Kingston Technology
Reinforcing Security by Design

Kingston recently announced the latest series of products for its encrypted storage device lineup - Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 50 (VP50) and IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD (VP80ES). Along with its standard AES 256-bit hardware encryption in the most-secure XTS mode, each of these Kingston products offers the company's latest innovative features for greater protection of data in transit.

"Our goal was to re-engineer the single password interface and shift to a multi-password architecture with a new Passphrase mode to provide more user-friendly and military-grade security options outside company firewalls for small and medium businesses as well as enterprises," states Rich Kanadjian, Encrypted Unit Business Manager at Kingston Technology.

Kingston's new IronKey range utilizes multi-password (Admin/User) architecture with a Complex or Passphrase password mode. Businesses can use the Admin role to configure a User password to traditional Complex or new Passphrase modes. While Kingston's previous product line allowed for Complex passwords from 6 to 16 characters using three out of four character sets, its new Passphrase mode enables users to set numeric pins, sentences, or a list of words from 10 to 64 characters.

To reduce the frustration of failed login attempts, users can tap the "eye" button to view the entered password. On the VP50, Admin can also set a One-Time Recovery Password in the case of forgotten User passwords or passphrases. After the maximum number of invalid password attempts, Kingston's products will auto-lock out User and One-Time Recovery passwords; Admin can still restore access to the drive or reset User password, but if the Admin password is entered incorrectly 10 times in a row, the drive will be crypto-erased and the data lost forever. For additional peace of mind, Kingston's VP50 and VP80ES are FIPS 197-certified and TAA-compliant.

The Vault Privacy 50 (VP50) USB drive is designed to deliver business-grade data protection and comes pre-formatted with ready to plug-and-play Windows/macOS architecture. It also features a built-in virtual keyboard that shields passwords from keyloggers or screenloggers.

Organizations can also configure VP50 with a Product ID (PID) for integration with standard endpoint management software to meet corporate IT and cybersecurity requirements, using Kingston's Customization Program.

With a built-in touch screen, Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 (VP80ES) stands as the first Kingston OS-independent hardware-encrypted external SSD. The VP80ES setup is as easy as unlocking a smartphone.
It also offers an “eye” button to visually confirm what was entered.

It is an ideal solution to securely store large amounts of data offsite – encrypted storage that you control is storage that you can secure without relying on Cloud vendors and the Internet for security and access. As a default setting for extra security, the 'key randomizer feature' of the VP80ES' innovative touch screen scrambles the digits and rows of alphabet keys every time a user logs in to prevent fingerprint analysis attacks or someone memorizing the key entry pattern.

Our goal was to re-engineer the single password interface and shift to a multi-password architecture with a new Passphrase mode to provide more user-friendly and military-grade security options outside company firewalls for small and medium businesses as well as enterprises

As cybercriminals continue to devise new malicious strategies to launch sophisticated attacks, creating secure passwords is one of the primary methods to verify identity, prevent unauthorized access, and safeguard sensitive data. Often, it is assumed that increasing the complexity of the password is equivalent to a robust data protection strategy. However, stringing together random letters, numbers, and characters for a single password affects usability. Kingston aims to bridge the gap between human memory and the complexity to thwart hackers with its IronKey product line and new Passphrase mode. The company is set to extend its legacy of providing best-in-class portable storage solutions while setting new benchmarks for efficient data storage practices in the industry for years to come.

Kingston Technology Company, the largest third-party manufacturer of computer and device memory, is set to commemorate its 35th anniversary. Founded in October 1987, the company's award-winning encrypted storage solutions have consistently enabled businesses of all sizes, tech consumers, and its vast network of channel partners to mitigate risks while complementing existing or developing security plans. With high-quality products backed by committed customer service support and an innovative mindset, Kingston's far-reaching impact has fundamentally come to redefine information storage throughout the years. With the protection of data in transit, an integral baseline for businesses, governments, and individuals in place, Kingston will continue to expand its product portfolio and functionalities to drive the standards of excellence its customers have come to depend upon.