Press Releases

• Millions of Gigabytes of Potentially Sensitive Data is Lost on Business Laptops Each Year
• 78 Percent of IT Professionals in the U.S. Cite Remote End-user Devices Not Protected by a Firewall as Biggest Concern
• Dell will be One of the First to Offer Encrypted Solid State Drives
• Dell ControlPoint Security Manager and ControlVault Simplify Managing Passwords, Biometric Templates, Security Codes and Two-Factor Authentication

Proving that data security can be beautiful, Dell today introduced a broad suite of mobile data security solutions for its Latitude line of laptops. Employing an innovative unified security framework that combines both a physical and data-centric approach, Dell’s mobile data security and identity assurance solutions help enterprises of all sizes simplify the task of protecting valuable company information.

IDC projects that more than 61 million laptops will be purchased by commercial customers in 2009.1 New research reveals that laptops are perhaps the single greatest data security threat to businesses with more than 42 million gigabytes of potentially sensitive data lost on business laptops each year in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Mexico and Brazil.2

The research, conducted by the Ponemon Institute and sponsored by Dell, suggests that employees and third-party contractors often carelessly or deliberately circumvent security procedures, putting valuable company information at risk.2 Approximately 78 percent of surveyed IT professionals in the U.S. state that a data security breach involving a remote end-user device not protected by the corporate firewall is a top concern.2

As possible indicators that employees are circumventing security procedures, IT professionals in the U.S. reported the following:

• 75 percent said they knew of an incident where sensitive information was put at risk due to a laptop computer2
• 70 percent found links to inappropriate content/Website in browser history2
• 72 percent found inappropriate pictures or videos2
• 41 percent say that employees’ failure to use proper authentication or passwords represent the largest threat to an organization’s confidential data.2

The News:

• IT managers surveyed said that whole disk encryption is one of the most effective ways to secure data. With that in mind, Dell today is announcing that it will be one of the first in the industry to offer encrypted solid state drives from Samsung in the coming months. The drive, which is designed to deliver some of the fastest encrypted storage available, offers customers 8.5 times the shock tolerance versus standard notebook hard drives.3 Customers no longer have to choose between protecting their data from loss due to HDD failure and loss due to theft or unauthorized access. The drive adds to the company’s complete encryption solutions that are remote-manageable with Wave™ EMBASSY® Server and simple to implement.

• In order to simplify security’s broad and complex nature, Dell has developed an innovative approach with a unifying, solution-based security framework. Key features include:
  • Dell ControlPoint Security Manager – Dell ControlPoint simplifies access to mobile security features and data management. Dell ControlPoint gathers hardware and security settings within one intuitive user interface, removing the need to search through multiple control panels.
  • Dell ControlVault – Dell Latitude E4200, E4300, E6500 and E64000 laptops can be configured with the Dell ControlVault security engine to help protect an end users critical security credentials. This Dell-exclusive security solution is hardware-based with a secure, dedicated chip for storing and processing user passwords, biometric templates and security codes.
  • Integrated RSA SecurID^® – RSA SecurID two-factor authentication, provided by RSA, the Security Division of EMC, is embedded within Dell’s ControlVault security engine to provide users with hardware-level security for both the storage of RSA SecurID software tokens and one-time password generation, eliminating the need for a separate hardware token. End users can easily launch an RSA SecurID software token with one click using the computer’s Dell ControlPoint Security Manager.
  • User Authentication – In addition to RSA SecurID or fingerprint authentication, an embedded multi-technology contactless smart card reader enables organizations to implement multi-factor user authentication to verify user ID with HID^® Global iCLASS^® technology. This allows users to carry a single card that can be used for both logical and physical access control.

• To help companies keep mobile workers and their data protected and connected, Dell offers data protection services as part of ProSupport for IT and ProSupport for End-Users service models. These include :
  • Laptop Tracking and Recovery – helps companies more accurately track and recover lost or stolen laptops.
  • Remote Data Delete – enables customers to remotely delete sensitive company data if a laptop is lost or stolen.
  • Hard Drive Data Recovery – helps customers retrieve information from a failed or damaged hard drive.
  • Certified Data Destruction – is designed to destroy laptop data in a secure manner, providing certification of destruction, and disposing of the customer’s hard drive in an environmentally responsible manner.
  • CompleteCare Accidental Damage Service – covers repair and replacement costs associated with most accidental damages to laptops caused by spills, drops and surges.4
  • Extended Battery Service – expands battery warranties that include the option to replace a battery in the second to third year of system ownership.

Quotes:

“The sheer amount of data on corporate laptops that is at risk every day is mind boggling with 24 million gigabytes of confidential data expected to be lost in the U.S. alone,” said Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute. “Findings from all six national surveys suggest that employees are often one of the largest threats, as they carelessly or deliberately circumvent security procedures. IT departments must re-evaluate the steps they’re taking to protect mobile professionals, the laptops they carry and company data stored on mobile devices.”

“Samsung and Dell are bringing fully encrypted solid state drives to customers who have been forced to make a tradeoff between data durability and security,” said Brian Beard, SSD Marketing Manager, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. “With the new drives and Dell’s broader security portfolio, customers can feel comfortable that their data will be secured not only from prying individuals, but also from destruction caused by the daily rigors of mobile computing.”

“RSA is pleased to be working with Dell to further extend the reach of its successful, strategic relationship with EMC. As enterprises look for more security that is built-in and not bolted-on, the integration of RSA SecurID software tokens from EMC’s security division within Dell’s ControlVault Security engine helps to provide customers with the proper balance of cost, risk and convenience to assure identities before they access sensitive data throughout the information infrastructure,” said Tom Corn, Vice President of Product Marketing at RSA. “This integrated solution demonstrates our mutual commitment to innovation and collaboration to provide the industry with a stronger security ecosystem.”

“Wave Systems Corp. and Dell have collaborated to develop Dell ControlPoint Security Manager that brings customers a comprehensive security solution. It enables the deployment, management and enablement of the pre-boot security, ControlVault, biometrics, smart cards, Trusted Platform Modules and encrypted drives,” said Greg Cobb, Vice President of OEM Channels. “Wave’s EMBASSY® software provides customers with multi-factor authentication, single-sign-on and password management. When combined with Wave’s EMBASSY® Remote Administration Server, customers can enable a complete manageability solution for a seamless enterprise deployment.”

“By working together, Dell and HID Global are enabling enterprises to leverage the use of a single iCLASS contactless smart card for secure, convenient, and cost-effective access to both the building and the laptop,” said Debra Spitler, vice president of HID Connect^TM. “Users can be assured that the same reliable card that lets them into the building each day will also allow them to access their laptop and data in the same convenient way.”

Additional Information:

www.dell.com/security

www.direct2dell.com

www.flickr.com/dellphotos

www.direct2dell.com

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value.

1Source: IDC WW Quarterly PC Tracker, Q4 2008

2Source: The Business Risk of a Lost Laptop, April 2009. Ponemon Institute research sponsored by Dell. www.ponemon.org.

3Based on Operating Shock tolerance of 1500G for 0.5ms for Ultra Performance SSD vs.175G for 0.5ms for standard Dell 2.5” HDD, per Dell spec.

4CompleteCare service excludes theft, loss, and damage due to fire, flood or other acts of nature, or intentional damage. Customer may be required to return unit to Dell. For complete details, visit www.dell.com/servicecontracts.