Kingston IronKey’s D500S: Elevating Mobile Data Protection with Unmatched Military-Grade Security

Kingston Digital, the Flash memory division of Kingston Technology, has launched its latest offering in the realm of secure data storage: the Kingston IronKey D500S. This hardware-encrypted USB flash drive is designed to provide military-grade security for classified data during transit. With its FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification (pending), the D500S meets the stringent security requirements set by NIST, making it suitable for government and military use.

One of the standout features of the D500S is its robustness. It is built to withstand extreme conditions, being waterproof, dustproof, shock and vibration resistant, and crush-resistant. The rugged zinc casing protects the internal components from penetration attacks, ensuring that the data remains secure even in challenging environments.

In terms of security features, the D500S offers a Multi-Password option with Complex or Passphrase mode. This allows users to have greater control over their data and choose a password that is easier to remember without compromising security. The drive also includes an option for Admin to reset a User password and enable a One-Time Recovery password, providing a failsafe in case the User password is forgotten.

To further protect against unauthorized access, the D500S has a session-based Read-Only mode that can be set by both Admin and User. This prevents malware from compromising the drive when used on untrusted systems. Additionally, Admin can set a Global Read-Only mode that remains in effect until reset.

In situations where data security is paramount, the D500S offers a Crypto-Erase password feature. This allows Admin to destroy all data on the drive and reset it, ensuring that no unauthorized access can occur.

The D500S also boasts industry-leading encryption capabilities, with XTS-AES 256-bit encryption and protection from BadUSB and Brute Force attacks. It includes a Virtual Keyboard for protection against keyloggers and screenloggers. Notably, the D500S is the first in its class to offer a dual-partition option. Admin can create two custom-sized secure partitions for Admin and User, with a Hidden File Store that can be used to provision files to the User partition as needed.

Richard Kanadjian, IronKey global business manager at Kingston, highlighted the significance of the D500S in the realm of data protection. He stated, “The flagship D500S with FIPS 140-3 Level 3 (Pending) offers more features than any other drive in its class. D500S upgrades the IronKey D300S with state-of-the-art security, making it a complete security solution for high-value data protection for larger enterprises and governments.”

The D500S is fully customizable, allowing users to enable, disable, and modify drive features and profiles. It is TAA/CMMC compliant and assembled in the USA. The drive is available in capacities up to 512 GB and comes with a 5-year warranty and free technical support. Additionally, Kingston offers an enterprise managed D500SM model and an optional-managed custom drive.

With its military-grade security features and customizable options, the Kingston IronKey D500S sets a new standard for secure data storage. It is compatible with Windows 11, 10, macOS 10.15.x – 13.x, and Linux Kernel 4.4+. Whether it’s protecting classified government data or safeguarding sensitive enterprise information, the D500S offers peace of mind and robust security.

Background Information

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About Kingston: Kingston Technology, founded in 1987, is a respected American company specializing in memory and storage solutions. They offer a diverse range of products, including memory modules, solid-state drives, USB drives, and more. Kingston is known for its reliable and high-performance storage solutions.

  

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About Kingston Technology: Kingston Technology, founded in 1987, is a important global manufacturer of memory and storage solutions. The company specializes in producing a wide range of products, including memory modules, solid-state drives (SSDs), USB drives, and more. Known for its reliability and quality, Kingston has established itself as a trusted name in the technology industry. With a focus on providing solutions for both consumers and businesses, Kingston's products cater to various needs, from enhancing system performance to data storage.

  

Technology Explained

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AES 256: AES 256, short for Advanced Encryption Standard with a key length of 256 bits, is a widely used symmetric encryption algorithm. It employs a substitution-permutation network to ensure data confidentiality and security. AES comes in different key lengths, including AES-128 and AES-192, where the numbers represent the key size in bits. AES-128 uses a 128-bit key, while AES-192 uses a 192-bit key. These standards are considered secure and are used for various applications to protect sensitive information during data transmission and storage.

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FIPS: The Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) encryption standard encompasses a set of specifications and guidelines established by the U.S. government to ensure the security and interoperability of cryptographic algorithms and protocols. These standards are crucial for protecting sensitive information and facilitating secure communication across various systems and organizations. FIPS-approved algorithms, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), and SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm), undergo rigorous evaluation and testing to meet stringent security requirements, providing a foundation for secure data handling and transmission in both government and non-government sectors.