SecureData SecureDrive KP SSD Review

The SecureData SecureDrive KP is an external storage solution focused on keeping your data safe. The main draw of this security-centric drive is a physical, embedded keypad, which ensures that data is protected until the correct user-generated PIN has been entered. Simply put, if the drive is connected to a computer while in locked mode, its contents will not appear in Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac OS) and will only show up if the drive is unlocked. These unique types of portable storage solutions are ideal for professionals who move highly sensitive, important data on an ongoing basis.

SecureData SecureDrive KP Features

The most important aspect of the SecureDrive KP is that there is zero communication between the connected PC (i.e., its operating system) and the device itself until the correct PIN is entered. This is vital in protecting user data against hacks and brute force attacks. In addition, if the PIN is entered incorrectly 10 consecutive times, the drive will be wiped clean and will be essentially reset back into its factory settings with no chance of recovering any data.

The SecureDrive KP is also 256-bit AES XTS hardware-encrypted and FIPS validated, the latter of which is a United States government computer security standard.

For peace of mind, you can set the drive to auto-lock after a certain amount of inactivity. This is especially useful for those who might be a bit absent-minded as well as busy people who are constantly moving around their office and might have to suddenly leave the portable drive unattended.

SecureData SecureDrive KP Capacity and Price

The SecureDrive KP is available in both HDD and SDD models and in a variety of capacities. Models in the SSD line ranges from 250GB to 8TB, while the HDD is available in capacities from 500GB to 5TB. It supports up to the USB 3.2 interface, though it is also compatible with previous generations (3.0 and 3.1). As far as performance goes, the SecureDrive KP is quoted to deliver reads up to 292MB/s and writes up to 299MB/s for the SSD model.

Backed by a 2-year (HDD) or 3-year (SDD) warranty, the SecureData SecureDrive goes for roughly $290 (250 GB), $380 (500GB), $506 (1TB), $887 (2TB), $1,585 (4TB), and $2,663 (8TB) for the SSD versions. We will be looking at the 500GB SSD model. These drives are available at Amazon.

SecureData SecureDrive KP Specifications

Capacity	250 GB – 8 TB
Size	SSD & 500 GB; 1, 2 TB HDD – H: 125 mm W: 77 mm L: 12.5mm 4 & 5 TB HDD – H: 125 mm W: 77 mm L: 20.5 mm
User Authentication	Ergonomically designed 10+1 keypad
Security Validation	FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated
Encryption	Real-time, military-grade XTS-AES 256-bit full-disk hardware encryption
Data transfer speed	Reads up to 292 MB per second; writes up to 299 MB per second
Interface	USB 3.0/3.1 gen1/3.2 gen1
Physical Protection	Protected with epoxy compound to prevent physical access to the device through tampering.
Complete Drive Reset (Safe Erase)	Erases all data after 10 consecutive, incorrect PIN entry attempts
Immune to Bad USB	Yes; firmware updates not allowed
Roles/Permissions	1 Admin, 1 User
Read Only Mode	Yes
Inactivity Auto-lock	Predefined times between 1 and 60 minutes
OS Compatibility	Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chrome, Thin Clients, Embedded Systems, VMware, Citrix (no software or drivers needed)
Regulatory Approvals	RoHs, FCC, CE, FIPS 140-2 Level 3
Warranty	2-year limited (HDD) 3-year limited (SSD)

SecureData SecureDrive KP Design and Build

The SecureDrive KP external SSD measures 125mm in height, 77mm in length, and just 12.5mm in thickness. This is an average size for an external SSD, so it’s pretty easy to carry around. However, you might not want to put it in your pocket, as there is a chance of accidentally entering the wrong PIN. It’s also a very sturdy device due to its epoxy-coated internal components, which helps to curb unauthorized users from physical tampering.

Unfortunately, the SecureDrive KP uses the older USB 3.0 Micro-B port; though they have been updating the interface to keep performance relevant.

The SecureDrive KP features a 0-9 keypad with letters below the 2-9 keys so you can easily create phrases with your PIN. The keys themselves have a quality feel to them when pressed and are also wear-resistant to prevent people from looking for commonly used keys.

Directly above the keypad are the three LED indicators, which represent (from left to right) the locked, data transfers, and unlocked status. Depending on the LED’s state (i.e., solid or how fast it is blinking), the SecureDrive can be in a range of modes. For example, fast green blinking means it is unlocked and ready for input, while slow green blinking means it is unlocked but in read-only mode.

SecureData SecureDrive KP Performance

To test the performance of the SecureData SecureDrive KP, we ran Blackmagic and IOMeter on a Lenovo P520. We are comparing it to the Apricorn Aegis Padlock SSD, a similar security-focused portable drive with a keypad.

First up is Blackmagic. Here the new drive recorded 240.5MB/s read and 214.5MB/s write. In comparison, the Apricorn Aegis Padlock SSD hit 338.4MB/s read and 313.7MB/s write.

SecureData SecureDrive KP BlackMagic performance

For 1-thread IOMeter, we first looked at 2MB sequential, where the SecureDrive KP recorded 252MB/s read and 233.9MB/s write. The Padlock saw 330.2MB/s read and 310.3MB/s write. Looking at random 2MB, the SecureDrive KP showed 223.4MB/s read and 243.2MB/s write, while the Padlock hit 308.1MB/s read and 284.6MB/s write.

For 4K random, the SecureDrive KP recorded 4,365 IOPS read and 6,659 IOPS write, while the Padlock drive hit 3,997 IOPS read and 6,483 IOPS write.

Conclusion

The SecureData SecureDrive KP is the company’s most feature-packed solution from its portfolio of security-focused portable drives. The SecureDrive KP is also a pretty compact drive for what it offers, as it can easily fit in the palm of your hand. The main draw of this product is the onboard keypad, which needs to be unlocked via a PIN in order to access the contents on the drive. If the wrong PIN is entered incorrectly 10 times in a row, all data will be securely erased from the drive with no chance of recovering anything.

Moreover, the drive is FIPS-2 validated, comes with 256-bit AES encryption, and automatically locks if it becomes idle. The most important feature, however, is that SecureData built this drive to have zero communication between the connected PC and the device until the correct PIN is entered, which means brute force attacks will not work.

For performance, we looked at both Blackmagic and 1-thread IOMeter and compared it to the Apricorn Aegis Padlock SSD, another security-focused portable SSD that features a keypad and similar functionality. In Blackmagic the drive hit 240.5MB/s read and 214.5MB/s write. For 2MB sequential the Padlock hit 252MB/s read and 233.9MB/s write, while 2MB random saw 223.4MB/s read and 243.2MB/s write. For 4K we saw 4,365 IOPS read and 6,659 IOPS write. The sequential/random 2MB performance was a bit lacking compared to the Padlock SSD, though this was likely due to the limitations of the older Micro-B USB port.

That said, the SecureData SecureDrive KP is primarily meant for those who often move highly sensitive and important data. In this area, it excels, as the SecureDrive KP offers everything needed and more to keep user data safe from unauthorized users. All of these security features are easy-to-use and the keypad functionality works seamlessly. Coupling all of this with its vast range of capacities (in both HDD and SSD form factors) makes this is a great solution for professionals in need of an ultra-secure portable drive.

SecureData SecureDrive KP at Amazon

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