Technically Speaking

Key Computing has released their latest version of the XKey product. This version is billed as a personal pocket server. The XKey is designed to allow the typical corporate worker to continue their work day from home with the security of being in the office. Key Computing is hoping that this solution will minimize the use of portable devices such as laptops and PDA.

XKey is convenient to carry, simple to use, and secure for the corporate workplace.

XKey 2.0 is ideal for the “day extender” who works a few hours outside of the office. Users simply plug their XKey into any PC, enter their password, and their complete Exchange environment appears ready for immediate work online or offline. XKey can also hold other corporate data such as spreadsheets, presentations and documents.

With XKey, corporations can confidently let users work from non-company issued PCs, such as home computers, without compromising confidential passwords or corporate data. XKey blocks malicious spyware applications such as key-logging, and removes all traces associated with a Web browser, such as cookies, history and temporary files.

Users need not worry if their device is lost or stolen, as XKey encrypts all information, and without the user’s password, data on the device cannot be accessed.

“Web access to email is a nightmare of usability issues and security exposures,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst for the Enderle Group. “Typical security methods drive up support calls and you still have to worry about what passwords and IDs are left behind on the borrowed PC. The XKey addresses both of these problems, it makes secure email access very simple and it removes the sensitive information from the borrowed PC. Frankly I don’t know why any CIO would allow corporate Web based email without something like the XKey.”

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XKey is the next-generation of the Smart DiskOnKey platform developed by M-Systems. M-Systems is credited with moving the USB storage device from ‘dumb’ to ’smart’ storage. This is done by including a 32-bit processor in the USB device. This little addition allows the user to actually run application from the USB device itself.

Smart storage could allow users to run complex applications from their USB devices, thereby potentially improving security and facilitating mobile working. For example, the XKey 2.0, Exchange Edition, is one of M-System’s offerings that has been created by KeyComputing, an M-Systems’ subsidiary that creates software extensions to the Smart DiskOnKey platform. The XKey 2.0 transforms a USB device into a personal server, effectively turning any PC into a corporate workstation.

XKey 2.0 allows users to work on all aspects of their Exchange system - mail, calendar, contacts and Public Folders - from any PC. XKey synchronises directly with an Exchange server. The solution embeds a microprocessor, relational database, SSL engine, Java application server, security applications and a cryptographic core to deliver access to Exchange without leaving any valuable information, including temporary files, on the host PC. Where the host system requires files to exist physically on the PC, “shortcut” pointers or stubs are employed that point to files held on the USB stick.

It should be noted that the XKey blocks malicious spyware applications such as key logging and removes all traces associated with a Web browser, such as cookies, history and temporary files. Furthermore, XKey encrypts all information on the device. Without the user’s password, data on the device cannot be accessed greatly increasing the security of the mail information should the stick be either lost or stolen, eventualities that are by no means unlikely.

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XKey is currently planned to be produced in 3 different sizes; 256MB, 512MB and 1GB. Pricing starts at $300 USD, a little steep, in my opinion, but this device should allow you to do all that you can do with a PDA and then some, provided you have a computer at your convenience. This device could very-well start the personal server revolution. What we need now is software that can run on it and allow you to use the device with platform independence. Perhaps the next version will address that.

Original Source: Engadget

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2004 at 7:38 am and is filed under Gadgets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.