Secure Memory Encryption (SME) defines a simple and efficient architectural capability for main memory encryption. While memory encryption technologies have been used previously in various specialized products and industries, SME is a general purpose mechanism that is flexible, integrated into the CPU architecture, scalable from embedded to high-end server workloads, and requires no application software modifications.
Source: https://developer.amd.com/wordpress/media/2013/12/AMD_Memory_Encryption_Whitepaper_v7-Public.pdf