Elementary Information Security, 3rd Edition

▶ 9.5 Encryption in Hardware

If we want to protect our files with encryption and we want the encryption built in, it makes sense to incorporate it into the drive hardware. We call such a device a self-encrypting drive (FIGURE 9.19).

The computer sends a request to Bus interface which directs the request to encrypt or decrypt algorithm. The encrypt algorithm directs the request to Fetch or store data which directs the request to drive mechanism. The drive mechanism directs the result to Fetch or Store data which directs the result to encrypt or decrypt algorithm. The decrypt algorithm directs the result to Bus interface which directs the result ...