Apricorn External SSD is Crush Resistant, Has Keypad Lock

Looking for an external drive that's really secure and fast? Look no further than the Apricorn Aegis Padlock SSD. Yes, you read that right. This external SSD features a physical keypad that prevents hardware and software key loggings. The drive is available now in three capacities starting at $429 USD.

This external SSD is ideal for government, military and law enforcement use, constructed with military grade durability. That doesn't mean the drive is off limits in the consumer sector; the drive should be perfect for anyone wanting to transport highly sensitive data.

The new SSD is protected by a crush resistant, aluminum enclosure rated to over 6,500 pounds. The drive is also water resistant and impervious to dust and grit, as well as resistant to accidental drops, vibrations, high humidity and extreme temperatures.

"Sensitive data may be used for mission-critical applications, and failure in the field is just not an option," said Mike McCandless, VP of Sales and Marketing at Apricorn. "With this in mind, we tasked our engineers to come up with super rugged drive that could really take a beating; one that not only protects data against a myriad of security threats, but physical threats as well."

The Aegis Padlock SSD stores data using AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption, and cannot be accessed until the correct PIN number is used. The company reports that the drive meets NIST FIPS 140-2 Level 2 requirements, which is the cryptography standard required by the US federal government. The SSD has even undergone rigorous testing on 11 cryptographic levels.

A list of features shows that the drive uses two sets of PINs: admin and user, perfect for scenarios like collaborating with other users, or to deploy the drive within a corporation. The drive connects to a desktop or laptop via a built-in USB 3.0 cable, transferring data up to 230 MB/s. The device is also tamper-proof; an epoxy resin destroys the circuit board and encryption chip if tampered with.

The list also reveals that the drive will crypto erase all stored data after 20 consecutive failed brute force attacks. There's also an auto-lock feature that protects the user's data when he/she steps away from the desk. Owners can configure the drive to lock after a pre-determined amount of time of their choosing.

Apricorn's Aegis Padlock SSD is available from online retailers and Apricorn's website. The 120 GB drive costs $429, the 240 GB version costs $629, and the 480 GB drive costs $999.