IronKey is the first and only USB storage device to achieve FIPS 140-2, Level 3 validation

• Author: USB World
• Filed under: USB News, USB gadgets
• Date: Jul 15,2009

IronKey AES-256 USB Drives Pass Stringent Testing to Meet Physical Security Standards for Government Certification

IronKey announced that its new IronKey S200 productsare the first portable USB storage devices to gain full approval from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2, Security Level 3 validation.

Key Facts/Highlights:

• US government agencies must only purchase security products that have received FIPS 140-2 validation. In addition, commercial organizations increasingly rely on the validation as an objective, independent review that helps ensure the security capabilities of the products they purchase.

• FIPS validation is accepted globally as one of the most trusted security validations. Companies in the private sector care about a FIPS 140-2 certificate because it means anindependent, trusted third-party has reviewed the product design forserious flaws.

• FIPS Security Level 3 moves beyond the cryptographic protection, requiring also that the devices cannot be disassembled without rendering the device inoperable or without erasing all plaintext secrets. Level 3 requires that all automatically established keys be encrypted with a FIPS-approved algorithm.

• FIPS validation requires rigorous testing and inspection in order to be certified by NIST. This is not the same as FIPS compliance. FIPS-validated products go through a comprehensive review by government-approved laboratories, as well as a review by NIST and CSE authorities.

David Jevans, CEO at IronKey said:

“This certification sets IronKey apart as the only USB storage device to receive the Level 3 security validation. Firmly committed to security since our inception, this validation demonstrates that we have achieved a level of security sophistication that puts us in a unique position to lead efforts in bringing the most secure USB storage and management products to civilian and military agencies, as well as commercial organizations.”