Lenovo, Wave Systems Partner on Hardware-Based Security

Computer maker Lenovo and data protection and security expert Wave Systems (NASDAQ; WAVX) signed a worldwide distribution agreement under which Lenovo will offer Wave’s security solutions on a resale basis and through its channel partners.

The agreement is designed to simplify the buying process for Lenovo customers who use Wave solutions to activate and manage solid-state SEDs (self-encrypting drives) and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security chips, two areas Wave specializes in. The company has expanded its portfolio to include Safend’s Data Loss Prevention (DLP) suite.

Wave’s Embassy Remote Administration Server (ERAS) is a single console for managing SEDs , which are similar to standard hard drives except encryption is embedded into the core processor chip.

With Wave Endpoint Monitor, enterprises can spot advanced persistent threats by detecting unauthorized changes to the preboot environment as systems power on, while the Safend Protector and Inspector platforms are designed to prevent data leakage through physical ports, wireless interfaces or removable media and restrict devices by type, model or serial number.

Wave also provides the automated, turnkey management of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) native encryption on Windows 7 platforms, software encryption with Safend Encryptor and removable media encryption for encrypting data-in-motion on removable storage devices.

Lenovo has long been one of Wave’s supporting OEMs , but this agreement gives Lenovo direct access to the Wave portfolio, as the PC maker looks to integrate hardware-based security technologies into its desktops and notebooks.

Partnerships between OEMs and security specialists are nothing new, but as enterprise security demands grow in the face of more complex and dangerous threats, Lenovo’s decision to move deeper into a hardware-based security solution highlights the way PC makers are adapting to an ever-evolving security landscape.