CipherMax

ipherMax provides specialized storage security solutions designed to protect mission-critical information across enterprise storage infrastructures.

Built around hardware-based encryption and intelligent storage networking technologies, CipherMax solutions are designed to secure sensitive data stored on disk, tape, and virtual tape library environments. The platform combines encryption, storage access controls, key management, data integrity protection, and centralized security administration to help organizations protect valuable information throughout its storage lifecycle.

Tape and Disk Storage Encryption

CipherMax's enterprise storage security portfolio includes dedicated solutions for both tape-based backup environments and disk-based storage networks.

The CM100 family was specifically introduced to provide storage encryption for tape media and disk-based storage networks, while supporting scalable deployment within enterprise SAN environments.

Tape Storage Security

CipherMax tape encryption systems are designed to protect backup data stored on tape without requiring organizations to replace their existing storage infrastructure.

The CM140T, for example, provides a compact 1U storage security platform for tape backup environments, with Fibre Channel connectivity, storage access controls, data integrity authentication, compression, and automated encryption key management.

Disk Storage Security

CipherMax disk encryption systems provide protection for primary and secondary disk-based storage environments.

The CM180D was designed as a disk encryption device with inline encryption processing, high-port-count Fibre Channel connectivity, security administration controls, and automated key management.

Advanced Data Encryption

CipherMax solutions use hardware-based encryption to protect sensitive information as it moves between storage systems and network infrastructure.

The CipherMax product family supported 256-bit AES encryption and wire-speed processing, helping organizations introduce encryption while maintaining the performance required by enterprise storage environments.

Key Security Capabilities

• Hardware-based data encryption
• 256-bit AES encryption
• Inline encryption processing
• Wire-speed encryption
• Storage access control
• Data integrity authentication
• Automated encryption key management
• Centralized security administration
• Security audit logging
• Separation of storage and security administration
• Fibre Channel connectivity
• SAN integration
• High-availability and clustering options

Secure Storage for Enterprise SAN Environments

CipherMax solutions were designed around storage networking architectures, allowing encryption services to be integrated into Fibre Channel SAN environments.

The architecture can operate transparently within existing storage infrastructures, helping organizations introduce encryption without fundamentally changing their backup or storage workflows. Certain configurations could also operate with integrated SAN switching functionality, providing storage connectivity and security services within the same platform.

Centralized Key Management

Encryption is only as reliable as the organization's ability to securely manage and recover its encryption keys.

CipherMax incorporated centralized key management capabilities designed to control the encryption key lifecycle and help ensure that encrypted information remains recoverable when required.

The KeyCruiser management system was designed to provide centralized encryption key lifecycle management, while the platform's security architecture separated storage administration from security administration.

Data Integrity and Security Monitoring

In addition to encryption, CipherMax storage security platforms incorporated mechanisms for protecting the integrity of stored information and monitoring security-related events.

Security audit logs can record policy violations and security events, while administrative separation helps reduce the risk associated with unauthorized changes to storage or security configurations.

Storage Security for Backup Environments

Tape remains an important medium for long-term backup and archival storage. CipherMax tape security solutions were designed to protect backup data while maintaining compatibility with existing Fibre Channel-based tape infrastructure.

The CM140T, for example, was tested for interoperability with IBM storage environments, including IBM Tivoli Storage Manager, IBM System Storage tape libraries, and Ultrium tape drives.

This approach allows organizations to add encryption and security controls to existing backup environments without requiring a complete redesign of their storage architecture.

Typical Applications

Enterprise Backup Security

Protect sensitive backup data stored on tape and other secondary storage systems.

Disk Storage Encryption

Secure data stored on enterprise disk systems against unauthorized access.

SAN Security

Integrate storage encryption and security controls directly into Fibre Channel SAN environments.

Data Center Protection

Protect mission-critical information within centralized and distributed data center storage infrastructures.

Long-Term Data Archiving

Secure archived information stored on tape and other long-term storage media.

Regulatory and Data Privacy Protection

Apply encryption and access controls to help organizations address internal security policies and data protection requirements.

Benefits

Strong Data Protection

Protect sensitive information using hardware-based encryption and advanced security controls.

Transparent Storage Security

Integrate encryption into existing storage environments without requiring major changes to applications or storage workflows.

Enterprise Scalability

Support enterprise storage architectures with scalable Fibre Channel connectivity and clustered deployment options.

Centralized Management

Manage storage security and encryption keys through centralized administration and lifecycle management.

Data Integrity

Combine encryption with integrity authentication to help detect unauthorized modification of protected information.

High Performance

Hardware-based, inline encryption is designed to provide security while maintaining high storage throughput.

Typical Users

CipherMax storage security solutions are suitable for:

• Enterprise data centers
• Financial institutions
• Government organizations
• Telecommunications companies
• Healthcare organizations
• Large-scale enterprises
• Storage service providers
• Backup and disaster recovery environments
• SAN administrators
• Data security teams
• IT infrastructure teams

Protecting Data Throughout Its Storage Lifecycle

From active disk-based storage to backup tape and long-term archives, CipherMax provides a specialized approach to protecting enterprise data at rest.

By combining high-performance encryption, Fibre Channel connectivity, storage access controls, data integrity protection, and centralized key management, CipherMax solutions were designed to add a strong security layer to demanding enterprise storage environments.