Digistor/CRU Citadel C Series SSD SED with Pre-Boot Authentication by Introducing PBA

Digistor, a CRU Data Security Group LLC (CDSG) brand, has added to its line of secure Citadel self-encrypting drives with pre-boot authentication by introducing PBA to its Citadel C Series lineup.

These drives, powered by Cigent Technology, Inc., add the critical PBA function to their existing company’s C Series of SEDs.

In addition, the firm is announcing that the Citadel C Series Advanced version has been listed by NIST as a FIPS 140-2 L2 certified storage device with NIST certificate #4294. This certification is an additional assurance that company’s C Series Advanced SEDs have been tested and validated by the US Government to meet its security requirements in the devices’ cryptographic module.

C Series Select	C Series Advanced
✓ Adversaries cannot steal what they cannot see: unreadable storage partition protected by non-recoverable key	✓ Adversaries cannot steal what they cannot see: unreadable storage partition protected by non-recoverable key
✓ MFA for File Access: zero-day ransomware, malware, and software service bypass prevention	✓ MFA for File Access: zero-day ransomware, malware, and software service bypass prevention
✓ FIPS 140-2 L2 + Common Criteria (CC) versions available (NIST certificate #4294)	✓ FIPS 140-2 L2 + Common Criteria (CC) versions available (NIST certificate #4294)
	✓ Verified Device Erasure: ensures every block has truly been wiped
	✓ Immutable Insider Detection: secure data access logs capture all insider threat activity
	✓ Automated Threat Response: makes data invisible if Cigent Data Defense is disabled

The renamed Citadel C Series drives with PBA are for developing secure Data at Rest (DAR) storage solutions in commercial and other government applications where protecting critical information against ransomware and other cyber threats is vital. Pre-boot authentication requires that a computer user provide trusted credentials to the drive before the laptop or desktop computer can detect and boot. This prevents unauthorized users from gaining access to the encrypted drive and its sensitive data.

“To safeguard data, robust cybersecurity features, like PBA, are needed in security-conscious industries like financial services, healthcare, and critical infrastructure such as power grids and water supplies, the defense sector, and government agencies,” said Randal Barber, president and CEO, CDSG. “The Citadel C Series makes PBA affordable for the wide range of applications that do not demand the stringent certification requirements seen with some military and government customers.“

Citadel C Series drives offer additional cybersecurity functions such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), zero-trust file access, unreadable storage partitions protected by non-recoverable keys, automated threat response that renders data invisible if Cigent Data Defense is disabled, and secure access logs that capture all insider threat activity. Citadel C Series SSDs are built on the firm’s TCG Opal or FIPS 140-2 L2/Common Criteria self-encrypting drives.

These drives will be available in 4Q22 in standard M.2 NVMe and SATA and 2.5-inch SATA form factors, for commonly used laptops, desktops, and tactical servers.

“DigiStor is an important partner who aligns closely with our vision and product offerings,” said Tom Ricoy, CRO, Cigent. “We are delighted to extend our collaboration and help the company broaden its important Citadel family of PBA self-encrypting storage solutions.“

These drives with PBA are part of the extended Citadel family including the Citadel K Series SSDs, powered by CipherDrive and its CSfC-listed PBA (EE), which have been adopted widely with military and government agencies. The Citadel family rounds out the company’s secure SSD product line that includes FIPS-certified and TCG Opal-compliant SSDs, all of which are TAA-compliant, and are suitable for a range of security solutions.