Actu
nCipher Introduces nCipher nShield 6000e for PCI Express
August 2008 by Marc Jacob
nCipher plc announced nCipher nShield for PCI Express, a multi-platform hardware security module for PCI Express, a computer expansion card interface format officially abbreviated as PCI-E or PCIe. By extending PCI Express support within its HSM portfolio, nCipher customers can incorporate hardware-based cryptographic protection within next generation server platforms, maximising performance while satisfying security best practices.
nCipher’s PCI Express HSMs are available in two variants: nCipher nShield 6000e, which is the highest-performing multi-platform HSM on the market for processing 2048 bit and 4096 bit keys, and nCipher nShield 500e, ideal for applications with less demanding performance. The new nShield for PCI Express products are specifically designed to maximise performance when using longer key lengths to increase overall security. For example, when performing signing operations using the widely adopted 2048-bit RSA algorithm, nCipher nShield 6000e provides more than five times the performance compared to its predecessor and over 12 times more transactions per second than the closest competitive product when using 4096 bit keys.
HSMs have long been accepted as an industry best practice for protecting encryption keys, because they overcome the inherent security weaknesses of managing and using keys in software. Businesses are widely adopting servers with PCI Express slots to capitalise on the performance advantages offered by the new interface and to reduce rack space in the datacenter. The new nCipher nShield for PCI Express and the existing nShield product family enable customers to utilise consistent tamper-resistant security practices irrespective of the server platforms they choose to deploy.
– nCipher nShield for PCI Express complies with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 (validation pending) and is available in both compact low-profile and full-height variants.
