Lockheed-Martin & IronKey Release Virtual Privacy Machine on a USB Stick

Lockheed-Martin has partnered with super secure IronKey to release a new virtual privacy machine. VPM's have been around in concept for a few years now, a virtual secure operating system that runs in a window on a host PC. As with other VPMs, LM's "PC-on-Stick" on IronClad drive, has all files and settings maintained within the VPM and never stored on the host machine. The virtual privacy machine runs solely in RAM and can piggyback on the network connection of the host. Secure connections can be made that are secure even to the most invasive of infections of the host machine with the exception of key-loggers. Struggling Nortel had at one time release a VPM for its employees. Other companies are researching them as ways to secure desktop environments and maintain confidentiality of data that is entrusted to their staff.

IronKey adds yet another layer of hardware based encryption that has proven to be solid over the years since its introduction. The VPM is remotely manageable and completely revocable from a central server. The contents of the drive are hardware, and optionally software encrypted. Most VPM's are forged from hardened versions of Linux on a diet due to flash drive size constraints. USB 3.0, SLC flash, and larger flash drives have all, but removed this limit and embedded versions of more full featured, user friendly versions of Linux are popping up. While it may seem extreme, maintaining corporate intellectual property and securing assets from disgruntled employees can mean big bucks in today's bleeding edge world. Look for the rapid proliferation of ideas like this in the years to come.