The value of Crucial hardware encryption
How much is your computer worth? If you're like us, it's worth far more than the simple cost of your hardware. Your system's worth is likely measured by what you've stored on it.
From treasured photos and memories to journal entries, tax records, social security numbers, credit card numbers, confidential work files, and addresses for friends and family members, there's a lot at stake when it comes to storing and protecting your data. That's where hardware encryption comes into play.
At the most basic level, encryption is a way to secure and protect your data in the event it falls into the wrong hands. In more technical terms, encryption is a way of scrambling and substituting values in data sets which makes them unreadable except by the intended recipient or primary user. Encryption helps prevent hackers from compromising your data remotely, and thieves from physically being able to steal your computer, and ultimately, your identity.
The best way to secure and protect your data from hackers and thieves is to use a self-encrypted drive that protects your data with AES 256-bit encryption – the same grade used by banks and hospitals. You can find this level of encryption on a select number of hard drives, but it comes standard on most SSDs for faster, more secure performance.
When purchasing an encrypted SSD, make sure the drive you choose supports the industry-recognized TCG Opal 2.0 protocol, as all Crucial self-encrypting drives (SEDs) do. Additionally, some Crucial SEDs also support the Microsoft® eDrive® protocol, which includes the IEEE-1667 standard. All Crucial SSDs also support Microsoft BitLocker software encryption, and regardless of the encryption status of the SSD, all Crucial SSDs feature several enterprise-caliber features, such as power loss protection, RAIN, and Exclusive Data Defense, which collectively take security and reliability to an even higher level. When we say Crucial SSDs offer performance you can trust, we mean it.