SecureData SecureUSB BT

[testman78]

Introduction

If you've like me you probably have handfuls of USB flash drives on your desk at any one time. But how many of those flash drives have built-in data encryption? How many can carry on working after exposure to water and dust? Or after being dropped from a height on concrete? Or driven over? The SecureData SecureUSB BT Encrypted USB Flash Drive can. The SecureUSB BT offers robust security features both inside and out for your precious data. That includes a federal standard of FIPS 140-2 at Level-3 and some sort of identity-based authentication and physical or logical separation between the interfaces inside. It is also IP57 compliant.



This model is available in 16GB, 32GB, 64 GB and 128 GB, big enough for data in terms of computer backup files, etc. The unit I tested was the 16GB Secure USB BT.





Packaging & Contents

The front shows a few keywords SECURITY|BACKUP|ANTIVIRUS as well as along the bottom you see several icons showing features of the device.



The back of the package has system requirements, list of benefits and company info.



Inside the box, SecureData also includes a couple of accessories to go alongside the SecureUSB BT. There's a manual and a wrist strap that you can attach to the USB so you could clip it to a carabiner. There's also a couple of USB adapters included in the box so you can use the flash drive with other devices. There's a micro-USB to USB Type-A and Type-C to Type-A adapter included so you could use these with a range of devices and beyond the limitations of the USB Type-A port that is on the flash drive itself.




A Closer Look

At first glance, the SecureUSB BT is just another memory stick. The SecureUSB BT measures 55 x 20 x 10 mm and weights 12g. One of its surfaces is plain blue while the other is filled with serial numbers and other ugly stuff. The drive itself is constructed from plastic and features a hole at the end which can be used to tie to a lanyard or the included wristband. The rubber seal seems to be synthetic rubber rather than natural latex rubber, which is a good thing since synthetic rubber is more durable and has a higher resistance to tearing.



Pulling the USB stick out of its sealed protective case reveals the top side with the indicator light and a little blue rubber seal. The LEDs used on the devices across the board are soft and not over bright.



The SecureUSB BT features a USB 3.1 Gen1 interface. This is again, a FIPS 140-2 Level-3 compliant device, featuring a tamper proof design. Basically, the device is filled with epoxy so when someone decided to tear it apart, they?ll literally tear the drive apart - rendering its components useless.




The drive itself has the QR code, as well as critical information used to unlock it for the first time in the form of the serial number.




This secure USB drive is IP57 certified for dust and waterproof features. It is waterproof up to 1 meter. This feature is helpful if you are someone who works outdoors most of the times.




Software & Performance

In order for this USB drive to function, you need the SecureData Lock User mobile app. There is support for both Android and iOS. The prime reason to use the application is to unlock your flash drive. Without the app, there is literally no way to unlock it. The setup is standard, Scan the QR code from the Quickstart guide, install, (Write down the 8 digit code on the silver part of the USB flash drive). Plugin the USB drive and follow the instructions on screen. There's a status LED on the drive that stays red when the drive is locked, and turns a blue when it's unlocked.




Once installed using the 8 digit code (written down) and the default code is given in the quick start guide the drive is set up.It is recommended to change the default code via the app, and ensure this new code is kept safe away from the actual flash drive.



When setting up full access to the 16Gb data is available on the Flash drive with the option to run the antivirus software stored on the drive.



There is a cloud backup option that you can utilize to push all your flash drive content over to a cloud platform like Google Drive, Dropbox, or AWS.



The SecureUSB BT has a ton of useful safety features including remote wipe, read-only mode, etc. Deep diving into the drive settings, you'll find a list of options that include the ability to change the name of the drive, update the password, and initialize two-factor authentication in order to receive codes over text. Every time you go to unlock the phone, a six-digit code will appear on your smartphone. You can also set up password recovery to receive passwords on your phone in case you forget them. If you're prone to constantly forgetting your codes, you can opt to have the app remember the password for you. In the locking options section, you can set a timer for locking the drive automatically after a period of inactivity. If you want the drive to lock when you step away from your drive, there's an option for that too. And if you want to limit copy and write access, there's an option to make the drive read-only.



For performance the drive had sequential 2MB speeds of 156.2MB/s read and 69.60MB/s write and random speeds of 150.3MB/s read.




Final Thoughts

At first glance, the SecureData SecureUSB BT is just another memory stick. But put the drive in a USB port on a Mac or PC and things change. The SecureData SecureUSB BT is an overwhelmingly impressive device. Built for ruggedness and security, the electronics are housed in a durable casing and the electronics are encased in tamper-evident epoxy resin for added durability as well as physical security. The advanced encryption is what business users demand nowadays, and performance is more than enough for what it will be expected to do. The SecureUSB BT from SecureData is has an app-friendly way to achieve high security for important documents. The drive offers flexible management configurations. After having tested the SecureData SecureUSB BT, I can say that it is a confidence-inspiring device. I've put the SecureData SecureUSB BT through a lot over the past few weeks and nothing seems to affect it. I've left it in water for a few days, frozen it solid, thawed it out and boiled it, thrown it about, jumped on it, and generally been unkind to it, and it still looks and works like new.



All of this security comes at a price. 16GB SecureData SecureUSB BT drives run $99 MSRP. 64GB models retail for 179$. Buyers will have to decide if data protection is worth this hardware investment. Several groups, including military, aerospace, tech start-ups, and legal teams will likely find the answer to be yes.