Viasat Selected to Deliver Next-Generation Encryption for US Government Cloud Data Centers
Rhea-AI Summary
Quantum Corporation (NASDAQ: QMCO) has announced support for LTO-10 tape drives across its Scalar tape library systems. The new LTO-10 technology offers 30 TB native capacity per cartridge (up to 75 TB compressed) and transfer speeds of 400 MB/s per drive.
The company's Scalar i7 RAPTOR system can now deliver up to 60 PB storage in a single rack, providing 70% lower operational costs through reduced floor space, power, and cooling requirements. The solution integrates with Quantum's StorNext, ActiveScale, and DXi platforms, offering enhanced security features like Ransom Block and Active Vault for ransomware protection.
Positive
- LTO-10 offers massive storage capacity of 30 TB per cartridge (75 TB compressed)
- Scalar i7 RAPTOR delivers industry-leading 60 PB storage density per rack
- 70% reduction in operational costs through space, power, and cooling savings
- Enhanced security features for ransomware protection
Negative
- None.
Insights
Quantum's LTO-10 tape drive integration significantly boosts storage density and security while reducing costs—highly valuable for AI and archival applications.
Quantum's integration of LTO-10 tape technology into its Scalar library systems represents a substantial technological advancement in the enterprise storage market. With native capacity jumping to 30TB per cartridge (up to 75TB compressed), this delivers exceptional storage economics for long-term data retention—particularly critical as organizations grapple with explosive data growth from AI initiatives.
The density metrics are particularly impressive: up to 60PB in a single rack with the Scalar i7 RAPTOR system, which reportedly offers 3x the density of competing solutions. This translates to approximately 70% lower operational costs through reduced floor space, power, and cooling requirements—a significant consideration for data centers approaching capacity limits.
What makes this announcement strategically valuable is Quantum's ecosystem integration. By incorporating LTO-10 across their product portfolio—including ActiveScale object storage, StorNext file systems, and DXi backup appliances—Quantum is positioning itself as a comprehensive provider for tiered storage architectures spanning from high-performance computing to cold storage archiving.
The security features are particularly relevant in today's threat landscape, with Quantum's proprietary Ransom Block, Tape Blocking, and Active Vault technologies providing true air-gapped protection—a critical defense mechanism against ransomware that network-connected storage solutions cannot match.
With 32Gb Fibre Channel and 12Gb SAS interfaces delivering up to 400MB/s per drive, plus extended connectivity options (up to 100 meters), Quantum is addressing both performance and deployment flexibility needs while maintaining tape's fundamental cost advantages for cold data storage.
As a key provider to cloud data centers today, Viasat will develop a next-generation high-assurance, high-speed Ethernet Data Encryptor (EDE) for protecting classified data across government cloud data centers and transport networks
CARLSBAD, Calif., July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced it was selected by the U.S. Government to build a next-generation Ethernet Data Encryptor (EDE) solution as part of a sole-source multi-million dollar Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award. Under this award, Viasat will design and develop this new high-assurance (formerly Type 1), high-speed EDE to meet the most stringent government security standards for protecting classified data up to Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) levels. Viasat has a long history of developing and delivering National Security Agency (NSA) certified encryption solutions to help protect sensitive government data – from ground-to-space, ship-to-shore, and the tactical edge-to-cloud data centers. Viasat received this IDIQ award during the first half of its 2025 fiscal year.
Through this multi-year IDIQ contract, Viasat’s government encryption team under its Defense and Advanced Technologies segment will develop, certify, and sustain this next-generation high-assurance encryptor to meet evolving government security specifications, cloud communications requirements, and security threats. Viasat’s first-generation KG-142 high-assurance, high-speed EDE has been protecting cloud and transport data networks since 2017. This next-generation EDE will expand on the ground-breaking KG-142 capabilities, addressing demand for increased network traffic bandwidth, lower power requirements, and advanced device management.
These capabilities are critical as Department of Defense networks increasingly shift to utilize cloud service providers and support a Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability. The demand for high-assurance encryption to protect the government data in and between those cloud data centers and core transport networks is rapidly growing.
“This award highlights Viasat’s proven heritage and innovative approach towards meeting the future demands of security, space, power, and bandwidth requirements of government cloud data centers,” said David Schmolke, Vice President of Viasat Mission Connections and Cybersecurity. “We’re proud to be trusted to continue our work with the government to meet the protection and high-speed requirements warfighters need. Our next-generation EDE is designed to meet customers’ increased AI-driven demands for bandwidth while providing the flexibility to operate their data centers with cutting edge automation and responsiveness.”
Viasat’s new high-speed, high-assurance EDE will provide 16 times more bandwidth and an estimated
The next-generation EDE will use Viasat’s PSIAM™ technology architecture, which is the foundation of Viasat’s vast portfolio of high-assurance encryptor products that have been trusted for 20 years to secure the most sensitive government data. Viasat’s PSIAM™ technology architecture uses intelligent, proven,
Visit Viasat’s website to learn more about our portfolio of flexible, scalable and highly secure cloud and enterprise encryption solutions.
About Viasat
Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at www.viasat.com, the Viasat News Room or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube.
Copyright © 2025 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered in the U.S and in other countries to Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Viasat, Inc. Contacts
Dan Bleier, Public Relations, Viasat Government, +1 (202) 383-5074, daniel.bleier@viasat.com
Lisa Curran/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, +1 (760) 476-2633, IR@viasat.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about Viasat’s receipt of orders under the sole source IDIQ award; the development of its next-generation and high-assurance, high-speed encryption solution, including the expected features, benefits and performance; and government demand for increased encryption bandwidth, smaller size, and lower power requirements. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and other factors affecting the government and defense sectors generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.
FAQ
What is the storage capacity of Quantum's new LTO-10 tape drives?
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