SanDisk ships its first self-encrypting SSDs

SanDisk's new X300s SSD uses both the Trusted Computing Group's Opal 2.0 specification and Microsoft Encrypted Hard Drive hardware-based encryption to protect data on the drive.
SanDisk's new X300s SSD. (Image: SanDisk)
The encryption algorithms are also coupled with a management dashboard for IT admins to use for audit and compliance purposes.
The SanDisk X300s SSD will be available in June through the SanDisk Commercial Business Channel in two form factors - 2.5-in x 7mm thick and an M.2 single-sided expansion board, with capacities of 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
SanDisk's X300s SSD and accompanying software being installed on a laptop. (Image: SanDisk)
Capacities up to 512GB will be supported on the M.2 expansion board; the 2.5-in SSD, which fits in a standard laptop's hard drive bay, is available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities.
The X300s SSD comes equipped with Wave System's Embassy Security Center (ESC) as part of the upcoming SanDisk SSD Dashboard software suite. Wave's ESC is a local client application that manages the X300s by determining who can access the encrypted data via user and password set-up. The inclusion of Wave's ESC on each X300s SSD includes local management of each drive.
The Wave software is provided at no additional cost, SanDisk said.
The company did not release pricing for the drives.
SanDisk demonstrates how to upgrade a laptop from a hard disk drive to one of its SSDs