Conclusion: Data Security Is The Focus
The growing concern over the lack of data security in companies has found its way into a new product that provides the ability to delete data over the Internet: Kanguru Defender USB sticks from Kanguru Solutions.
The aluminum housing of the Kanguru Defender USB sticks is light and well-made. A hardware switch protects from the unintended overwriting of data. The protection cap of the USB plug is made of plastic and is not permanently attached to the USB stick. Over time, one may lose or destroy more protection caps than USB sticks.
More Education About Data Security is First Necessary
The popularity of the mobile storage medium as well as the ongoing Internet boom make companies have to face new changes in terms of data security. This should be a reason for companies to reevaluate security guidelines for privately used USB storage drives and to make employees aware of the dangers and relevant security guidelines. Eventually both parties will profit from the clear rules regarding USB sticks.
Kanguru offers Good Control Over Sensitive Data
Beyond that, Kanguru Solutions offers the possibilities to monitor USB Flash drives and keep control over data even if the device is lost. First, the encryption according to the AES standard ensures that data cannot be accessed without entering a valid password. Second, if the USB stick is lost or stolen, data can be eradicated over the Internet, to be to entirely secure.
In many situations, it makes sense to use the service from Kanguru Solutions and purchase individually engraved USB drives. This is not always the case, though. USB sticks that have the name of a big company printed on them may attract unwanted attention in public.
Disadvantage: Whole Functionality Usable only with the Optional Console
Although, the Kanguru Defender USB sticks are well made and offer data encryption, they can only live up to their full potential when used in combination with the Kanguru Remote Management Console. Through this console, administrators can determine the IP addresses of the computers where the Kanguru USB sticks were used, and also erase data. In the future, additional functionality will be added that will offer greater flexibility in applying security settings to a single Kanguru storage medium.
Users and companies who care about security will enjoy this product, provided that they are ready to tackle the tough requirements that the Kanguru Remote Management Console puts on hardware and software. Due to the initial cost, plus the cost of running and managing the KRMC servers, this product may have a difficult time catching on.
Simple point is, some companies actually care about making the jobs of their employees easier, and if that means supplying a $10 USB drive (that they can confiscate at any time) they make that effort. Most companies, however, spend as little as possible to aid their employees and don't understand why their productivety suffers. Their IT departments are also people who have simply undergone a multi-day training session, and are only there to look confused and package the broken components and ship them back to HP or Dell, they don't understand nor care that someone can copy sensitive information to a USB drive and walk out the door with it.
While it's interesting to see a product like this, the prohibitive cost and complexity will never see a vast market segment. Too many large companies simply care more about the bottom line than anything else.