Computrace Core Technology The Computrace^® Agent is a small software client that can be embedded into the BIOS firmware “at the factory”, or installed like most software applications onto the hard drive of a computer. When embedded in the BIOS of computers by major OEMs, such as Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Motion Computing, Panasonic and Toshiba, the Computrace Agent can survive operating system re-installations, hard drive reformats and even hard drive replacements.

The ability to withstand these changes is critical in order to survive unauthorized removal attempts as well as work seamlessly with customers' break/fix and IMAC (Install/Move/Add/Change) processes.

Here's How It Works

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The Computrace Technology Platform is the client/server architecture that delivers Absolute Software’s Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking™ services. Thanks to the hands-free communication (over IP or PSTN) between the secure, patented Computrace Agent client and the Monitoring Center server, Absolute’s security services are exceptionally easy to manage on all computers across the enterprise.

Systems Supported

Computrace is supported on 32-bit versions of Windows 2000, XP, Windows Server 2003 and all 32 and 64 bit editions of Windows Vista. Computrace is also supported on the following Apple platforms; Mac OSX 10.3, 10.4 and 10.5.

What Makes the Computrace Technology Platform Unique

The Computrace Agent distinguishes Absolute’s services from competitive solutions in a number of ways, and offers customers many advantages over conventional computer tracking mechanisms and larger enterprise asset management applications:

Automatic & Reliable: Easy to install and unobtrusive to the end-user, the Agent runs silently and automatically and is difficult to accidentally or deliberately delete.

Secure Communications: Because the Agent initiates the connection to the Monitoring Center, it is inherently more secure than conventional auto-discovery mechanisms and does not rely on an open and listening port that could potentially render systems vulnerable to hackers. As well, communication is TCP-based and always encrypted.

Small Footprint & Low Bandwidth: The Agent itself occupies a small amount of memory when idle. When placing a call, the Agent optimizes data transfer, which means a very low demand is placed on the network.

Easy Installation: The Agent can be installed seamlessly on a corporate image, centrally deployed over a LAN, or even pre-installed at the factory by OEM partners. Once installed, the Agent simply needs an Internet or phone connection to communicate with the Monitoring Center; no user intervention is required.

Frequent, Scheduled Calls: The “always on” Agent calls frequently on a scheduled basis over IP and dial-up connections, without requiring any action from system users. With accurate, up-to-date computer information at their fingertips, customers can proactively implement their security and asset tracking practices for company-wide compliance.

Scalable: Once the client, or Agent, is installed, updates need only be done on the server side to enable various services. This allows other products and services offered by Absolute Software to be “turned on” quickly and easily, without a cumbersome rollout of client software.

Persistence: Easy to install and unobtrusive to the end-user, the Computrace Agent, or software client, runs silently and automatically and is virtually impossible for an unauthorized user to accidentally or deliberately delete. Most Computer manufacturers also provide embedded support for Computrace in the BIOS or Firmware of the notebook computer. This ensures that if the Computrace agent gets altered or removed from the hard drive by an unauthorized user, the embedded support module will rebuild the Computrace Agent application on the drive. We call this rebuilding feature ‘persistence’ and it ensures that our customer, the rightful owner of the computer, will have the fullest opportunity to make contact with the computer after it has been compromised and left the customer’s traditional sphere of control. Ultimately the persistent feature is critically important for Absolute to be able to recover and return a stolen computer to its rightful owner.

COMPLETE LIST OF PRODUCTS

Encryption Support

Many IT departments implement data encryption solutions,
then trust that their confidential data will be protected at all times. Encryption is a good first step toward data security
and regulatory compliance, but it cannot recover stolen notebooks and rarely protects sensitive information in cases of internal theft.

Data Encryption: Necessary, But Insufficient

Data encryption solutions are powerful tools, but they are a lot like prison walls: they prevent most common breaches, but are powerless to stop a criminal in possession of the keys to the gates. Gartner estimates that 70% of security breaches occur as a result of internal sources, meaning that encryption may only be effective in as little as 30% of all incidents.

Encrypting data is therefore necessary, but insufficient: it is a good first step toward data security, but hardly a guarantee that data is secure or that data will not be compromised. This is why Computrace^® is the perfect complement to encryption for laptop security and IT asset management.

Got Encryption? You’re Halfway There. Get Computrace.

While encryption helps protect data, organizations that do not have a technique for swift recovery can never truly ensure their clients’ confidentiality. When a computer has been lost or stolen, there is a very real possibility that the data stored on it will become compromised – whether the data has been encrypted or not.

Computrace helps provide closure to issues of laptop theft that encryption tools cannot – such as producing an audit of the deleted files and helping companies comply with data protection regulations. Together with encryption, laptop security best practices and common sense, Computrace helps keep confidential data secure, and computing assets safer.