Hardware encryption versus software encryption

Hardwarebased encryption is the use of computer hardware to assist software, or sometimes replace software, in the process of data encryption. We have outlined the reasons for allowing information workers to use encrypted usb storage in some recent. You cant trust bitlocker to encrypt your ssd on windows 10. You can usually customize software encryption to encrypt only certain files if you dont need everything encrypted. Does not require any type of driver installation or software installation on host pc. This edition of the best practice piece covers the differences between hardware based and software based encryption used to secure a usb drive. The kingston best practice series is designed to help users of kingston products achieve the best possible user experience. Two parameters are relevant when evaluating performance.

Encryption is tied to a specific device, so encryption is always on. Encryption is never out of the spotlight in this industry, but the methods that businesses can deploy to encrypt their data are wideranging. Even though hardware has a clear advantage, when it comes to performance. Hardwarebased encryption uses a dedicated processor that is. Software vs hardware encryption, whats better and why. What is the difference between hardware vs softwarebased. After the data is encrypted, you will need a secret key or password to decrypt it and have full access to it. Both methods are very effective in providing security.

The benefits of hardware encryption for secure usb drives. Encryption is the best ways to keep your data safe in usb drives. Encryption depends on random numbers for key generation and cryptographic nonces. But the software might use the hardwarespecific instructions in the intel chip for encryption. This processor takes care of authenticating access. Protects against the most common attacks, such as cold boot attacks, malicious code, brute force attack. Hardware encryption vs software encryption promotional. Hardware encryption can be aided by a hardware random number generator. So, if an ssd had solid hardware based encryption technology, relying on that ssd would result in improved performance. Often hardware encryption devices replace traditional passwords with biometric logons like fingerprints, or a pin number that is entered on an attached keypad. So, if an ssd had solid hardwarebased encryption technology, relying on that ssd would result in improved performance. When available, hardwarebased encryption can be faster than softwarebased encryption. Here is a list of the advantages and disadvantages of both hardware and softwarebased encryption methods. Heres everything you need to know about software and hardware encryption.

Modern computers and cpus are huge, complex circuits with pipelining. The word pseudo refers to the fact that software is intrinsically deterministic and therefore unable to generate a truly random value. So my email encryption, web encryption, im encryption is all software. When available, hardware based encryption can be faster than software based encryption. Hardware encryption is the process of safeguarding your data using a dedicated and separate processor. Pdf analysis of hardware encryption versus software encryption. Once original data is encrypted, it becomes undecipherable in the background and is locked away under encrypted storage within the drive. Most software uses a pseudo random number generator. Software encryption may make computers slower because the software relies on the computers processing resources to run the encryption and, on top of that, it may also require software updates from time to time. All kingston and ironkey encrypted usb flash drives use dedicated hardware encryption processors which is more secure than software. The technology still relies on a special key to encrypt and decrypt data, but this is randomly generated by the encryption processor. Hardware encryption is safer than software encryption because the encryption process is separate from the rest of the machine. Therefore, it is essentially free from the possibility of contamination, malicious code infection, or vulnerability.

It is selfcontained and does not require the help of any additional software. As the name implies, software encryption uses software tools to encrypt your data. The use of a dedicated processor also relieves the burden on the rest of your device, making the encryption and decryption process much faster. Hardwarebased encryption uses a devices onboard security to perform encryption and decryption. Some examples of these tools include the bitlocker drive.

Unfortunately, it seems many ssd manufacturers cannot be trusted to implement this properly. People often ask me, when it comes to storage or dataatrest encryption, whats better, file system encryption fse which is done in software by the storage controller, or full disk encryption fde which is done in hardware via specialized self encrypting drives seds. How much of the device is encrypted hardware encryption usually encrypts the entire drive. Hardware encryption vs software encryption promotional drives. With hardware encryption on secure usb drives, the aes encryption process is handled automatically, built right in with a small chip inside the drive itself. Unfortunately, it seems many ssd manufacturers cannot be. Obviously, this depends on the individual application.