Quick Takes: datAshur Pro, A Safe, Secure USB Drive

This article a part of the Quick Takes series, designed to give readers a quick overview of a product or service of interest. It is not designed to be a comprehensive review, but rather an informational piece that draws reader’s attention to something that I’ve recently taken a look at that interested me enough to share it with you.

datAshur Pro, A Safe, Secure USB Drive

USB Flash drives are convenient and portable, but they do pose a security risk for financial advisors. As an advisor, you have access to a lot of sensitive information, including personally identifiable information (PII) of your clients. If you carry PII on a flash drive, and you lose it, you are required to report the loss. It is also likely that the loss will adversely impact your clients, and if it does, you will most likely be liable. Even if PII is not present, there can still be other confidential information on a drive that you and your employer would prefer remain private.

Even if you have a USB drive with software encryption, it may be vulnerable to attack by hackers if they have sufficient time and the proper equipment

There is, however, a USB drive that can keep all of your confidential information secure when used properly. It is called the datAshur Pro USB 3.0 drive. It features military grade XTS-AES 256-bit hardware encryption, a read only (write protected) feature, a user configurable timeout lock plus brute force hack detection and prevention. This means that the datAsher PRO is designed to secure data from unauthorized access, even when lost or stolen.

The drive has received Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 level 3 accreditation. The FIPS are a set of standards that describe document processing, encryption algorithms and other information technology standards for use within non-military government agencies and by government contractors and vendors who work with the agencies.

The datAsher PRO includes an onboard keypad for authentication. It can only be accessed by entering a 7-15-digit PIN code before connecting to a USB port. As soon as the device is unplugged from the port or the power goes off, the device autolocks.

The loss of USB flash drives is a real problem. According to a recent survey by ESET, 22,000 USB flash drives are left in dry cleaners in the UK each year, and only 53% are returned to owners. That’s just drives lost in the UK at dry cleaners!

The device is compatible with most popular operating systems including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Chrome, thin clients and embedded systems.

Pricing is high compared to unencrypted drives, but reasonable for the security. Prices range from 69 British pounds ($89 at current rates) for an 8 GB model to 129 pounds ($161) for a 64 GB model.

If you need to transport data securely on a flash drive, a datAshur USB drive is a solid investment.

Joel Bruckenstein
Joel Bruckenstein
Joel P. Bruckenstein, CFP®, is Publisher of the T3 Tech Hub (formerly the T3 newsletter) and the producer of the Technology Tools for Today (T3) Advisor Conference, the only annual technology conference for independent advisors, as well as the Technology Tools for Today (T3) Enterprise Conference. He also hosts other technology summits in partnership with thought leaders in the financial services industry (e.g., Brian Hamburger of MarketCounsel) and his own by-invitation-only fintech summit every summer. In 2020, Bruckenstein will produce for the first time a new one-day intensive called T3 Cyber University. Bruckenstein is an internationally acclaimed expert on applied technology as it relates to the financial service industry. He is the co-author of three books: Virtual Office Tools for a High Margin Practice, Tools and Techniques of Practice Management, and Technology Tools for Today’s High Margin Practice. Bruckenstein’s monthly technology columns appeared in Financial Advisor magazine and Financial Planning magazine for many years. In addition, he works in tandem with industry influential Bob Veres, publisher of Inside Information, to produce an annual technology survey for the financial planning community. Bruckenstein accepted the fifth annual Leadership Award bestowed by Bob Veres' Insider's Forum, a conference that brings together the leading figures of the financial planning profession during a main stage presentation at the Insider's Forum held September 6-8, 2017 in Nashville, TN. Bruckenstein has for more than twenty years advised financial service firms of all sizes on improving their technologies, processes and workflows. For more information about Joel Bruckenstein and the services his firm offers, please visit www.JoelBruckenstein.com.

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