BitArmor Encrypts and Classifies

By Dave Raffo

September 18, 2006

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Startup BitArmor is emerging from under the radar with a product that claims to combine encryption and classification to secure data and manage it over its lifetime.

BitArmor will unveil BitArmor Security Suite, which it bills as a "data security and data lifecycle management" product. It claims to encrypt and classify information as well as handle access control, authentication, key management, and automate data destruction and deletion.

Think of it as a combination data classification a la Abrevity, Arkivio, Kazeon, Index Engines, Njini, Scentric, and StoredIQ, and an encryption alternative to Network Appliance's, Decru, NeoScale, and Maxxan.

At least, that's how BitArmor wants you to think of it. No one can be sure yet how well it works. BitArmor marketing VP Mark Buczynski says there are four companies using the software, but he won't name them.

"I have not talked with any of their betas, but on paper their stuff looks damn good," says one analyst who asked not to be named. "Assuming it works as advertised, I like it."

The Security Suite is made up of software and two key servers. The software loads on servers with applications you want to protect and desktops or laptops that access that data. Two key servers are used for redundancy.

It is priced as an annual subscription on a per seat, per feature basis. A small enterprise configuration of replicated key servers and full protection for five laptops would cost $10,495 a year for three years, while an enterprise configuration of replicated key servers, and full data protection and retention policy support for 500 desktops/laptops would run $65,495 per year for three years.

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