In this lesson,
we will learn about Self-Encrypting Drives.
Self-Encrypting Drives are storage devices
with built-in encryption capabilities
that automatically encrypt and decrypt data
as it is written to or read from the drive.
Self-Encrypting Drives operate
by using an onboard encryption engine
to encrypt data transparently without requiring
user interaction or additional software.
Let's learn more about Self-Encrypting Drives.
Self-Encrypting Drives are storage devices
like Hard Disk Drives or Solid State Drives
that have built in encryption capabilities.
These drives automatically encrypt data
as it is written to the drive,
and they decrypt the data when it is read from the drive,
all without the need for user intervention
or additional software.
Self-Encrypting Drives use an onboard encryption engine,
which operates transparently,
meaning that users will not notice any difference
in how the drive functions.
Additionally, the encryption keys are securely managed
within the drive itself, never leaving the hardware,
which protects the encryption keys from attacks,
targeting the operating system or software vulnerabilities.
Implementing Self-Encrypting Drives involves
integrating encryption algorithms
and secure key management directly into the drives hardware.
This setup makes deployment simple
as no additional configuration
or software is required to enable the encryption.
For example, when you use a self encrypting drive,
your data is automatically protected without needing
to install encryption software
or manually managed encryption keys.
The secure key management system built into the drive
ensures that even if the computer's operating system
is compromised, the encryption keys remain safe
within the drive, as do the drives contents.
The advantages of Self-Encrypting Drives are numerous.
Self-Encrypting Drives are easy to use
because encryption happens automatically
without slowing down the system
or requiring special knowledge from the user.
Also, performance stays consistent
because the drives hardware handles the encryption
and decryption, not the computer's
Central Processing Unit or CPU.
This avoids the slowdowns often seen
with software based encryption.
Self-Encrypting Drives also provide strong protection
against data breaches
because the encryption keys are securely stored
within the drive and are never exposed
to the rest of the system,
making it very hard for attackers
to access the encrypted data.
However, Self-Encrypting Drives do some drawbacks.
Consumer-level Self-Encrypting Drives
are usually affordable, but enterprise grade models
that meet strict security standards
like the Federal Information Processing Standard,
or FIPS 140-2 and the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers,
or IEEE 1667, those can be much more expensive.
However, these standards are important
because they ensure the drives meet specific
security requirements making them suitable
for highly regulated environments,
but this does come at a higher cost.
Additionally, Self-Encrypting Drives can be hard to update
or upgrade because they are hardware based.
If new encryption standards are needed,
the drive may need to be replaced rather than updated.
So remember, Self-Encrypting Drives are storage devices
with built-in encryption that automatically secures data
as it is written to or read from that drive
without requiring any user input or additional software.
Self-Encrypting Drives use an onboard encryption engine
that works transparently,
so users do not notice any change
in the drive's performance.
The encryption keys are managed securely within the drive,
keeping them safe from attacks
targeting the operating system.
Self-Encrypting Drives are also easy to deploy,
maintain consistent performance,
and offer strong protection against data breaches
because the keys never leave the hardware.
However, they can be expensive, especially enterprise models
that meet strict security standards.
Finally, as a hardware based security device,
Self-Encrypting Drives may require replacement
if new encryption standards are needed.