Tape Encryption
 

Tape encryption solution uses PGP to protect IBM iSeries customers from identity theft and helps meet Sarbanes-Oxley and California privacy notification requirements for security.

For immediate release

OLYMPIA, Washington, March 21, 2005 – Today Patrick Townsend & Associates, Inc. announces new tape and off-line encryption software for users of IBM iSeries and AS/400 computer systems. The new tape security software incorporates the same strong PGP encryption used by banks, insurance companies, and payroll services to protect sensitive data. Data can be encrypted before transfer to vendors or customers, and backups can be encrypted before transfer to an off-site location or archival service. Encrypting tapes helps insure against accidental or intentional loss leading to identity theft. 

Patrick Townsend, President of Patrick Townsend & Associates, said “Recent news events underscore the importance of encrypting any sensitive data stored on tape or other off-line media. Companies are exposed to the risk of data loss, and subsequent liability and privacy notification requirements, even when tapes are not under their direct control. Sensitive data stored on tape for archival, disaster recovery, or transferred to a business partner or vendor, can now be encrypted by our Alliance PGP solution to ensure against this type of loss.” 

Alliance customers use strong PGP encryption to secure information that is copied to tape. Customers create and manage PGP keys in a secure and user-friendly way directly on their iSeries system. The Alliance PGP solution supports the encryption of iSeries data for disaster recovery purposes, and for transfer to other computer systems. The Alliance PGP encryption solution guarantees data integrity, data privacy, and sender authentication. Based on open standards and implemented on many types of computer systems, PGP is recognized as the de facto standard for strong encryption. An added benefit is the data compression built into PGP – files encrypted with PGP may be smaller than the original data. This saves operational time and reduces tape cost. 

Jeff Atwood, marketing director, said “Enterprise customers are concerned about meeting the security requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the California privacy notification law, and the medical privacy requirements of HIPAA. By using PGP encryption with Additional Decryption Keys the Alliance solution insures data recovery and meets data audit requirements. This enhancement to our iSeries data security suite will help iSeries customers meet regulatory challenges.” 

The new Alliance tape encryption software can be integrated directly into existing customer back up and recovery processes with minimal disruption. The software includes flexible command interfaces to encrypt iSeries DB2 files and iSeries save files, copy to a tape device, restore from tape, and automatically decrypt. The application provides for a flexible approach to integrating data security into backup and archival processes.

About Patrick Townsend & Associates:

Patrick Townsend & Associates is a privately held company that specializes in data security, B2B eCommerce, and communications solutions for the IBM iSeries customer. More information on Townsend products is available by calling (800) 357-1019. International customers call +1-360-357-8971. Email: info@patownsend.com, or on the web at http://www.patownsend.com.

Press contact:                                     Jeff Atwood

                                                Patrick Townsend & Associates, Inc

                                                7700 Earling Street NE

                                                Olympia, WA 98506

                                                (800) 357-1019

                                                email: Jeff.Atwood@patownsend.com

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