Encrypted USB Memory Sticks - Pros & Cons

[soveryapt]

Has anyone come accross this Safestick encrypted usb stick (SafeStick Encrypted USB Stick) apparently it has the option to use a web based console (SafeStick Management console SafeConsole) for management that can also be linked to active directory.

 

They look nice, pricey, but if it means being able to have better control over the data stored then ... Doubt out HT will go for those though (want minimum 4GB so looking at £90 a pop with a minimum order level of 10 from somewhere such as Misco).

 

[Busybub]

Hi All

Right, I'm looking to get a new stock of USB Pen Drives in school (as I've run out of spare ones now) and I know that encrypted is probably the best way to go, given you can tell staff members not to store pupil data on non-secure devices, but they still will, so I thought, encrypted drives then they have to.

 

Be prepared for the usual raft of teachers who hit the limit on the encrypted sticks and start chucking other stuff on their other ones because it's more convenient than sorting their data. I have teachers here who routinely carry 5 or 6 sticks between 4 and 8 gig each in order to carry all of their stuff.

 

Now, preferably looking at Hardward Encrypted Drives, but the problem (as we all know) is passwords, therefore I'm wondering what thoughts are for and against encrypted drives, and whether people know of any decent managed systems for encrypted drives, which obviously have their perks.

 

Hardware encrypted ones usually have built in password policies that force use of numbers, caps and/or special symbols. Something to bear in mind if you deal with numpties...

 

Some types of stick (such as Sandisk) have optional server based software from which you may be able to enforce different settings, but without this, teachers will be able to change the password once you hand over the stick (which is fine if they tell you what it is, and a disaster if they forget). I make a point of setting one and telling them not to change it - one warning about potentially losing all their work is usually enough to put them off the idea.

 

Check to make sure that the stick actually does what you want when the protection procedures kick in. Most will force a reformat of the drive, leaving it usable. Others such as the Sandisk Enterprise will completely disable themselves leaving you with a useless lump of plastic.

 

You should also check what happens when you plug it into a machine that has just had a service pack applied to it. We have the Enterprise sticks. Worked fine on an XP with SP2 install straight from the disc. Added SP3 and they stopped working. Spent ages trying to figure out a fix, only way was to plug the stick in and log into it, leave the stick in, then run the service pack update.

 

Got a few DataSafe sticks too from RM. Actually have a stronger password policy than the Sandisk ones but operate in the same way. 23 quid for a 4gig jobbie.

[SLB]

 

Dos_Box

Edited November 23, 2009 by Dos_Box

[Haptic]

Give us a shout for Safetick quotes and we beat pro-brand prices:p

[mcloum]

Toby at Probrand can get me 2gb SafeStick at £20 and 4gb at £30, i haven't found anyone cheaper, can you beat it?

[Haptic]

Toby at Probrand can get me 2gb SafeStick at £20 and 4gb at £30, i haven't found anyone cheaper, can you beat it?

 

if you would like to pm me your full details and the numbers you require I will put a quote together for you straight away bud,

[KLSsandman]

Give us a shout for Safetick quotes and we beat pro-brand prices:p

 

Surely the above post by CPLTD is unauthorised advertising too?

 

Anyway, we've bought the sticks from Probrand, for the same price as Mcloum said in his post. Also there was no minimum order quantity, something which I not found elsewhere.

 

Thanks

Simon

[Haptic]

Surely the above post by CPLTD is unauthorised advertising too?

 

Anyway, we've bought the sticks from Probrand, for the same price as Mcloum said in his post. Also there was no minimum order quantity, something which I not found elsewhere.

 

Thanks

Simon

 

We are a official sponsor of these forums thus we are permitted to post our offers:p

[KLSsandman]

We are a official sponsor of these forums thus we are permitted to post our offers:p

 

So, its removed because you don't like competition then?

 

Can the forums be sponsered by more than one company?

 

Simon

[Tcsltd]

Yep!! Thomas Computer Supplies is a sponser too!!! There are quite a few of us!!

[Haptic]

So, its removed because you don't like competition then?

 

Can the forums be sponsered by more than one company?

 

Simon

 

there are a quite a few sponsors on these forums , if the poster reads the rules they will see there are advertising opportunities available to offer there items,.

[KLSsandman]

there are a quite a few sponsors on these forums , if the poster reads the rules they will see there are advertising opportunities available to offer there items,.

 

Well thats good that there are a few sponsers. How about you all club together and donate a new server to the forums, just taken me 5mins to post due to server overload!

[Haptic]

Well thats good that there are a few sponsers. How about you all club together and donate a new server to the forums, just taken me 5mins to post due to server overload!

 

lol i see somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, chill your beans bud:p

 

p.s edugeeks downtime isnt really worth talking about as its not often at all and usually back up and running in minutes

Edited November 23, 2009 by Haptic

[featured_spectre]

Because you are unaware of the rules of the establishment, doesnt mean you can moan about the fact that sponsors can advertise and others cant.

 

Its win win for the sponsors and edugeek as they both get something out of it, whereas a random company doesnt do much for edugeek.

 

Just a thought before you start running your mouth off again!

 

PS Simon, thanks for the deal on ink once again!

[KLSsandman]

Because you are unaware of the rules of the establishment, doesnt mean you can moan about the fact that sponsors can advertise and others cant.

 

Its win win for the sponsors and edugeek as they both get something out of it, whereas a random company doesnt do much for edugeek.

 

Just a thought before you start running your mouth off again!

 

PS Simon, thanks for the deal on ink once again!

 

Hold on a minute, I wasn't moaning, just asking a question, surely the whole point of forums. I agree, it is good for the forums to have sponsors, I wasn't aware that they sponsered the forums, but I have already been corrected thank you.

 

Having a bad day, so no need to gang up!

[Haptic]

Hold on a minute, I wasn't moaning, just asking a question, surely the whole point of forums. I agree, it is good for the forums to have sponsors, I wasn't aware that they sponsered the forums, but I have already been corrected thank you.

 

Having a bad day, so no need to gang up!

 

smile the day can only get better fella:cool:

[featured_spectre]

In that case my apologies!

[ssiruuk2]

I've yet to come across an encypted USB stick that works with Terminal services / thin client.

 

You might get away with it using an XP machine rdp'ing onto it but what about linux based machines conecting to Windows server 2003/8 TS? If anyone knows a solution I'd like to hear about it.

[rhr]

Hi ssiruuk2

Have you tried a SafeStick yet to see if it works?

[Geeksta]

Hi, we use safesticks and can highly recommend them - we tested quite a few and found them to be the best. I believe the NHS have standardised them too which speaks volumes...