The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) effective this month affects anyone who processes data of European Union (EU) residents. Amidst the banning of removable storage due to security fears, Kingston offers insight into how encrypted USB drives may be the solution.
“We believe that businesses and other entities which ban their employees from using removable storage devices have not conducted sufficient analysis to understand the many ways data flows in and out of an organization,” says Kingston. “Simply stopping USB usage altogether will not prevent people from exposing or stealing valuable data, but there are readily available solutions to control access to USB ports, USB drives and what data can be copied to them.”
Kingston also says that blocking employees from USB ports will restrict productivity and lower work efficiency. Those in the mobile workforce may not have access to adequate internet for their tasks. Service Level Agreements (SLA) also require patch distributions via USB. Furthermore, field research data collection from emergency responses also use USB drives. Kingston notes that policies mandating the use of encrypted USB drives are helping businesses transport mobile data safely.
Kingston considers encrypted USB drives as the solution and essential pillar of data loss-prevention (DLP). Encrypted USB solutions can protect sensitive data using strict security regulations and protocols. Among the utilised tools are:
- Hardware-based AES-256bit Encryption in XTS mode
- Anti-virus / malware protection
- Ability to manage remotely
- TAA Compliant / FIPS Certified
- Capacities ranging from 4GB to 128GB
- Kingston’s customization program
The company posits that its IronKey and DataTraveler encrypted USB flash drives, as well as proper standards are essential elements in promoting cybersecurity and maintaining workforce productivity, all while staying compliant with GDPR.
For more information on Kingston’s encrypted USB flash drives, visit its Facebook page.
