Methods, systems, and apparatuses for managing a hard drive security system

摘要

A system for use with a computer is provided, the computer including a self-encrypting drive (SED), the SED including a nominal space and a pre-boot region, wherein the nominal space can be locked to prevent access to the nominal space. The system includes SED management software configured to be loaded in the pre-boot region of the SED. The SED management software includes a pre-boot operating system (OS) and an unlocking program. The unlocking program is configured (a) to execute within the pre-boot OS, and (b) upon successful authentication of a user, to unlock the nominal space of the SED. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

主权项

1. A system for use with a computer, the computer including a self-encrypting drive (SED), the SED including a nominal space and a pre-boot region, wherein the nominal space can be locked to prevent access to the nominal space and wherein the nominal space contains a nominal operating system (OS), the system comprising:
SED management software configured to be loaded in the pre-boot region of the SED, the SED management software comprising: a pre-boot operating system (OS); an instant transition state functionality, operable to save a state of the computer pertaining to the nominal OS before the pre-boot OS begins an authentication process to unlock the nominal space, to prevent the pre-boot OS from altering the saved state of the computer, and to restore the computer to the saved state after successful authentication of a user and unlocking of the nominal space; and a sleep mode control functionality operable to, prior to exiting sleep mode, send a credential to the pre-boot region to unlock the nominal space and transfer control to the nominal OS.