14 DAY TRIAL // If you want to be able to boot Windows from any computer, there's a really nifty asset in Windows 8 that lets you do it off removable storage devices. Removable media needs to be certified for it though, which is why Spyrus made sure to say loud and clear that its latest flash drives have this benefit.
Normally, for Windows, any operating system really, to launch, it has to be installed on the primary storage drive of a computer. That's not all that great when the OS fails somehow though.
Also, maybe you're the type of person that has to switch computers often, or travels a lot and would like to always have their own desktop settings and data wherever they go.
To allow that, Microsoft included the Windows to Go capability in Windows 8, which enables the OS to be installed on a flash drive, or USB HDD or SSD.
The removable media have to be specifically made with it in mind, though, to allow the BIOS to see them as boot drives and everything.
Sure, in theory, you could just fiddle with the BIOS and use Windows to make a bootable flash drive anyway, as long as there is enough space.
Nevertheless, when a flash drive is meant to be used as a Windows to Go device, companies usually mention it specifically. Like Spyrus did for the Portable Workplace, Secure Portable Workplace, WorkSafe, and WorkSafe Pro SSDs.
Which brings us to today's news: Spyrus has added the capacity of 256 GB to its collection. And don't let the “portable SSD” description fool you. These are flash drives, through and through. USB 3.0 sticks with superior security, layered hardware and software encryption.
WorkSafe and WorkSafe Pro Live drives come with Windows 8.1 with multi-factor authentication using smart card digital certificates. They are the first of their kind with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 hardware smart card chips.
WorkSafe Pro has all that, plus AES-256 XTS hardware encryption, for safer smart card login, VPN access, secure email, and authenticated online collaboration.
Spyrus ships the newcomers with the ToughBoot loader, software digitally signed by Microsoft that is good against hackers during the boot sequence (when using the UEFI Secure Boot available on newer computers). It also interrupts the boot if it detects tampering or malfunctions of hardware.
Prices of the 256 GB Portable Workplace, Secure Portable Workplace, WorkSafe, and WorkSafe Pro portable SSD Live Spyrus drives for Windows To Go haven't been revealed. Alas.