CA Adds Tape Encryption

ISLANDIA, N.Y. -- CA (NYSE:CA) today announced a new mainframe encryption solution that streamlines management of the entire tape encryption process for all z/OS application data, making it easier for customers to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to confidential information and fulfill escalating compliance requirements.

BrightStor Tape Encryption encrypts and decrypts data created by any application as it is written to standard label z/OS tapes, regardless of the originating program or tape hardware—without requiring any JCL or application changes. It can protect all z/OS application data and distributed data that has been moved to z/OS—automatically encrypting it based on user-specified criteria. For increased performance and flexibility, BrightStor Tape Encryption exploits IBM’s Integrated Cryptographic Service Facility (ICSF) and the IBM cryptography hardware features incorporated on all the z/Series servers.

“Data encryption is an underutilized technology defense for protecting data and avoiding visible security breaches,” said Jon Oltsik, senior analyst at the Enterprise Strategy Group. “By simplifying and automating encryption and key management for any confidential data going to z/OS tapes, CA is facilitating its customers’ ability to establish this essential security practice into their automated backup processes.”

Encryption minimizes the risk of unauthorized persons accessing sensitive data, and thus helps avoid identity theft, industrial espionage, and other security breaches that can have serious financial consequences for individuals and companies. It also helps organizations avoid the costs and harm to corporate reputation that occur when security breaches are disclosed to the public.

Twenty-three states in the United States, and other countries, have adopted laws requiring organizations to inform state residents when certain personal information has been exposed to unauthorized access. According to Gartner, the combination of large exposures and new regulations and industry initiatives is prompting many enterprises to turn to encryption to protect their data at rest.

In fact, Gartner projects that 85 percent of large enterprises will initiate encryption projects by the second quarter of 2006 in response to these regulations and industry initiatives.*

“We depend on removable tape as part of our disaster recovery plan, but it is vulnerable to loss or theft during transport,” said Gerard Shockley, assistant director, technical services for Boston University. “CA’s BrightStor Tape Encryption provides us with a simple, effective way to avoid the litigation, financial liability and damage to our company’s reputation that could potentially result if we allowed sensitive information to be accessed by the wrong people.”

CA Inc. (NYSE: CA)