PRESS RELEASE
- PBConnex sets new data security benchmark by making it just as easy to manage and use encrypted devices as unencrypted devices -
August 24rd, 2011 - WinMagic, the prominent innovator in disk encryption, today launches SecureDoc with PBConnex, the first full-disk encryption solution with pre-boot networking. PBConnex, an extension to SecureDoc, fully integrates network support within the pre-boot environment to make it significantly simpler to authenticate users, enforce access controls and manage end-point devices prior to the operating system loading - eliminating the user, deployment and system management headaches previously associated with endpoint encryption.
PBConnex authenticates users and encrypted devices against Microsoft's Active Directory (AD) and the SecureDoc Enterprise Server (SES) in the pre-boot environment - before the key to decrypt and load the operating system is available. This eliminates the need to replicate user access credentials onto devices and set up a separate password reset mechanisms which are required with other full-disk encryption solutions. PBConnex makes it just as easy for users to access a network from an encrypted device as an unencrypted device.
With other full-disk encryption solutions, administrators have to either manually add/remove access for each individual user for each device or enable autoboot, which leaves user passwords vulnerable if the device is taken outside of a security zone. With SecureDoc and PBConnex, all authorised users can simply enter their password to log on to an authorised device at pre-boot without any additional replication being necessary.
Prior to the launch of PBConnex, when resetting a password, a user had to go through a lengthy password reset procedure and may have to enter the new password multiple times during system logon. With SecureDoc and PBConnex, this cumbersome process is no longer required as passwords are reset directly in AD and new system logon is possible immediately without any delays, greatly simplifying the life of administrators and users alike.
With other full-disk encryption solutions, if new software is to be rolled-out during the off hours, the encrypted device has to be set into autoboot mode, disabling the strong authentication mechanisms intended to secure the local data and therefore exposing this data to possible security breaches during autoboot mode. With SecureDoc and PBConnex a system administrator will be able to roll-out new software without exposing the device, as the system will notice during boot time if the device is taken out of the secure environment and therefore deny access to it.
Thi Nguyen-Huu, CEO of WinMagic Inc, says, "I strongly believe it should be just as simple to manage and use encrypted devices as unencrypted devices. We have worked hard to eliminate the management headaches typically associated with the use of full-disk encryption and to make data security totally transparent to the user. With PBConnex users of encrypted devices simply enter their Windows password to access all authorised devices on the network as they have done before - and this even for the first log-on to an encrypted system. On desktop devices pre-boot logon can be automatically disabled as long as the system is connected to a known secure network."
Nguyen-Huu concludes, "PBConnex also enables administrators to continue to utilise all the same management tools for encrypted endpoints - greatly simplifying software upgrades and password resets that previously required the introduction of new, costly and complex processes."
PBConnex is available immediately as an option for WinMagic's full-disk encryption solution SecureDoc, which is used by thousands of the most security aware enterprises and government organisations around the world. With PBConnex IT departments can reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of full-disk encryption by at least 15%, while increasing user satisfaction.
About WinMagic Inc.
WinMagic's SecureDoc full-disk encryption solutions make it simple to protect all data on desktops, laptops, tablets and removable media including USB thumb drives, CD/DVDs, and SD Cards. Compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000; Mac OS X Lion, Snow Leopard, Leopard and Tiger as well as Linux platforms, SecureDoc makes it just as easy to centrally manage and use standard drives and self-encrypting drives including Seagate and Opal compliant drives. WinMagic is trusted by thousands of enterprises and government organisations worldwide to minimize business risks, meet privacy/regulatory compliance requirements, and protect valuable information assets against unauthorised access. With a full complement of professional and customer services, WinMagic supports over three million SecureDoc users in approximately 43 countries. For more information, please visit www.winmagic.com or e-mail us at info@winmagic.com.
