Data, data, data. It’s everywhere. Moreover, the amount of data created is increasing, not only on back end business systems, but also at the personal level by business workers on their PC’s, tablets, and smartphones. Most people have lots of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other files that they have created, and many that they have received from colleagues within and beyond their organisations. The data in these files is the fuel that keeps the wheels of business turning.
As this data is so important to people they always want to have it available. In the current multi-cloud IT landscape there are many choices available for the storage of personal and business data files. From Cloud locations such as Microsoft Office 365 and OneDrive, Google Docs and Drive, Apple iCloud, Box, Dropbox and many others, there is no shortage of choice when it comes to Cloud-based file storage and sync. Indeed, most organisations will have a corporately sanctions Cloud-based solution of choice that they provide for their staff.
Data Tends to Travel
It is a fact that data will travel. No matter the strictures or procedures put in place people will copy files to USB drives so they can move them to another computer. Even in these days of ubiquitous email, some files are just too big to send. Also, not all locations that staff may need to visit, or indeed their homes, may not have the Internet connectivity required for fast Cloud-based file access and storage.
Some business locations are security conscious and don’t allow the use of Cloud-based storage. Also, some people like to have a copy of their essential work files with them in case they need to work and can’t get to the Cloud. Whatever you do to try to prevent it you will find that people will still need to, or want to, have access to their files locally. If you don’t provide for this need then users will fill it themselves, and when they do data will be at risk of loss, with all the security and reputational issues that data loss entails. Data protection is especially important with the EU GDPR rules now in full force.
ClearCrypt Solutions Address This Need
It is a fact that data should always be encrypted at rest on computers and when transmitted over the network. This need for encryption extends to data stored on portable storage devices such as USB drives and portable hard drives. The security of any system is only as good as the weakest link, and copying data to portable drives that can be transferred between computers or lost is undoubtedly the weakest link. Globally it is estimated that 35% of all employees store some data on a USB drive, and that 20 million of these drives are lost every year.
ClearCrypt provides solutions that address this weak link in IT security by providing a range of portable storage devices to fit all needs. Each device uses hardware-based AES 256-bit encryption with access protected by a passcode PIN that has to be entered on a keypad on the device. These are not software-based solutions layered on top of generic USB drives, but instead are hardware based, enterprise-class security solutions that meet the portable storage needs of even the most security conscious organisations. As hardware encryption is used to protect and provide access to data on ClearCrypt storage solutions, they are much faster in use than storage with software-based encryption enabled.
ClearCrypt provides a range of encrypted portable storage options to meet the needs of organisations across a wide range. These include:
- Encrypted USB Drives - small flash-based portable USB storage devices that can be used to replace the USB keys users tend to use for simple file transfers, but with hardware encryptions and keypad access protection. Available in a range of capacities up to 32GB.
- Encrypted mSATA Drives - the next step up from USB drives. These use mSATA SSD drives in combination with hardware encryption and keypad access control. These are designed to replace portable SSD drives securely and are available in a range of capacities from 64GB to 512GB.
- Encrypted HDD Drives - for occasions where high capacity encrypted portable storage is required. Designed to replace portable hard drive storage while using hardware encryption and the keypad PIN access controls. Capacities range from 500GB to 2TB.
- Encrypted External Hard Drives - many situations require the use of external hard drives with desktop and laptop computers. These external drives might never move from a user’s desk, but by their very nature they are vulnerable to unauthorised access or theft. ClearCrypt’s external hard drives are designed to replace traditional external drives with hardware encrypted devices that have all the security features from the other models including keypad based access. No unauthorised access to data will be possible if one of these drives falls into the wrong hands.
Conclusion
The need for using portable storage hasn’t gone away in the multi-cloud world. Moreover, the need for secure protection of data is ever present. ClearCrypt provides solutions that allow businesses to ensure that portable storage is available in an easy to use, secure, and trustworthy way.
