Securely Backup Data With Kingston

October marked European Cybersecurity Month, and as another edition of the annual campaign comes to an end, it’s more important than ever to ensure you protect yourself and your data whilst online. To find out how Kingston can help to stop people from viewing or accessing your sensitive data, carry on reading.

USB flash drives offer an easy and convenient way to store or backup your data. Whilst this plug-and-play storage device offers great portability, it often lacks in security measures, meaning if they are misplaced or stolen it is very easy for someone to access the data held on them. A security breach may also occur from viruses that are present on a user’s computer and when that drive is then plugged into the infected system. 

Nowadays, there are plenty of solutions to ensure our data is protected. Encrypted USB Flash drives are a great way to combat the disadvantages of using standard USB drives for storing and moving data. These encrypted drives provide an added layer of security that stops others from viewing or accessing your sensitive data. 

USB Hardware vs Software

There are two different types of encrypted USB flash drives: hardware and software encryption. To access the data stored on a drive, both types of encryption require some form of authentication, such as a password, key or biometric solution. However, each type of encryption has its own unique properties. 

As the name suggests, software encryption relies on software installed onto the host computer or computer’s operating system to encrypt your data. The encryption key is usually just the user’s password that scrambles data, enter the wrong password and your files will remain locked. 

Software encryption is typically the cheaper option of the two. However, as the security of the encryption relies on the security of the computer, the encryption can be prone to error and even vulnerable to hackers if the software hasn’t been updated when required. In addition to this, software encryption is susceptible to brute force attacks, the computer tries to limit the number of decryption attempts but hackers can access the computer’s memory and reset the attempt counter. Software encryption is cost-effective in small application environments and can be implemented on all types of media. However, it’s important to remember it is only as strong as the level of security of the operating system of the device.

Hardware encryption, on the other hand, uses a dedicated processor physically located on the encrypted drive, which contains a random number generator to generate an encryption key, which the user’s password will unlock. The data stored on the drive will remain encrypted until the user enters the password or other form of authentication. 

Hardware-based encryption offers increased performance by off-loading encryption from the host system and does not require any type of driver installation or software installation on the host PC. Encryption is tied to a specific device, meaning encryption “is always on” for hardware encrypted drives, unlike software encrypted drives. This type of encryption will also protect against the most common attacks, such as cold boot attacks, malicious code and brute force attacks, whilst safeguarding keys and critical security parameters within crypto-hardware.

Kingston Encrypted Drives

Designed to protect data that requires airtight security, Kingston’s range of USB encrypted flash drives help you meet a high standard of security for your home, school, office and enterprise organisations. Keeping data secure is more important than ever, but choosing the best drive for your needs can be tricky. To help you out, we’ve chosen the best secure drives from Kingston to ensure you are buying a dependable storage solution that meets your requirements. 

For personal data protection

DataTraveler Locker+ G3 Encrypted USB Flash Drive

Put a lock on your personal data with the Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3 USB Flash drive. It’s a safe and convenient way to secure receipts, bank statements and other sensitive documents with hardware encryption and password protection for a double layer of data security. The drive locks down and reformats after 10 failed login attempts, so users can rest assured their data is safe even if the drive is lost or stolen. DataTraveler Locker+ G3 offers cloud backup as an optional feature. Users can choose to automatically back up data from their DataTraveler Locker+ G3 to Google Drive™, OneDrive (Microsoft®), Amazon Cloud Drive, Dropbox or Box, so if the drive is lost or stolen, their data is in a safe place. Its USB 3.0 interface delivers speeds of up to 135MB/s read, approximately 2–3 times the speed of the previous generation, to secure files faster.

