Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 Evaluation
Abstract
The Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 is a refresh of the DataTraveler 2000 utilizing the quicker USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface with the RRP remaining the identical. If you’d like the most effective knowledge safety doable, then that is nicely value contemplating.
Professionals
- FIPS 140-3 Degree 3 for max safety
- Improved efficiency vs DataTraveler 2000
Cons
- Barely increased value than competitors
- Key pad safe drives should not probably the most handy to make use of
The Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 is a extra conventional safe drive in comparison with the inexpensive, user-friendly IronKey Locker+ 50 or the premium IronKey Vault Privateness 80 encrypted drives I’ve reviewed not too long ago.
In contrast to these drives, it is a FIPS 140-3 Degree 3 encrypted USB drive and makes use of a bodily keypad for safety, very similar to the iStorage Datashur Pro2 and Apricorn Aegis Safe Key 3NXC. This, subsequently, makes this drive appropriate for any situation the place you need the absolute best safety no matter firm dimension.
Replace: Kingston Provides USB Kind-C to IronKey Keypad 200 Sequence
I reviewed the Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 in November 2022, and this month, Kingston has launched a brand new USB-C variant known as Keypad 200C.
It’s basically the identical product; subsequently, reviewing it did not appear mandatory. However, this will likely be extra interesting to Apple Mac customers as most fashions are outfitted with both a USB 3 or a Thunderbolt 3 port designed to accommodate USB-C gadgets.
The brand new USB-C mannequin has some small spec adjustments, plus improved capability choices.
Capacities
- Kind-A: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
- Kind-C: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Pace
- Kind-A:
- 145MB/s learn, 115MB/s write
- Kind-C:
- 8GB – 32GB: 145MB/s learn, 115MB/s write
- 64GB – 256GB: 280MB/s learn, 200MB/s write
- Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 1
- Connector: Kind-A
- Capacities: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Pace
- 8GB – 128GB: 145MB/s learn, 115MB/s write
- USB 2.0 Pace
- 8GB: 30MB/s learn, 12MB/s write
- 16GB – 128GB: 30MB/s learn, 20MB/s write
- Waterproof/Dustproof Licensed to IP57 score
KP200 enhancements for FIPS 140-3 Degree 3:
- Minimal PIN size goes from 7 to eight digits (max is 15) for stronger PIN safety
- No factory-preset PIN – Person should arrange PIN upon first use
- Periodic self-testing to make sure fully-functional security measures – KP200 will shut down if an issue is detected
- Automated shutdown below extreme thermal and voltage situations
- Enhanced Random Quantity Generator to strengthen encryption key era
Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 vs DataTraveler 2000
I used to be just a little confused once I got here throughout the DataTraveler 2000 on the Kingston safe drive comparability chart after which on CCL at an identical value to the IronKey Keypad 200.
They’re nearly equivalent, and at first, I believed it was only a rebrand.
Nevertheless, the is USB 3.2 Gen 1 with learn / write speeds rated at 145MB/s and 115MB/s
The DataTraveler 2000 is USB 3.1 with speeds of:
- 4GB: 80MB/s learn, 12MB/s write
- 8GB-16GB: 120MB/s learn, 20MB/s write
- 32GB-128GB: 135MB/s learn, 40MB/s write
Set-Up
This drive doesn’t have a pre-set PIN to log in, and that you must arrange a person previous to utilizing it. It’s a easy course of to do, however like all of those pin-coded drives, it isn’t intuitive, and that you must comply with the directions.
The drive comes with probably the most fundamental of directions printed on the again, which I didn’t actually perceive and subsequently needed to search on-line for the Quick Start Guide.
Kingston additionally has a useful YouTube video on arrange the Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 and an additional walkthrough video for the additional functionality.
For the preliminary person, you simply must:
- Press the important thing button as soon as, waking the gadget.
- Double-click the important thing button (there needs to be only a blinking blue LED now)
- Enter your 8-15 digit person pin and press the important thing button twice once more.
- Re-enter your pin and one other double click on. If all the pieces has labored, the inexperienced LED ought to now be stable, and the drive needs to be unlocked and prepared to be used.
Superior Settings
There may be a variety of superior settings past a single person with lock/unlock. This contains organising issues like:
- Timeout lock
- Learn/write settings and browse solely mode
- Establishing and Admin PIN
- Creating new customers within the admin mode
- Wiping the drive through admin mode
- Resetting the KP200
My important downside with this type of drive is that every one these features are managed through the keypad. Kingston has a guide with 26 completely different how-to guides for all of the features, and you’ll need to seek advice from this information for every operate.
In a big enterprise with correct safety insurance policies, that is doubtless not a lot of a problem. However for smaller corporations, it’s fairly simple to be lazy and never benefit from superior security measures.
In Use
With the IronKey set-up, all the pieces works as anticipated. Efficiency is great, with the learn and write speeds exceeding the quoted values from Kingston.
With this being a hardware-encrypted drive, if you unlock it, it is similar to another USB drive. There isn’t any software program wanted, and it’s OS agnostic being formatted as exFAT as normal. Nevertheless, you might wish to format the drive to your chosen OS, and you are able to do this through the usual formatting choices inside the OS.
Worth and Different Choices
The Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 is obtainable in 5 sizes. The bottom costs I’ve discovered had been on CCL:
- 8GB – £75.28
- 16GB – £106.34
- 32GB – £125.47
- 64GB – £161.30
- 128GB – £191.19
Purchase from CCL
US consumers can choose it up on Amazon, beginning at $75/79 and going as much as $215.18.
The Kingston DataTraveler 2000 can also be on CCL priced at:
- 8GB – £75.90
- 16GB – £112.99
- 32GB – £143.64
- 64GB – £158.78
- 128GB – £219.61
The iStorage datAshur PRO2 is:
- 128GB – £190.48
- 64GB – £142.48
- 32GB – £114.49
The Apricorn Aegis Safe Key 3XN is:
- 128GB – £187.65
- 64GB – £142.80
- 32GB – £107.36
General
I personally favor the user-friendly simplicity that each the Locker+ 50 and IronKey Vault Privateness 80 have. You additionally get higher bang on your buck, the IronKey Vault Privateness 80 is £320 for 480GB of storage or £47 for 32Gb on the IronKey Locker+ 50.
For house customers and small companies, I’d be inclined to stay with the cheaper and/or easier-to-use options.
Nevertheless, the IronKey Keypad 200 will likely be FIPS 140-3 Degree 3 military-grade licensed, making it appropriate for giant corporations eager to safe their most essential knowledge.
Pricing on CCL is decrease than the older DataTraveler 2000 for many fashions, successfully making that redundant now. It’s priced just a little bit increased than competing manufacturers, but it surely has solely simply launched, and I count on this value will scale back over time.
General, this is a wonderful safe drive for anybody that wishes the absolute best safety.
- [Original Review] November 7, 2022
- [Updated] August 17, 2023 – Added details about the brand new Keypad 200C USB-C variant
I’m a UK tech blogger and have been within the business for over 10 years now, working Mighty Gadget and its sister websites and contributing to different websites across the net. I’m obsessed with all tech, together with cellular, wearables, and residential automation. I’m additionally a health fanatic, so I cowl as a lot health tech as doable.
