Introduction

• Manufacturer: SECUREDATA
• Product: SecureUSB KP 8GB
• Price: $89.00 direct from SecureDrive KP Product page at the time of review.

SECUREDATA was started in 2007 in Los Angeles, CA as a LAB data recovery and forensics provider with the mission to become the most secure and sole source for customers to protect, backup, repair, recover, and analyze their digital data. Over the years they have expanded their cleanrooms and drop-off locations in North America to meet their growing base of customers and the demands that come with growth. By 2015 SECUREDATA has transitioned and grown to the point of being a one-stop solution for all data recovery and security needs.

Today SECUREDATA has sent over the SecureUSB KP or Key Pad if you will. SECUREDATA at this point has become well known for its top-notch design and hardware-level encryption in their devices here at Enos Tech. We have taken a look at their SecureDrive BT 1TB SSD, SecureDrive KP 1TB SSD, and the SecureUSB BT 16GB. All three of those devices sported a sturdy well made Aluminum case in a nice Blue or Black color depending on device type. On modern USB3.1 interfaces, I was achieving upwards of 82mbps write and 168mbps read which is the main thing I am worried about when using a USB stick type device. How fast can I get my files on there and move to the next system I need to be at. And with the types of files expected to be used on these types of devices most transfer very quickly. So let us get the SecureUSB KP 8GB out of its package and see what it’s all about.

Specifications

Capacity	4 GB – 128 GB
Size	With Sleeve H: 78mm W: 20mm L: 10mm Without Sleeve H: 65mm W: 20mm L: 10mm
Weight	With Sleeve: 22 grams Without Sleeve: 14 grams
Data transfer speed	Up to 152 MB per second read. Up to 118 MB per second write
Keypad	Wear resistant keypad
Security Module Validation	FIPS 140-2 Level-3 Validated
Authentication method	User Authentication via On Board Keypad
Interface	USB 3.0/3.1
Data Protection	Real-time military grade AES – XTS 256-bit Full-Disk Hardware Encryption
Waterproof	IP57 Rated
Tamper-evident	Protected with epoxy compound to prevent subversive physical access to the device.
Brute-force defense	Data destruction after 10 consecutive incorrect PIN entry attempts
Immune to Bad USB	Yes, no firmware updates allowed
Roles/Permissions	1 Admin / 1 User
Read Only Mode	Yes
Inactivity Autolock	Yes, predefined times between 0 and 60 minutes
OS Compatibility	Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Thin Clients, VMWare, Citrix Embedded Systems (No software or drivers needed)
Regulatory Approvals	FCC, CE
Warranty	3 Year (limited)

Benefits and Differentiators

• FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Validated: Certificate #3522
• Award-Winning: Red Dot 2019 Award Winner
• IP57 Certified: Dust and Waterproof (up to 1m)
• OS/Host Independent. Works with any device with a USB port
• Hardware Encryption – AES256-bit XTS
• Interior Parts Covered in Epoxy – No intact media removal for hackers
• User Authentication via on-board Alphanumeric Keypad (7-15 Digit PIN)
• Admin/User Mode, Read-Only Mode, Auto-Lock
• Preloaded with DriveSecurity® ESET Antivirus (1 Year License Included)
• Built-in battery for convenient Pre-plug PIN entry
• 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB options
• 3 Year Limited Warranty

 

Closer Look

Just like with the SecureUSB BT 16GB we reviewed last summer the SecureUSB KP comes in a small clamshell package like 99% of USBs on the market. From the front of the package, you can see the (KP) KeyPad function of this encrypted USB device. Along the left side, a few icons are noting the features of the device, the top holds a few more features with logo branding and the bottom shows compatible OS’s and unit storage size, in this case, an 8GB USB Stick.

On the back of the package, you will find the “Three Easy Steps” guide, as well as System Requirements, which are next to none and very lite meaning its Operating System Independent, a further list of the devices benefits and more company information.

Once again and as expected from SECUREDATA at this point, they are providing a high-quality product. The solid Aluminum casing and buttons feel very supreme. The Buttons are easy enough to push along with having a slight tactile feel at the end to let you know one has been pressed. This is good and makes the SecureUSB KP easy to use since this has been coupled with a 3.7V LI-POLYMER Rechargeable Battery. Not going to lie here I seriously questioned the design and use case, but no worries the SecureUSB KP is user friendly and since it has a built-in rechargeable battery you can set up and even unlock the device before plugging it into your USB Port avoiding any unnecessary tugging on your ports trying to unlock the device while plugged in. Also do not forget to check the user manual included in the package you will need this to set up and understand the device.

Again on the right side of the device here you can see a little blue line in the separation of the case and stick itself. This is a waterproofing seal that helps to protect the USB drive from potential water damage.

