FOXBORO, Mass. and OBERURSEL, Germany -- Utimaco – The Data Security Company, today unveiled its new SafeGuard PrivateDisk 2.02, an easy-to-use and powerful tool for the encryption of files and folders in virtual devices. SafeGuard PrivateDisk acts as an electronic safe that allows users to protect data and access encrypted data in external environments.

SafeGuard PrivateDisk 2.02 is the first of the SafeGuard solutions featuring Windows Vista support and will be followed by the next SafeGuard Enterprise 5.2 release integrating Vista BitLocker Management which will be rolled out this fall.

SafeGuard PrivateDisk can be used as a stand-alone security solution or can use keys and certificates of an existing PKI to guarantee investment protection and a holistic, solid security infrastructure. In company-wide rollouts, SafeGuard PrivateDisk also supports the use of smart cards for strong authentication access to the file volume. SafeGuard PrivateDisk 2.02 is available in 16 languages and includes an LDAP interface in its enterprise edition. This enables several users to browse an encrypted private disk.

Included as part of SafeGuard PrivateDisk is SafeGuard PrivateDisk Portable which allows users to extract files from a memory stick and read encrypted documents, even if the system has no encryption software installed.

A strategic security partner of Microsoft’s, Utimaco will also partner with Microsoft hosting a data security seminar series in Chicago (September), N.Y. (October) and L.A. (December). More details on the seminar series will be announced later this month.

“As a leader in data security, Utimaco has always been at the forefront of technology developments working with strategic partners such as Microsoft and Lenovo to ensure our products continue to help customers meet their demanding and unique data protection needs,” stated Olaf Siemens, Vice President Software Development of Utimaco. “As more organizations embrace Windows Vista, they need an ‘electronic safe’ that is compatible with their IT infrastructure and robust enough to secure valuable and sensitive data. With the launch of SafeGuard PrivateDisk 2.02, and the upcoming release of SafeGuard Enterprise 5.2, Utimaco is poised to meet these evolving IT security requirements.”

Utimaco Safeware AG