4.10.1.1 Opal encryption
Opal encryption is a unique, hardware-based encryption method that is managed by
the controller on the drive with only minimal host system interaction. Opal is an
industry standard created by the Trusted Computing Group (TCG) consortium that
defines, among other things, the interface protocol to these types of hardware
encrypted drives. These are commonly referred to as self-encrypting drives (SEDs)
as the host system does little more than provide a front-end interface to enable the
encryption and unlock a previously encrypted drive. The control system on the
drive is responsible for encrypting/decrypting all stored data on the drive and
controlling access to it.
TX1 can detect encrypted Opal SEDs and warn of the presence of Opal encryption in
various places in the user interface and forensic logs. Some Opal SEDs can also be
unlocked via the TX1 Opal Unlock Media Utility. Once unlocked, an Opal SED can
be read from (or written to, in the case of a destination drive). A detected locked
Opal drive appears like this:
4.10. Viewing sources and destinations
ISTX240300-UGD-EN-1
User Guide
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