PC vendor Lenovo and WinMagic, which specializes in whole-disk encryption, have joined forces to create a security solution for ThinkPad and ThinkCentre. Lenovo SecureDoc, being demonstrated this week at RSA Conference 2011, provides central management of self-encrypting hard drives. With data loss prevention solutions continually on the rise, Lenovo could be on to something.

Lenovo ThinkPad laptops and ThinkCentre desktops now will offer Opal standard FDE drives for enhanced security and management capabilities for IT admins. In addition, Lenovo’s SecureDoc will provide fully managed software encryptions and a migration path for large organizations (and verticals such as health care and government) that eventually will need to adopt these standards.

The Opal self-encrypting drives will come from Hitachi and Seagate, and SecureDoc will provide pre-boot support for fingerprint readers for select Lenovo ThinkPads and ThinkCentre desktops for an added layer of security. Self-encrypting drives — and SecureDoc — are part of Lenovo’s plan to provide security without impacting performance or productivity from other lengthy or complicated encryption methods.

SecureDoc also integrates with Intel Anti-Theft technology and ThinkVantage Technologies for deployment, recovery and rescue routines and, like most trends in new technology, is easier to use. SecureDoc allows for easy central management of encryption for all types — file or filter, sector-based or even container encryption.

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