Full disk encryption not a quick and easy fix

Full disk encryption (FDE) is tipped to be the top security technology for IT departments in 2009, but it may not offer a quick and easy fix. IT user organisations and security experts warn that while encryption could keep auditors, regulators and other stakeholders happy, IT departments should not rush into it.

The biggest benefit of FDE is that it makes it unnecessaryfor organisations to separate their sensitive data from their non-sensitive data andit offers protection against all but the most sophisticated hackers.

It is becoming easier for organisations to justify the cost of encryption, but many are failing to take time to plan carefully enough to avoid the pitfalls. There are still challenges with FDE, but none are insurmountable says Ollie Ross, research head at IT user group, The Corporate IT Forum.