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7. Security & Reliability Features

7.1 Thermal Sensor

Apacer Thermal Sensor is a digital temperature sensor with serial interface. By using designated pins

for transmission, storage device owners are able to read temperature data.

7.2 Thermal Throttling

Thermal throttling can monitor the temperature of the SSD equipped with a built-in thermal sensor.

This method can ensure the temperature of the device stays within temperature limits by drive

throttling, i.e. reducing the speed of the drive when the device temperature reaches the threshold level,

so as to prevent overheating, guarantee data reliability, and prolong product lifespan. When the

temperature exceeds the maximum threshold level, thermal throttling will be triggered to reduce

performance step by step to prevent hardware components from being damaged. Performance is only

permitted to drop to the extent necessary for recovering a stable temperature to cool down the

device’s temperature. Once the temperature decreases to the minimum threshold value, transfer

speeds will rise back to its optimum performance level.

7.3 Advanced Encryption Standard

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a specification for the encryption of electronic data. AES has

been adopted by the U.S. government since 2001 to protect classified information and is now widely

implemented in embedded computing applications. The AES algorithm used in software and hardware

is symmetric so that encrypting/decrypting requires the same encryption key. Without the key, the

encrypted data is inaccessible to ensure information security.

Notably in flash memory applications, AES 256-bit hardware encryption is the mainstream to protect

sensitive or confidential data. The hardware encryption provides better performance, reliability, and

security than software encryption. It uses a dedicated processor, which is built inside the controller, to

process the encryption and decryption. This enormously shortens the processing time and makes it

efficient.

7.4 End-to-End Data Protection

End-to-End Data Protection is a feature implemented in Apacer SSD products that extends error

control to cover the entire path from the host computer to the drive and back, and that ensures data

integrity at multiple points in the path to enable reliable delivery of data transfers. Unlike ECC which

does not exhibit the ability to determine the occurrence of errors throughout the process of data

transmission, End-to-End Data Protection allows SSD controller to identify an error created anywhere

in the path and report the error to the host computer before it is written to the drive. This error-

checking and error-reporting mechanism therefore guarantees the trustworthiness and reliability of the

SSD.

7.5 Signed Firmware

Apacer’s Signed Firmware technology is a secure way to update firmware. By including a digital

signature, a firmware update will be authenticated by the Apacer SSD before a firmware update is

performed. This extra layer of protection keeps drives secure.