Features/Benefits: 

• Hardware encryption is best in personal security to keep your data safe.
• Superior password protection lets the user sets a password to prevent unauthorised access.
• Works interchangeably between Mac OS X and Windows systems.
• The drive locks down and reformats after 10 invalid login attempts.
• Has a durable metal casing with built-in key loop.
• With optional cloud backup, users can access data stored on DataTraveler Locker+ G3 from your personal cloud storage.
• Customise DataTraveler Locker+ G3 by adding your logo and/or digital files and instantly increase your organisation’s brand recognition. The Customisation Programme offers unique packaging, custom profiles, colour adjustments, content loading and more, all with easy and convenient ordering

For business-grade security

DataTraveler Vault Privacy Encrypted USB Flash Drive

Safeguard your company’s sensitive data with the Kingston DataTraveler Vault Privacy 3.0 USB Flash drive.  Providing affordable business-grade security with 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption in XTS mode, this drive protects 100 per cent of stored data and enforces complex password protection with minimum characteristics to prevent unauthorised access. For additional peace of mind, the drive locks down and reformats after 10 intrusion attempts. It also features a read-only access mode (enabled via SafeConsole for the Managed model) to avoid potential malware risks. This drive is available in Standard, Managed and Anti-Virus models, allowing users to add support for SafeConsole1 management and easy-to-deploy anti-virus protection from ESET2 that protects the drive’s content from viruses, spyware, trojans, worms, rootkits, adware and other Internet-borne threats.

Features/Benefits: 

• All your data is protected by hardware encryption, so no one can access your data without knowing the password.
• The Managed model lets IT professionals enable a complete set of centralised administration and management tools when used with the server-based, control centre technology of SafeConsole1.
• The drive is available in an Anti-Virus model2 to keep data safe from viruses, spyware, Trojans, worms, rootkits, adware and other Internet-borne threats.
• Users can customise drives in a variety of ways, including serial numbering, co-logo and customised product identifiers for integration into standard end-point management software (white-listing), to meet internal corporate IT requirements.

Protect sensitive data 

Kingston DataTraveler 4000 G2DM Hardware Encrypted USB Flash Drive

The Kingston DataTraveler 4000G2 with Management USB Flash drive offers affordable business-grade security with 256-bit AES hardware-based encryption in XTS mode, to safeguard 100 per cent of confidential data. It provides companies with the most commonly required security for USBs. For added peace of mind, the drive enforces complex password protection and locks down and reformats after 10 intrusion attempts, and it functions in read-only access mode (enabled via SafeConsole) to avoid potential malware risks. DT4000G2DM features SafeConsole¹ management that enables a complete set of management tools when used with the server-based, control centre technology of SafeConsole. IT administrators can centrally manage secure USB drives to meet compliance requirements and provide a higher level of support.

Features/Benefits:

• With encryption, no one can see what you have stored on the drive without knowing the password.
• The Managed model lets IT professionals enable a complete set of centralised administration and management tools when used with the server-based, control centre technology of SafeConsole1.
• The drive is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified and TAA-compliant, to meet frequently requested corporate and government requirements.
• Users can customise drives in a variety of ways, including serial numbering, co-logo and customised product identifiers for integration into standard end-point management software (white-listing), to meet internal corporate IT requirements.

For easy-to-use pin protection

DataTraveler 2000 Encrypted USB Flash Drive

Want to lock your Flash Drive with ease? The Kingston DataTraveler 2000 is designed to be secure, with an alphanumeric keypad that locks the drive with a word or number combination, for easy-to-use PIN protection. Its auto-lock feature is activated when the drive is removed from a device and it deletes the encryption key after 10 failed intrusion attempts. Encryption is performed on the drive, not on the host computer, and no trace of the PIN is left on the system. The DT2000 features hardware-based, full-disk AES 256-bit data encryption in XTS mode and is FIPS 140-2 level 3 certified, to meet corporate IT requirements.

Features/Benefits: 

• With keypad and encryption, no one can see what you have stored on the drive without knowing the PIN.
• Simply key in your PIN on the alphanumeric keypad to unlock the data files on your drive.
• DT2000 is FIPS 140-2 level 3 certified, to meet a frequently requested corporate IT requirement.
• USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) speed allows for faster data transfers.
• Administrator PIN enables admins to access the drive and issue a new user PIN if the user forgets.
• Admin can pre-provision a drive with pre-loaded content as read-only for the user.

Are you looking to protect your data? Head to our website now to view our full range of Kingston Encrypted USB Flash Drives. 

Editor’s Note: Originally published 23 June 2020 at 16:26 PM, updated 5 November 2020 at 15:33 PM