The new technology will turn storage arrays into public-key infrastructure (PKI) devices, using the CPU cycles of the arrays to speed up the encryption and decryption process.

EMC expects to ship products within 12 to 18 months, according to Rob Sadowski, senior marketing manager for the Hopkinton, Mass.-based data storage company.

"We are in the process of investigating what is the best way to implement encryption in all our disk arrays ... to encrypt the actual volumes where data may be stored," Sadowski said.

EMC has not yet determined whether it will use its midrange Clariion or high-end Symmetrix array line as the platform for the encryption engine, Sadowski said.

Providing the technology within the disk array itself would enable users to encrypt an entire database or multiple data volumes using their standard software management tools, without having to deploy, configure and learn new platforms or a separate appliance, Sadowski said.