14 DAY TRIAL // Kingston announced the release of a new Encrypted USB flash drive, designed to ensure a better data protection for its customers. The flash drive called BlackBox comes in 2GB and 8GB models and costs from $165 to $424, depending on capacity. Beside 256 bit AES encryption, the flash drive features water resistance and has a five-year guarantee and 24/7 technical support provided by Kingston.
When it comes to data, security means in most cases encryption and Kingston Technology made a move into it and presented the BlackBox flash drive, an encrypted USB stick, available now in the United States. The rugged DataTraveler BlackBox is waterproof (for up to 4 feet deep) and has a stainless steel casing, titanium-coated, which ensure more data protection. It is easy to set up and use as it needs no application installed or Administrator rights to work.
Security measures had to be taken as more and more end users and companies reported lost or stolen flash drives. "Most CIOs are aware that data leaks can result in identity theft, compromise of intellectual property, and loss of trade secrets, as well as significant PR and financial damage to organizations," says Gil Mildworth, Senior Director of Marketing for SanDisk's Enterprise Division. "Our survey demonstrates that, while there is some awareness of potential risks involved with unsecured USB flash drives, corporate IT execs need more effective policies, education, and technology solutions in order to mitigate the risks. Only a top-down effort involving intelligent device management, data monitoring, and centralised policy enforcement will sufficiently reduce risks."
This flash drive is the "first Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)-validated USB Flash drive", so Kingston is very proud of its product. The FIPS is a standard from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Communications Security Establishment of the Government of Canada. "This is critical because many governmental agencies in the United States and Canada mandate that sensitive "data at rest" must be encrypted with the FIPS 140-2 standard."
The BlackBox can be used under Windows Vista 32-bit, Windows XP Service Pack 1 and SP2 and Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 and SP4. It requires two consecutive drive letters and it is USB 2.0 compliant and USB 1.1 compatible.
"We are very excited that our DataTraveler BlackBox met all federal requirements established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)," said Mark Akoubian, Flash memory product manager, Kingston.