Thales nShield Hardware Security Modules Support Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
Share:
Thales HSMs provide highest level of security assurance and cryptographic key management for database encryption
Weston, FL and Cambridge UK - Thales, leader in information systems and communications security and a Microsoft Gold Partner, announces its nShield hardware security modules (HSMs) now provide comprehensive key management and hardware-based cryptography for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2. Microsoft customers selecting Thales HSMs now benefit from additional security features including encryption key management and storage of master encryption keys in FIPS-validated hardware - a long-standing industry best practice - enabling organizations to meet compliance mandates such as PCI DSS and data breach notification acts.
"Companies and government agencies are under significant pressure to provide the highest level of security to protect information," says Persio Afonso, director of SQL Server marketing at Microsoft Corp. "Some Microsoft customers operate in highly regulated industries and would benefit from adopting Thales HSMs to meet their specific industry security requirements. The integration of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 with Thales HSMs offers customers a strong hardware-backed security framework for their database security needs."
Sensitive data stored in a database is protected against the escalating threats of data breaches by cyber criminals and intellectual property thieves wherever it resides, whether it is transferred to other media such as tape for backup or transported off site. Thales HSMs protect and manage the keys used for transparent data encryption (TDE) and cell-level encryption in FIPS-validated hardware - allowing organizations to take advantage of cost-effective key management across multiple servers. In addition the encryption keys are stored separate from the data itself as required by compliance mandates or corporate data security standards. For high availability, Thales HSMs support SQL Server cluster and mirrored configurations.
"The integration of Thales HSMs with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 represents the latest advance in a longstanding partnership between Thales and Microsoft and satisfies many strategic objectives that organizations may have surrounding data security", says Franck Greverie, Thales VP in charge of information technology security. "The opportunity to apply Thales's market-leading key management technologies alongside Microsoft's database encryption solution enables customers to safeguard their sensitive data without any application changes. Customers can now increase the overall security of their deployment helping meet today's ever-evolving data threats and compliance mandates."
Thales nShield connect and nShield Solo HSMs integrate with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 as well as with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 databases with TDE.
More information, including a white paper, on Thales HSMs and integration with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is available at http://www.thalesesec.com/microsoft.
The Information Technology Security activities of Thales
Thales is a leading global provider of data encryption solutions to the financial services, high technology manufacturing, government and technology sectors. With a 40-year track record of protecting corporate and government information, Thales solutions are used by four of the five largest energy and aerospace companies, 22 NATO countries, and they secure more than 70 percent of worldwide payment transactions. Thales e-Security has offices in France, Hong Kong, Norway, United States and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.thalesgroup.com/iss.
About Thales
Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2009 the company generated revenues of Euros12.9 billion, with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners. www.thalesgroup.com
Contacts:
Zoe Gray
Hotwire
+44 (0)207 608 4641
Zoe.gray@hotwirepr.com
Liz Harris
Thales
+44 (0)1223 723612
liz.harris@thales-esecurity.com
