Storage Security: NEOSCALE API "Toolkits" Unlock Keyvault Global Key Management

NeoScale Systems, the trusted leader in enterprise storage security solutions, recently announced the availability of the first set of its KeyVault Integration Toolkits (KITs): the NeoScale LTO4 Tape KIT and the NeoScale Disk KIT. Built in response to requirements from major vendors who are developing storage encryption solutions which require a centralized key management solution, the toolkits enable partners to connect their solutions to a NeoScale CryptoStor KeyVault key management appliance and take advantage of network-based key management services. By providing a streamlined approach to key management integration that provides automated updates as standards evolve, the KITs demonstrate NeoScale's ongoing commitment to partners by helping them stay at the forefront of security management, close business faster, and protect their investments in advanced feature integration.

"Key management is a logical extension of a complete information lifecycle management solution. NeoScale makes it easy for vendors to integrate an up-to-the-minute, standards-based key management capability into their own products," said Jon Oltsik, Senior Analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. "NeoScale not only truly understands the complexities of data-at-rest encryption and key management, the company also recognizes partners' business needs and are providing them with the tools they need to successfully build key management into their own solutions."

NeoScale's CryptoStor KeyVault appliance provides enterprises with secure, automated, and open key management, ensuring strong key security and complete information access from internal back-ups, secondary data centers, and disaster recovery sites. Based on partner input, NeoScale has expanded its open APIs to address the unique requirements of storage devices and introduced NeoScale KITs, which include the following components:

• LTO4 Tape KIT: key management client library, sample code, use case documents, and documentation for tape library vendors requiring key management
• Disk KIT: key management client library, sample code, use case documents, and documentation for disk vendors requiring key management

The APIs offered by the NeoScale KITs support a simple command set for generating, accessing, and storing keys on a network-based key management service that scales to support cross-enterprise key sharing for advanced business to business information sharing. The KITs support embedded systems and other implementations with limited OS services. Today, disk and tape vendors can easily integrate the API into their solutions as well as support their OEM partners. NeoScale is working towards broadening KITs' interoperability to support a wide variety of endpoints, such as files, applications, and databases.

"We interviewed major tape and disk vendors and built our tookits in response to their requirements. By leveraging NeoScale KeyVault Integration Toolkits, partners can easily trend with the evolving standards towards the final standard, while accelerating their business growth and differentiation to achieve greater profitability," said Barbara Nelson, CEO. "We will continue to evolve our API and team with major security vendors to support the developing IEEE P1619.3 standard, so partners can benefit from automated investment protection. With our open, standards-based approach to global key management, partners don't have to wait to capitalize on the growing customer need to manage and protect the keys to their secured information."

To take advantage of the growing storage security market, NeoScale KITs provide NeoScale partner vendors with the following benefits:

• Open, vendor-neutral key management: by leading the way in storage encryption key management via support of industry standards, NeoScale is a reliable choice for key management
• Lowest total cost of ownership: single point of key management for multiple encryption end points lowers cost and complexity
• Strongest security: integration with secure key management appliance for all key operations and storage
• Scalable implementation: support for small enterprise to multi-enterprise environments via open key management interface supporting appliance, application, database, and storage devices

"Standards in infrastructure technology are always important, but when it comes to data security the importance is magnified. It is neither practical nor secure to manage numerous encryption keys as the number of encrypted data stores grow—and lost or compromised keys mean lost data, lost business, and perhaps a trip through the headlines," said Bret S. Weber, chief architect and fellow, Engenio Storage Group, LSI Corporation. "NeoScale understands this, and we applaud their commitment to standards and making it easier for us to integrate enterprise key management into our systems."

The NeoScale LTO4 Tape KIT and NeoScale Disk KIT will be available in mid-October 2007 to any disk or LTO4 tape vendor, including but not limited to existing partners. To find out more about NeoScale's new KeyVault Integration Toolkits (KITs), visit www.neoscale.com/acceleratewithKITs.

About NeoScale Systems, Inc.
NeoScale Systems, Inc. is the trusted leader in storage security, enabling enterprise customers to achieve data privacy with the strongest security and lowest operational impact. The company's award-winning CryptoStor appliances automate key management and encryption of data at rest on disk, virtual tape, or tape media. NeoScale appliances free customers from vendor lock-in through openness and interoperability. NeoScale solutions have been certified by leading storage vendors and have been deployed by nearly 300 customers worldwide, including a fifth of the Global 50 companies, top financial institutions, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and a growing list of companies seeking to protect their organizational data. For more information, visit www.neoscale.com.

SOURCE: NeoScale Systems