Commercially-Developed SSD Optimized Up to 512GB for Data-at-Rest Protection in Office Environments by Mercury Systems

Mercury Systems, Inc. announced the beginning of customer engagements for the newest product offering in its ASURRE-Stor portfolio of self-encrypting SSDs.

This drive features up to 512GB of user-accessible storage capacity in a rugged 2.5-inch, low-profile form factor (7mm) optimized for laptops and workstations storing highly sensitive data. This device was designed to the specifications dictated by the Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) program, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 standards and the Common Criteria Full Disk Encryption FDE-EE and FDE-AA collaborative Protection Profiles (cPP). The company expects to receive all necessary certifications by November 2018 for the new device to be included in the CSfC component index.

Developed by the National Security Administration (NSA) and the Central Security Service (CSS), the CSfC program protects highly sensitive data by simultaneously implementing two compliant commercial security components in layers.

“Having pioneered the original ASURRE-Stor SSD optimized for forward-deployed implementations of the CSfC program, today’s announcement addresses new customer demand for an equally robust data-at-rest solution custom-engineered for office environment applications,” said Iain Mackie, VP and GM, microelectronics secure solutions group, Mercury. “We are committed to supporting the entire ecosystem of CSfC trusted integrators, system architects and customers with affordable and compliant security solutions that can be readily adapted to any form factor or ruggedization requirement.“

In contrast to commercial and enterprise SSD devices, the firm’s ASURRE-Stor product line marries high-endurance NAND flash with the company’s ARMOR processor designed and manufactured in its Phoenix, AZ, Advanced Microelectronics Center. This processor includes a suite of certified cryptogaphic and performance-enhancing algorithms for secure defense applications. In the event of unforeseen power loss during operation, custom power management circuitry preserves data integrity without the use of temperature-sensitive capacitor or battery technologies.

A limited number of the ASURRE-Stor devices are available for customer orders and evaluation for the storage of unclassified data to accelerate customer design cycles.

The company will begin accepting device orders for the development of registered CSfC data-at-rest solutions after receiving all of the necessary certifications expected no later than November 2018. Interested customers designing ultra-thin laptops and tablets in accordance with CSfC program guidelines are also encouraged to contact the company to discuss commercialization of an M.2 form factor planned for early 2019.