Secure Data SecureDrive KP Portable Encrypted Data Storage REVIEW

Secure your data with keypad-driven hardware encrypted data storage device.

There has never been a more pressing time to ensure your data is safe than now. With people working remotely – some with sensitive data-keeping hard drives secure is essential for good business. Secure Data is a great company that creates great options for data security including the SecureDrive KP Portable Encrypted Data Storage device. It is available with an HDD and an SSD option for affordability and versatility with your working systems.

DETAILS

The SecureDrive KP data storage device is a hardware-encrypted external portable drive with a built-in keypad. The award-winning device is designed and assembled in the USA and it works with any OS or device. The hard drive comes with a 1-year license for DriveSecurity Antivirus powered by ESET. It also comes with a USB 3.0 cable, USB-C cable, carrying case, and a quick start guide. The HD features XTS-AES 256-bit encryption. Its built-in encryption programming includes brute-force, anti-hacking protection, and admin/user modes. 

• Capacity: 250 GB – 20 TB
• Size: HDD – 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 5TB; SSD – 250GB, 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB, 16TB, 20TB
• User Authentication: Ergonomically designed 10+1 keypad
• Security Validation: FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated
• Encryption: Real-time, military-grade XTS-AES 256-bit full-disk hardware encryption
• Data transfer speed: Reads up to 355 MB per second; writes up to 333 MB per second
• Interface: USB 3.0/3.1 gen1/3.2 gen1
• Physical Protection: Protected with epoxy compound to prevent physical access to the device through tampering.
• Complete Drive Reset (Safe Erase): Erases all data after 10 consecutive, incorrect PIN entry attempts
• Immune to Bad USB: Yes; firmware updates not allowed
• Roles/Permissions: 1 Admin, 1 User
• Read Only Mode: Yes
• Inactivity Auto-lock: Predefined times between 1 and 60 minutes
• OS Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chrome, Thin Clients, Embedded Systems, VMware, Citrix (no software or drivers needed)
• Regulatory Approvals: RoHs, FCC, CE, FIPS 140-2 Level 3
• Warranty: 2-year limited (HDD), 3-year limited (SSD)

USER EXPERIENCE

The hard drive comes in a Secure Data branded box. It has an outer sleeve with a reinforced cardboard box. The exterior sleeve has an image of the data storage device on it and the back describes the features of the device. When you open the box, you will find the hard drive enclosed in its own zippered case. The case has a semi-hard shell, but it has a smooth, soft covering. The inside of the case has a mesh storage compartment where the cables are stored. There is a divider between the mesh compartment and the hard drive. The quick start guide is stored in the pocket on this divider. The data storage device is housed on its own side and it’s held in place by an elastic band. I really like this method of storage for this type of hard drive. I’ve had encrypted drives before and I hate having to find a way to keep the cables, manual, and drive together. So, I’m glad that Secure Data included this case with the kit. 

As described above, the hard drive comes in several different capacities. I have the 1TB version. To use the hard drive, you simply plug the hard drive into your computer, enter the pin number, and then use the data storage device. I really like the cable that came along with the hard drive. It’s a braided cable with a USB 3.0 end that plugs into the data storage device and a USB-C cable that plugs into your computer. When you plug the data storage device into your computer, the red lock will light up to show that power is connected to the drive. In order to unlock the drive for the first time, you have to press the lock button and then enter the default PIN number that is located in the quick start guide. When the lock accepts the code, the blue LED will light up along with the Green lock LED. This indicates that the drive is ready for data. 

It is recommended that you change the PIN number to a new code once you activate the drive. The requirement is 7-15 digits and they cannot be all the same number. The instructions for changing the code are as follows: 

1. Press the lock icon and then the User PIN. If it’s the first time you have changed the code, you will have to use the default code. 
2. Once you enter the user code, you press the lock icon twice. After you see the green lock LED light up, then you press the lock icon twice again. 
3. The blue LED should light up if the sequence is completed correctly. You can then enter a new User PIN and press the lock icon twice to accept the code. You will need to re-enter the new PIN again and press the lock icon one more time. The red and green lock LEDs will light up if the process was completed and accepted. 

This is the process outlined in the Quick Start Guide. There are a lot of additional options included in the full user manual that can be downloaded from the Secure Drive website or found on the hard drive. It is possible to set an Admin password that sort of acts as an override option for the hard drive’s functions like setting the drive to be read-only. You can also reset the entire hard drive. This process will delete all the data stored on the drive including the PIN numbers and the encryption. The process for creating a new PIN number after a drive reset is different than the original setup. 

The process for setting a new user PIN isn’t difficult, but it did take me a couple of tries to get the sequence correct. One of the things I like about this particular drive is that it does not automatically lock you out if it sits idle. You can, however, set a lockout time using the Admin function, but it’s not set by default. In the past, that feature has been an annoyance to me because it can interrupt larger data transfers. 

In addition to the encryption features of the hard drive, I ran the SecureDrive KP data storage through a series of performance tests – Blackmagic  Disk Speed Test, AJA System Test Lite, and a real-world drag/drop data transfer test. The results of all these tests are listed below. 

• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Write 294.9 MB/s, Read 317.8 MB/s
• AJA System Test Lite: Write 267 MB/s, Read 311 MB/s
• Drag/Drop Data Transfer Test: Transferred a 3.1 GB file from the computer to the hard drive. The transfer took 21 seconds. This translated to a transfer rate of 147.6 MB/s. 

The hard drive was getting its maximum possible data transfer speed as it was connected via USB-C to my MacBook Air. The system report from my MacBook Air showed the hard drive was connected with a speed up to 5 GB/s – the maximum speed allowed to USB 3.1 Gen 1 connections. 

CONCLUSION

The SecureDrive KP data storage device is a great option for storing encrypted data. It’s a solid piece of hardware that is easy to carry around. The programming aspect of the device is easy to understand and execute with a little practice. Depending on the capacity of the drive, the pricing is cost-effective. 

For more information, visit securedrive.com, Facebook, and Twitter.