Data security is integral in today’s modern lives. While some people are fine with just deleting files, not lending any removable storage to people or just keeping their passwords secure but there’s just some instances that data has to be safe to the next level. We normally see in movies where data is super-secure and ends up being hacked in seconds or USB drives being stolen with tons of confidential data ready to be read straight off the drive.
Kingston knows there’s a special requirements for people who need absolute security with their data and when they carry in their flash drive so with their latest secure flash drive, Kingston has integrated a complete hardware-based encryption system that locks the drive’s content making it nearly impossible to unlock by even the most sophisticated means. Today we have the Kingston DataTraveler 2000 (DT2000) secure flash drive. Read on for more details and watch the video review above!
Features
- Keypad makes it easy to lock your drive
- AES 256-bit hardware-based data encryption
- Can be used on any device with a USB 2.0 or USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) port
- Durable design protects drive from the elements
Specifications
- Interface USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0)
- Capacity:Â 16GB, 32GB
- Speed
USB 3.1
16GB: 120MB/s read, 20MB/s write
32GB: 135MB/s read, 40MB/s write - USB 2.0:
16GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write
32GB: 30MB/s read, 20MB/s write - Dimensions (drive with sleeve) 80mm x 20mm x 10.5mm
- Dimensions (drive without sleeve) 78mm x 18mm x 8mm
- Waterproof/Dustproof Certified to IP57 rating
- Compatibility: USB 3.0 compliant and 2.0 compatible
- Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C
- Storage temperature: -20°C to 60°C
- Minimum system requirements: USB 3.0 compliant and 2.0 compatible
- Hardware data encryption 256-bit AES in XTS mode
- Compatible with: Windows® 10, Windows 8.1, 8, 7 (SP1), Vista® (SP2), Mac OS X v. 10.8.x+, Linux v. 2.6.x+, Chrome OS™, Android
Closer Look
The Kingston DataTraveler 2000 (DT2000) is one long flash drive despite the norm of keeping their sizes down despite the rather conservative storage space. In the case of the DT2000, the size isn’t just for design but rather its mandatory due to the integrated keypad for entering security codes and navigation feature options. In terms of build quality, the Kingston DT2000 is one solid flash drive, the metal body cap seals firmly the metallic flash drive itself and one end has a secure metal ring that you need to unscrew to release, making it quite difficult to lose unintentionally especially when connected to a chain.
The keypad is comprised of 10 numeric keys and a unlock key which coincidentally has a key icon on it. The manual details how to open the drive for the first time by pressing the Key button and keying-in 11223344 within 10 seconds and then pressing the key button again to enter. Once in, Kingston includes a manual for you to see the other options that the Kingston DT2000 is capable of which includes: read-only mode where you can only read data off the drive, timeout mode where the drive locks after a set duration, change the PIN code, etc. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the many options of this drive to the maximize data security features. LED indicators make it easy to distinguish functions with indicated LED statuses. Again, its in the manual.
User Experience & Conclusion
This drive is obviously intended for a select group of people, particularly those who need to travel together with sensitive digital documents or applications that can’t be transferred online due to size or security concerns. Whatever it is, Kingston has made sure the DT2000 flash drive lives up to the standard set forth by their previous generation of secure flash drives and ups the ante by including hardware encryption.
Performance-wise, the Kingston DT2000 is a fast device. At 150MB read speeds average it can unload files quickly for viewing and with 90MB write speeds, it can also potentially copy files onto it really quickly.
On a daily use basis, this is one fast drive. If you just need a data vault, this is a good option like for safe-keeping data for short storage but the main customers of this drive are people who need to carry files securely and are possible under threat of siege. The Kingston DataTraveler 2000 adds a layer of security for high-risk individuals carrying important documents with them by including a hardware-encryption system on the DT2000. As an extension, the DT2000 also resets itself after a brute-force attempt. After ten failed PIN attempts, the Kingston DT2000 will delete all contents inside the drive and revert the PIN code to the factory default.
As a person who has worked in IT and data security, the Kingston DataTraveler 2000 is an impressive product. Its security features are simply superb and the attention to detail of keeping the drive both physically and internally safe have been well thought-out.
Its rare that we can hand-out a B2G Gold Award to a thumb drive, but in this case its highly-deserved.
