Hi Everyone,

The IEEE P1619 Sponsor Ballot Invitation is now open for 30-days. If you are interested in joining the Sponsor Ballot for this draft standard, please follow the instructions at the end of this e-mail.

This draft standard specifies the XTS-AES encryption algorithm, which is suitable for storage devices with fixed-size blocks, such as hard disks.

Thanks!
Matt Ball
Chair, IEEE Security in Storage Work Group (SISWG)

***** SPONSOR BALLOT INVITATION *****

IMPORTANT! To participate, you must have access to myProject through an IEEE Web Account.

If you would like to participate in IEEE Standards Sponsor Ballot
P1619
Title: Standard for Cryptographic Protection of Data on Block-Oriented Storage Devices
you must enroll as a member of the ballot group by 15-Jun-2007, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

***** IEEE STANDARD DOCUMENT INFORMATION *****
The IEEE Computer Society Society/Standard for Cryptographic Protection of Data on Block-Oriented Storage Devices invites you to participate in the New Sponsor Ballot for:
P1619
Title: Standard for Cryptographic Protection of Data on Block-Oriented Storage Devices
Scope: This standard specifies elements of an architecture for cryptographic protection of data on block-oriented storage devices, describing the methods, algorithms, and modes of data protection to be used.
Purpose: This standard defines specific elements of an architecture for cryptographically protecting data stored in constant length blocks. Specification of such a mechanism provides an additional and improved tool for implementation of secure and interoperable protection of data residing in storage.

***** MESSAGE FROM THE WORKING GROUP CHAIR *****

    Protecting stored information for individuals, corporations, and governments has become more challenging than ever. Today's mobile devices (for example, laptops and USB drives) and networked datacenter environments require increased protections. Factors that have led to greater exposure of both storage media and stored information include

        * the widespread use of portable personal storage;
        * the vulnerability of these devices to loss, theft, or capture; and
        * third-party management of corporate storage;

    In response to these issues, we have seen the emergence of compliance requirements in the form of

        * regulatory (HIPAA, GLBA, CA SB1386/AB1950);
        * legal (privacy); and
        * industry specific mandates (PCI DSS).

    To make activities that rely on storage technology viable, industry and government leaders must develop a comprehensive systems approach to storage security. One aspect is the development of standards. The IEEE P1619 task group is developing a standard with strong industry support from the following membership: Brocade, Cisco, Decru, Hifn, Hitachi, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lexar Media, LSI Logic, NeoScale, PGP Corp., PMC Sierra, Quantum Corp., RSA Security, Seagate, Stanford University, and Sun Microsystems.

***** ENROLLMENT INSTRUCTIONS *****

Go directly to:

https://development.standards.ieee.org/my-site/open-ballot-invitations

Or, follow this process:

1. Log onto myProject; click the link for myBallot.
2. Click the link for myBallot Control Panel (if applicable); click the link for "Show/Join Open Ballot Invitations":   https://development.standards.ieee.org/my-site/open-ballot-invitations
3.  Scroll down until you find the open ballot group of interest to you; then scroll over to the right margin and click "join" under the "Actions" column.
4.  Select a classification category and click "OK" at the bottom of the screen.  You will receive an on-screen confirmation that you successfully joined the group.

If you are not an IEEE SA Member, you can either enroll in a single ballot by paying a per-ballot fee or you can join the IEEE SA by choosing an option link below.  Joining the IEEE SA entitles you to participate in as many sponsor ballots as you like for the year.

OPTION 1 - I am already an IEEE Member and I want to add Standards Association Membership. Go to: https://myieeemembership.ieee.org/renewal/RenewalLogin
OPTION 2 - I am not an IEEE Member but would like to enroll in both IEEE and IEEE Standards Association. Go to: https://webapps2.ieee.org/member/Member
OPTION 3 - I am not interested in becoming an IEEE Member, however I would like to enroll as a Standards Association Member only. Go to: http://standards.ieee.org/sa-mem/join.html

============================================
OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BALLOTERS
============================================
Balloting group members are selected to vote on the acceptability of a new or revised standard, or on the reaffirmation of a published standard submitted by the Sponsor; based on interest in and commitment to reviewing and voting on a specific existing or proposed standard.

Once the document is ready to be balloted, you will receive notification via email.  You will typically have 30 days to review the document and return the ballot with your vote.  By agreeing to participate in this ballot you have an *obligation* to respond.  Failure to return a completed ballot may disqualify you from participating in future ballots.

--
Thanks!

Matt Ball
Quantum Corporation
4001 Discovery Drive, Suite 1100
Boulder, CO 80303
Work: 720-406-5766
Cell: 303-717-2717