IBM FlashSystem: Safeguarding Data from Every Angle
Data security is on nearly everyone’s mind today. While discussions about data security often focus on securing the data itself using means such as encryption, it’s equally important to secure the storage infrastructure where that data resides. You can’t ensure data security without proper attention to system security, which involves protecting and preventing unauthorized access and use of the system, its resources, and the data stored on the system. If a bad actor has access to the storage system, your initial data protections become irrelevant in quick fashion.
While storage arrays might not be the first thing that comes to mind in a security conversation, they play a vital role in a multilayered defense strategy. IBM FlashSystem solutions are designed not just for speed and efficiency, but also to strengthen your overall security posture by helping protect the data they store and completing the picture of true end-to-end data protection.
Security at the Root Level
IBM FlashSystem delivers security from the very start of the system’s operation with its secure boot feature. Secure boot establishes a hardware root of trust that begins with the system firmware and extends through the operating system and storage software. During the booting process, secure boot verifies digital signatures at every stage to ensure that only trusted code from IBM or authorized vendors is executed.
Should any component fail the verification process, the system halts to prevent any possible malicious code from running. The process is further strengthened by integration with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which confirms the integrity of both the hardware and software. TPM ensures that the system can only be unlocked and started if it remains in a known, untampered state. By combining these mechanisms, IBM FlashSystem protects not only against malicious firmware or software but also against physical attacks that might attempt to substitute hardware components or intercept system communications
What is IBM Safeguarded Copy?
Secure boot and TPM are nothing new of course, so let’s talk about something unique for data storage and that is IBM Safeguarded Copy. The Safeguarded Copy feature is designed to enhance data protection and cyber resilience against threats such as ransomware, malicious insiders, and accidental deletions. Some of its benefits include:
- Immutability so that snapshots cannot be changed or deleted by regular users or processes
- Virtual airgaps so that copies are isolated from production and inaccessible to hosts/applications
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to enforce a strict separation of duties in which privileged actions require special roles
- Two-person integrity means that it takes 2 assigned users to take any action that may lead to data destruction
Immutable storage means just that. Data is immune to both user errors and malicious actions such as ransomware. When you combine immutable storage with RBAC you have a robust system that even prevents the administrator from tampering with data. Now, the compromise of a single administrator doesn’t result in the compromise of storage data. In the event that local production systems are compromised, the backup copies remain inaccessible and protected so that you have failsafe backups as any safeguarded snapshot can be cloned and mapped to a recovery host for validation and restoration
What about Ransomware?
Of course, no discussion about data security would be complete without addressing the dreaded “R” word. Ransomware remains a primary threat that must be addressed. In addition to its immutable storage feature, IBM FlashSystem includes something called FlashCore Modules (FCMs). These proprietary NVMe flash drives are integrated with real-time analytics and security functions that enable intelligent anomaly detection.
- The FCMs use embedded machine learning models to analyze I/O patterns and detect anomalies indicative of ransomware or other malware. This detection occurs inline, as data is written.
- Because security analytics are handled by separate hardware within the FCMs, there is no measurable impact on storage performance, even as every I/O is scrutinized in real time.
- Here too, the monitoring processes work in strict isolation from the host, making it inaccessible to host applications and users to that it can’t be circumvented or compromised.
- Should an anomaly be detected, the system can generate alerts and even trigger automated snapshots to enable rapid response
With IBM FlashSystem Storage, ransomware becomes a manageable risk—not a sleepless-night scenario.
One More Critical Element of Data Security
The comprehensive security suite that IBM FlashSystem boasts includes encryption. Encryption of Data at Rest (EDaR) protects information as it is written to disk, while Encryption of Data in Flight (EDiF) secures data as it moves across IP networks. Both encryption types leverage AES-256 encryption and are FIPS-compliant, ensuring alignment with major regulatory and compliance standards. Another feature is CyberVault that helps businesses quickly restore operations after an incident and enables organizations to conduct forensic analysis in an isolated environment.
The breadth of IBM FlashSystem’s security features become more apparent the deeper you explore the platform. However, these features provide real value only when properly implemented and managed. Some advanced security options are not enabled by default, and features such as snapshot, deployment, and archive policies require thoughtful configuration to deliver maximum benefit. Adhering to best practices is essential to fully leverage the platform’s capabilities.
Expertise is a critical element in securing both your data and the storage infrastructure. That is where Evolving Solutions comes in. We bring proven experience and certified experts dedicated to IBM technologies that already know what these systems are capable of. We have a long history with IBM storage, and we are proud of the relationship we have managed to foster with them over the years. Our teams can assist in system deployment and the management of encryption keys. Most importantly, we make sure that we educate our customers on the product, so they know how to fully leverage the investment they are making. If you want to truly secure your data, you must do a complete job. Contact Evolving Solutions to learn about the complete solution that IBM FlashSystem provides today.
