Gemalto Launches Smartcard-Based USB Token For DLP

Gemalto has announced the launch of Protiva Smart Guardian, a smartcard-enabled personal security USB device that offers digital data integrity and data loss prevention for enterprises. Smart Guardian provides nomad workforces with a platform to securely access corporate resources.

Smart Guardian combines endpoint control and secure data storage for protecting sensitive information.

It guarantees an enhanced level of security, as the encrypted data never leaves the Smart Guardian. Attempts to tamper with the device are detectable and intrusion attempts will cause the token to zero-out its contents.

In addition to providing high levels of security, Smart Guardian is easy to use. Users simply insert their authorised portable token and enter a passphrase to unlock the device so that any data transferred to it is encrypted automatically.

Smart Guardian provides two-factor authentication based on something the user has – the USB token – and something the user knows – the passphrase. This ensures that only authorised users have access to encrypted data, even if the device is lost or stolen. Smart Guardian tokens are easy for IT administrators to deploy and manage, and require no user training.

“One of the biggest information security challenges today is protecting the large amount of confidential data used by business organisations and government agencies,” said Cédric Collomb, senior vice president, Identity and Access Management at Gemalto. “The combination of endpoint control and secure data storage makes Smart Guardian tokens an ideal platform for protecting sensitive information and controlling how it is transferred throughout the virtual workplace.”

The Smart Guardian device combines secure smartcard technology from Gemalto and secure flash technology from Lexar. Its management options make it easy for end-users and administrators to register new devices, update software on the devices, deploy protected corporate applications, and remotely block a lost or stolen token and destroy its contents.