Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises a service processor: establishing a kill switch encryption key (KSEK) to provide data security for data within storage devices of configurable components within a system; automatically encrypting, with the KSEK, data that is written to one of the storage devices; configuring the configurable components to prevent access to the stored data unless a valid copy of the KSEK is received from the service processor along with the request for the data; automatically decrypting, with the KSEK, the KSEK-encrypted data that is read from storage device; and in response to receiving a verified request to decommission the system, performing the decommissioning by deleting/erasing the KSEK from a secure storage at which the only instance of the KSEK is maintained. Deletion of the KSEK results in a permanent loss of access to the stored encrypted data within the system because the stored encrypted data cannot be decrypted without the KSEK.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises a service processor: establishing a kill switch encryption key (KSEK) to provide data security for data within storage devices of configurable components within a system; automatically encrypting, with the KSEK, data that is written to one of the storage devices; configuring the configurable components to prevent access to the stored data unless a valid copy of the KSEK is received from the service processor along with the request for the data; automatically decrypting, with the KSEK, the KSEK-encrypted data that is read from storage device; and in response to receiving a verified request to decommission the system, performing the decommissioning by deleting/erasing the KSEK from a secure storage at which the only instance of the KSEK is maintained. Deletion of the KSEK results in a permanent loss of access to the stored encrypted data within the system because the stored encrypted data cannot be decrypted without the KSEK.

Abstract: Installable device drivers may be stored on a partition, e.g., Utility Partition (UP) or other OEM partition, of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) storage device, e.g., hard disk drive, by associating an INT13h Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) interrupt call, e.g., reading from floppy disk drive a: or drive b: a desired storage device driver during the normal course of installing an operating system (OS), e.g., Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, Unix, etc., on the information handling system, e.g., personal computer, server, blade server, storage array, workstation, etc. The run-time loading of a raw floppy image having OS installable drivers residing in the Utility Partition or other hidden partition on the hard disk may be presented as a virtual floppy disk drive to the OS installer, e.g., person (manual) or scripted (automated) process.

Abstract: Installable device drivers may be stored on a partition, e.g., Utility Partition (UP) or other OEM partition, of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) storage device, e.g., hard disk drive, by associating an INT13h Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) interrupt call, e.g., reading from floppy disk drive a: or drive b: a desired storage device driver during the normal course of installing an operating system (OS), e.g., Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, Unix, etc., on the information handling system, e.g., personal computer, server, blade server, storage array, workstation, etc. The run-time loading of a raw floppy image having OS installable drivers residing in the Utility Partition or other hidden partition on the hard disk may be presented as a virtual floppy disk drive to the OS installer, e.g., person (manual) or scripted (automated) process.