After Google officially announcement Android M, which will succeed Android Lollipop as the tech giant's latest mobile operating system platform, the firm unveiled Project Vault, showing its dedication to preserve users' sensitive data. Project Vault will involve the use of a MicroSD card that when fitted inside a smartphone, tablet, desktop and laptop computer, will secure everything present on it.
The MicroSD card is being referred to as the 'Vault Card' and the company wants to cater as many users and enterprises as possible by making the card compatible with every platform, mobile and desktop. According to CNET, Regina Dugan, who is employed at Google as the head of Advanced Technology and Projects group, or ATAP for short, states that:
"Project Vault is your digital mobile safe. Big security, small package."
When inserted inside mobile or desktop type machines, the operating system will recognize the card as a regular storage peripheral. However, it will begin to encrypt and scramble sensitive data present inside the storage contents of the machine in order to prevent it from landing in the wrong hands. The MicroSD card also features an NFC chip, which will allow it to communicate with any other device featuring an NFC chip and 4 GB of storage.
Project Vault is compatible with Android, Windows, OS X, and iOS for the time being.
All the security software will be running from within the storage card. Unfortunately, the product will not be available for consumers because it is going to be sold on the enterprise level initially. Since enterprises are involved with safeguarding several thousands of their clients' data, the element of goodwill will expand if the Vault Card turns out to be a hit with such companies.
From there on, the critical success of the product will allow consumers on a mass scale to purchase it without having second thoughts of compromised security. Google has not mentioned when the card will be available for consumer use, but it is possible that the company unveils more details about it after it officially releases Android M.
