Seagate Teams Up With IBM To Fight Counterfeit Hard Disks With Blockchain

ID Verification

The partnership will rely on both parties using their secure platforms in conjunction to ensure consumers are provided with original hardware. The authenticity system will use IBM’s own Blockchain Platform as an immutable and secure method for manufacturers, assemblers and other businesses associated with the industry to verify hard disks are original or not.

Seagate will allow data uploading to the IBM Blockchain Platform through IBM Cloud services. The data will contain authenticating code that itself will be based on the data storage firm’s Seagate Secure Electronic ID. This electronic identification system generates a unique code that is embedded into the hard disk at the time of manufacturing. This code can be used as an identification of authenticity of a hard disk at any time.

Commenting about the partnership and its affects, Global Managing Director, IBM, Bruce Anderson said, “The ability to combine blockchain with advanced cryptographic product identification technology signals blockchain’s potential to reimagine the electronics product life cycle management processes. Counterfeit electronics components are a global issue that requires an ecosystem-wide effort to address.”

Other Securities

Apart from the genuine check on hard disks, Seagate has also decided to implement a data protection solution it calls “Certified Erase”. According to the firm, this system “Employs cryptographic erasure technology to produce a digital certificate of data purge, which is electronically signed by the device under the Seagate Secure public key infrastructure (PKI) and stored on the blockchain for compliance management with emerging global data privacy laws.”

IBM’s Blockchain Platform will also enable business partner firms and companies to add onto the blockchain data. This ability will be predetermined and will have various access levels.

The ability to enter data on the blockchain, not only identifying a hard disk as genuine, but describing the complete life of a hard disk means that only authentic data storage devices will reach customers and consumers, giving higher data protection, preventing loss of data and have reduction in warranty costs.