Intel Corp.-backed multicloud security firm Fortanix Inc. today announced the release of Confidential Data Search, a new solution that supports unlimited secure queries of encrypted databases with complex data sets without compromising data security or compliance with global privacy regulations.

With the release of Confidential Data Search, Fortanix seeks to address the limitations of existing solutions that mainly rely on specific, proprietary cryptographic technologies. Although these technologies are secure, Fortanix argues they’re not easily adaptable for widespread use, particularly when dealing with complex medical or financial datasets in data-mining operations.

Conventional methods are claimed to lead to a significantly slower search speed — anywhere from a thousand to a million times slower than normal database searches, causing severe system lag when used at larger scales. Existing technologies are also said to necessitate supplementary solutions to manage various levels of access as required by established security standards, effective policies and regulations.

Fortanix’s new solution addresses these issues by offering full support for business operations while complying with data protection requirements, the company says. It is designed to meet regulatory and compliance controls, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and others.

Confidential Data Search uses confidential computing technology to run unmodified, leading, database technologies at near-native performance. Users can continue to work with their existing datasets without converting them to new complex proprietary database formats or deploying proprietary agents. The solution also incorporates proven encryption standards for increased trustworthiness, including readiness for the post-quantum cryptography era.

The new solution is said to excel at granular data search on complex datasets, offering an unlimited scope in structured query language options. Though able to be used by large organizations, smaller entities and startups can especially benefit from Confidential Data Search because the trusted execution environments are consumed as a cloud service, reducing the need for major upfront investments. Customers pay only for what they use, reducing the total cost of ownership.

“The growth of privacy laws around the globe has been apparent since the introduction of GDPR, and it’s vital for organizations to meet regulatory compliance by keeping their data both encrypted and accessible at the same time,” co-founder and Chief Executive Anand Kashyap said ahead of the release. “Fortanix Confidential Data Search enables organizations to meet these mandates with an elegant solution that secures data at a high level while still making it available, ensuring that business operations never slow down.”

Fortanix will be showing its Confidential Data Search product at the Confidential Computing Summit in San Francisco on June 29.

Image: Fortanix