14 DAY TRIAL // Lockheed Martin and IronKey have proudly announced a new hardware solution that will remove and-users' need to always carry a laptop to store their business data. The companies have developed what the press release dubs a “PC on a stick.” The hardware solution invented is a USB flash drive that does more than just store data. It can store the OS, as well as run it, and even provides network-wide management. Lockheed Martin has named the new solution the IronClad technology.
In the efforts of providing end-users with more portable and secure computing solutions, companies have been creating mobile PCs, whether notebooks, netbooks or tablets, that allow such users to take along and work with their needed data. Flash drives are commonly used for data carrying and transferring between computers, but they can do little else and need special, built-in encryption if they are to provide any sort of data security. Instead of just this simple ability, the IronClad enables the carrying and running of the entire system configuration.
“USB storage devices are rendered relatively useless without the proper authentication and security precautions in place,” Steve Ryan, senior vice president at IronKey, said. “IronKey is a security company first and foremost, and IronClad drives leverage IronKey’s highly secure architecture design. We are very pleased to be working with Lockheed Martin to deliver this trusted, secure product with hardware-only password checking, secure virtual desktop and remote management capabilities.”
The IronClad technology is built into IronKey's secure USB flash drives. Each such storage unit has at least 8GB of storage with a 256-bit encryption, built-in secure software applications and a managed, “white-listed” application portfolio (which prevents the loading of unauthorized programs and applications). These drives use water- and shock-resistant, metal casings to protect the versatile solution within. What the drives actually do is use a custom technology from Lockheed Martin that allows for the entire PC to be run directly off the device.
Even virus protection is used in order to securely employ this functionality on any computer, public or otherwise. Furthermore, all IronClad drives can play the role of a node on a centrally managed network. This ability enables IT organizations to manage the applications that can be installed on the drive, keep watch on them and even control security policies.
“Imagine leaving the office at the end of the day and, instead of slinging a laptop bag on your shoulder, you tuck a flash drive the size of a stick of gum in your pocket,” Charles Croom, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Cyber Security Solutions, added. “With IronClad drives, employees who need to work at home or on travel, or field operatives who deploy around the country or around the globe, can carry not just their files but their entire computer on a three-inch USB drive. We’ve built a smart network around each drive, so IT managers have round-the-clock control of and visibility into the status and security of every device.”
The IronClad technology will operate on USB 2.0 drives with a size of at least 8GB. System requirements include an Intel Pentium 4 or better, 1.5GB of RAM (2GB recommended), Full-USB 2.0 support and BIOS support for booting from an external USB CDROM device. The graphics card and display must support a resolution of at least 800 x 600.
For more information on the technology, end-users may consult the official product page.