Encryption and Backups

Something that I have not seen addressed is the need for strong encryption
in backup software.

Most backup software has an "encryption" option, but I have seen few that
have anything resembling strong encryption.  Furthermore, I have seen no
real push for strong encryption for backups at all.

I see this as a product that corporations should be demanding.  It is
difficult to walk off with a computer, but a dat tape can be slipped in a
pocket with little notice.  If it happens to be of a server or important
system, valuable information would be in the hands of whoever could decrypt
it.  (And off site alot of resources could be thrown at decrypting the
data.) Weak or no encryption of backups could be a potential problem with
the security of a business.  (Of course, if you leave tapes lying around,
you are asking for trouble anyways...)

Might be an idea for a product there...  (And you can bet law enforcement
would throw a hissy fit about its existence.)

Alan Olsen -- alano@teleport.com -- Contract Web Design & Instruction
        `finger -l alano@teleport.com` for PGP 2.6.2 key 
                http://www.teleport.com/~alano/ 
         Is the operating system half NT or half full?

On Sun, 4 Feb 1996, Alan Olsen wrote:

> Something that I have not seen addressed is the need for strong encryption
> in backup software.
> 
> Most backup software has an "encryption" option, but I have seen few that
> have anything resembling strong encryption.  Furthermore, I have seen no
> real push for strong encryption for backups at all.
> ... 
> Might be an idea for a product there...  (And you can bet law enforcement
> would throw a hissy fit about its existence.)

Indeed.  Many on the law enforcement/prosecution side of the key escrow 
debate are more concerned about encryption of files and backup than they 
are about encrypted email ... 

EBD

> Alan Olsen -- alano@teleport.com -- Contract Web Design & Instruction