Abstract
Protecting multimedia data from malicious computer users continues to grow in importance. Whether preventing unauthorized access to digital photographs, ensuring compliance with copyright regulations, or guaranteeing the integrity of a video teleconference, all multimedia applications require increased security in the presence of talented intruders. Specifically, as more and more files are preserved on disk the requirement to provide secure storage has become more important. This paper presents a survey of techniques for securely storing multimedia data, including theoretical approaches, prototype systems, and existing systems ready for employment. Due to the wide variety of potential solutions available, a prospective customer can easily become overwhelmed while researching an appropriate system for multimedia requirements. Since added security measures inevitably result in slower system performance, certain storage solutions provide a better fit for particular applications along a security/performance continuum. This paper provides an overview of the prominent characteristics of several systems to provide a foundation for selecting the most appropriate solution. Initially, the paper establishes a set of criteria for evaluating a storage solution based on confidentiality, integrity, availability, and performance. Then, using these criteria, the paper explains the relevant characteristics of select storage systems providing a comparison of the major differences. Finally, the paper examines specific applications of storage devices in the multimedia environment.