A little more technical information on the back here including Part Number (P/N) and Serial Number (S?N) as well as unit capacity and more company information. I want to also take this time to point out the (Power Source) on the back there. SECUREDATA has included a 3.7V LI-POLYMER rechargeable battery. With this, you can set your user and admin security pins up without having to have the device plugged in.

Encryption

Just like the SecureUSB BT, there are no lock indicators on this device. This time around its a blue and red light to indicate differences between locked or unlocked. The main indication your drive will be unlocked and ready to use is in the App you use to unlock the device, there you will have a red lock when it is locked and a green unhinged one when the USB stick is unlocked.

The SecureUSB KP features FIPS 140-2 Level 3 encryption, the details of which can be found here.

In short and copied from the above-linked page “the FIPS 140-2 Level 3 standard specifies the security requirements that will be satisfied by a cryptographic module utilized within a security system protecting sensitive but unclassified information (hereafter referred to as sensitive information). The standard provides four increasing, qualitative levels of security: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4. These levels are intended to cover the wide range of potential applications and environments in which cryptographic modules may be employed. The security requirements cover areas related to the secure design and implementation of a cryptographic module. These areas include cryptographic module specification, cryptographic module ports, and interfaces; roles, services, and authentication; finite state model; physical security; operational environment; cryptographic key management; electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC); self-tests; design assurance; and mitigation of other attacks. This standard supersedes FIPS 140-1, Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules, in 

Software

There is no software required to use the SecureUSB KP, like its more technical counterpart the SecureUSB BT we reviewed before. There are however two optional software installations included on the drive once you get it set up and unlocked. The first is the DriveSecurity and the second is the USB-to-Cloud, there are also a few PDF’s for each of these as well as a User Manual.

Final Thoughts

Performance

Comparing the SecureUSB BT 16GB (left) to the SecureUSB KP 8GB (right) you can see that these two USB Drives can perform. I need to get my hands on a few generic non-encrypted USB drives to compare the speed. In day to day use, it was utilized for a massage business to transfer documents from the main home system to the office laptop. In this regard, the drive performed perfectly. We were able to safely transfer sensitive medical documents without the fear, that if we left the drive behind we would be sharing our client’s sensitive medical data.

Design

Once again I have to say SecureData has the design of their devices down to perfection. We have tested the SecureDrive BT 1TB SSD, SecureDrive KP 1TB SSD, SecureUSB BT 16GB, and now the SecureUSB KP 8GB and each one of them is housed in a very nice Aluminum casing with the colors Blue which notes their (BT) Bluetooth line or Black which notes the (KP) or Keypad line of security devices. Just like the SecureDrive KP 1TB, we tested the keypad was easy to use and there was satisfying feedback on each button press while remaining easier to use than I had first thought the SecureUSB KP would be. This ease of use is due to SecureData including a 3.7V LI-POLYMER Rechargeable Battery allowing you the ability to set up and even unlock the USB Stick before even plugging it in allowing you to avoid any unnecessary wear and tear to your USB ports. The LED design used seems to be consistent across all devices tested and is soft yet easy and clear to see. Giving you plenty of visual indicators along with solid instructions on how to set up and use the SecureUSB KP as well as to what each icon on the device means during operation. The SecureUSB BT is very well made, even coming with a rubber seal so water and spill damage when the drive is closed is a non-existent worry.

Value

A USB drive coming in at $89 these days for an 8GB can be rather daunting when you can grab any old 8GB for around $5, but those USB drives will typically be much slower than the SecureUSB BT and will not be touting military-grade encryption. 8GB of storage is not a whole lot in today’s market either, but it is very useful for document and photography types of media. 8GB of storage like this can store up to an estimated 3,800 photos, 1,900 songs, or 15 videos. So I can easily see this product handily landing in the pockets of anyone needing a financial document storage device to a student or researcher for that matter wanting to keep their work safe. This kind of encrypted device is more for quick moving around the office, from your dorm to class, or even on a long trip where you might only need a few documents and do not want to carry a bulkier portable drive like the SecureDrive BT.

The SecureUSB KP coupled with a well-made and sturdy design, battery operation, and military-grade encryption is most definitely worth the asking price if you require a smaller less pricey encrypted storage option, like the more professional-grade SecureDrive BT and KP models that can come with a much larger solid-state drive giving much faster speeds.

I can recommend the SecureUSB KP to anyone needing to handle sensitive documents, photos, and even audio like a track on its way from musician to publisher. It is small, secure, and well made with a list of features and awards behind it.

I want to thank SecureData for sending over the SecureUSB KP 8GB sample for review.