NeoScale Helps Secure Data On TapeNeoScale Helps Secure Data On Tape

NeoScale Systems Inc., a security appliance vendor, is addressing some of the security concerns around the widely used practice of backing up critical data to tape storage.

The vendor on Monday will unveil a security appliance, dubbed CryptoStor for Tape, that attaches to existing backup and recovery LANs and works with any tape library or backup and recovery software being used. The appliance has hardware-based encryption, including AES-128, AES-256, and 3DES support. LZS compression and digital signatures help ensure that data won't fall into the wrong hands if a tape does.

CryptoStor for Tape comes with hot-swappable power supplies and fans to ensure high availability. Customers could share information across a cluster of appliances, sharing policies and the key catalog.

A two-port Fibre Channel version of the CryptoStor for Tape appliance is priced at $25,000. Customers can also choose a four-port Fibre Channel version.

An industry analyst says many customers depend on tape backup but have concerns about it. "So they must decide whether to completely change their processes or make the processes more secure," says Jon Oltsik, an analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, an IT market research firm. "If security is the only issue, they should look at an encryption appliance."