INTRODUCTION

   Even though data safety/security has always been of paramount importance in some areas of the industry (corporate espionage) and even the government we've never seen as many encrypted USB storage solutions available in the market as we have today. Today not only interested parties can get their hands on a large number of encrypted USB flash drives, portable hard drives and portable solid state drives featuring either software or hardware based encryption but they can also choose between several different types of user authentication such as integrated keypads, PC/MAC software and even bluetooth connectivity. IronKey was among the very first manufacturers to offer hardware based encrypted USB flash drives with an impressive array of security features (including a self-destruct defence mechanism) and today with us we have their latest and top of the line D300S 64GB USB 3.0 model.

   KingstonTechnology Company, Inc. is the world’s largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Kingston designs, manufactures and distributes memory products for desktops, laptops, servers, printers, and Flash memory products for PDAs, mobile phones, digital cameras, and MP3 players. Through its global network of subsidiaries and affiliates, Kingston has manufacturing facilities in California, Taiwan, China and sales representatives in the United States, Europe, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Australia, India, Taiwan, China, and Latin America.

   The IronKey D300S USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1) model which we have here with us is the serialized version of the D300 series (currently available in 8/16/32/64GB/128GB capacities and in standard, serialized and serialized managed versions) which allows network administrators both to simply read or scan the drive in order to see its unique serial number (instead of having to plug it into a computer) and enter a password via mouse clicks, instead of using a physical keyboard (keylogger protection). In terms of protections the D300S (and the entire D300 line) is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 and NATO restricted level certified and features 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption in XTS mode (GDPR & NYDFS compliant), BadUSB immunity via a digitally signed firmware, custom password requirements with minimum characteristics (complex), internal epoxy coat/seal (tamper-evident/proof) and a Brute Force defence mechanism which auto-formats the drive after a total of 10 consecutive incorrect password entries. The enclosure of the entire D300 series is made out of IEC60529 IXP82 certified (waterproof up to 4 feet - 1.2 meters) zinc alloy (customizable) and is covered by a 5-year limited warranty.