IT and Society: Intel unveils new business processor family

Intel has unveiled a new generation processor family with new PC’s data protection features, extensive administration and increased performance.

Intel Core vPro processors offer the increased performance, enhanced Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and new Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX). Intel claimed that the new Core vPro i5 processor speeds up business applications by 60%, multitasking by 100% and data encryption by 300% as compared to Intel Core 2 Duo processors.

The company has also introduced Anti-Theft Technology Ver. 3.0 (AT 3.0), included on all 2nd generation Core and Core vPro processors to provide defense against the problem of laptop theft and data loss. The new AT 3.0 enables the poison pill to be sent as an encrypted, authenticated SMS message by an authorised administrator over a 3G cellular network and also within moments after a missing laptop is turned on. Further, when recovered, the PC can be similarly re-activated with another message, said the company. The company added that the new Locator Beacon capability gives authorities the ability to pinpoint a missing laptop using GPS technology on select 3G modems.

The new AT 3.0 standby protection feature helps protect encrypted PCs that go missing in the vulnerable standby state (S3), when awakened, the new standby protection feature can change normal procedure to require an encryption login, which is much more secure than the usual username and password.

Intel said that the Core vPro processors also help make IT simpler with the new Host-Based Configuration feature that completely automates the process of setting up the vPro functions on new computers.

The company has also enhanced its Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, which steps up processor speeds beyond their rated frequency by analysing temperature and power consumption.