Storage

A first look at the dataSentinel secure storage system

By · December 5, 2008, 3:35 AM PST · markwkaelin

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  • Create your PEC

    Using a fairly typical USB flash thumb drive, dataSentinel will encrypt your data and store it on at least three different servers. Your data will be sliced into encrypted pieces and stored on numerous servers located in various locations across North America. The most notable thing about this whole process is that, to the user, the transactions looks like copying a file or folder from one location to another. It is simplicity at its finest.

    The first time you insert the USB flash drive into your computer you will be asked to enter a Personal Encryption Code (PEC). The seed for this code is generated by moving the mouse around the screen.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • Decide what to store

    After setting up the PEC you'll get to this screen. From here you can choose which files and folders you want to store off-sight.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • Just another drive

    From the user's perspective, the dataSentinel system looks and acts like just another drive on the system.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • Administration

    From the Administration screen you can change passwords, permissions, etc.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • More automation

    You can also choose to store copies of folders like the Windows XP My Documents. Make a change to a file and it is automatically updated on the dataSentinel servers.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • Progress

    This screen will show you how the encryption and copying is progressing. However, you can keep working while the process occurs.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • Each computer is listed

    As you establish your folders, the local computer is listed. You can name each device with a moniker that means something to you.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • The Ah-Ha moment

    What makes dataSentinel so useful is that, once you set it up, you can move the USB flash drive to any other PC, log in with your password, and get access to the files you saved on the dataSentinel servers.

    Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

  • Saving method

    The basic principle in the dataSentinel storage method is to break the files into small encrypted pieces and to distribute those pieces across a network of servers. The data from any one server would be meaningless to a hacker - assuming they could actually decrypt the contents.

    Diagram courtesy of dataSentinel

Create your PEC

Using a fairly typical USB flash thumb drive, dataSentinel will encrypt your data and store it on at least three different servers. Your data will be sliced into encrypted pieces and stored on numerous servers located in various locations across North America. The most notable thing about this whole process is that, to the user, the transactions looks like copying a file or folder from one location to another. It is simplicity at its finest.

The first time you insert the USB flash drive into your computer you will be asked to enter a Personal Encryption Code (PEC). The seed for this code is generated by moving the mouse around the screen.

Screenshots captured by Mark Kaelin for © TechRepublic.

Related Topics:
Storage Hardware Data Centers Networking Innovation Big Data Analytics Security

By Mark Kaelin

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the IT industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net, and TechRepublic.

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