivers industry-leading performance by offloading encryption processing to the HBA, so there is virtually no impact to application performance. Second, it provides superior data security and protection against data breaches, minimizing the window of vulnerability by securing data where it originates, at the host, as described in SNIA’s Best Current Practices. Third, Emulex OneSecure adapters offer a less expensive approach to security. For example, as shown using Emulex’s Cost of Encryption Calculator, OneSecure adapters are 50% less expensive than encryption arrays and 70% less expensive than encryption switches.

"Now, more than ever, there is an ever-increasing demand for storage encryption for two main reasons – an increase in disk encryption adoption, and an increase in security threats. At the same time, the price for storage encryption is becoming more affordable," said Jon Oltsik, principal analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. "Emulex’s OneSecure adapter is coming into the market at a time when storage encryption is evolving into an enterprise requirement. OneSecure should be attractive to users as it offers a unique ability to encrypt data flow and data traffic as it moves across the data center."

Emulex OneSecure adapters are ideal for customers in need of an encryption solution that doesn’t impact database or application performance, delivers improved availability and lower TCO. OneSecure protects data from internal and external threats giving customers a tool to easily meet their compliance requirements for data protection rules and regulations, such as HiTECH Act, PCI-DSS, Security Breach Disclosure, HIPAA, GLBA, BASEL II, and various DoD and NSA requirements.

In addition, OneSecure adapters are compatible across the Emulex LightPulse family of Fibre Channel HBAs, which have achieved broad market acceptance with over seven million ports shipped to-date. Emulex’s OneSecure adapter leverages the same reliable architecture and common driver platform featured across the LightPulse family of adapters, providing data center administrators with time-saving, streamlined management and deployment for all Emulex adapters in their environment.