Aegis Secure Key 3Z

FIPS 140-2 level 3 Validated | Ultra Compact | On-the-Fly 100% Hardware-Based Encryption | Software-Free Setup and Operation | Cross-Platform Compatible | Host-Free Onboard Keypad Authentication | Rugged Extruded Aluminum Enclosure
$5,599.33 - $10,222.63
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ASK3Z
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SKU:
ASK3Z
Designed and Assembled in California USA
*FREE GROUND SHIPPING WITH ORDERS OF $200.00 OR MORE (Continental U.S. only)
Product Badges
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For Orders Shipping outside of the United States, checkout totals will not include taxes and duties

Small in Size, Big in Data Security: Aegis Secure Key 3z

Don't let its size fool you; Our smallest secure USB drive brings the ultimate in portability, affordability and data protection. Software-Free, 100% hardware-based 256-bit AES XTS encrypted USB key, onboard keypad PIN authenticated, and ultra-fast USB 3.1 (3.0) data transfer speeds. All Data is encrypted on the fly and the device’s PINs and Data remain encrypted while the drive is at rest. Completely cross-platform compatible and OS agnostic; thrives in Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, Chrome, embedded systems, and equipment possessing a powered USB port and storage file system. All internal componentry is protected from physical tampering with a layer of hardened epoxy, and locked-down firmware brings immunity to malware attacks such as BadUSB.

Featuring AegisWare™

The heart and soul of every Apricorn Secure Device, AegisWare is our patent-protected firmware combined with the industry’s most advanced feature set.

FIPS 140-2 Level 3

Meets the U.S. government standards for information technology and computer security. NIST FIPS 140 is the cryptography standard program required by the US federal government for protection of sensitive data. The Aegis Secure Key 3z’s FIPS 140-2 validation covers 11 areas of its cryptographic security system, including physical security, cryptographic key management and design integrity. Available in four levels, the Aegis Secure Key’s FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validation encompasses both the Aegis Secure Key’s physical tamper-resistant features as well as its identity-based authentication. As a secure USB drive tested and validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use by the Federal governments of the USA, Canada and others, the Aegis Secure Key 3z is based on Apricorn’s FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated encryption module as indicated by NIST certificate #4420. The epoxy coated boundary includes all encryption functions and all Critical Security Parameters (CSPs) such as PIN storage, encryption key generation and storage, random number and seed generators, all firmware storage, and device storage. The FIPS module is a complete encryption system, and all CSPs never leave the boundary and are never shared with a host system.

Aegis Configurator Compatible

Windows-Based App that Quickly Sets Up Multiple Devices Simultaneously. Create custom profiles and mass configure multiple devices in a matter of seconds using the Aegis Configurator. To configure an expanded number of devices, use the Powered Aegis Configurator Hub bundle.

Separate Admin and User Mode

Admin (Device Configuration) Mode and User Access Mode. The Aegis Secure Key supports independent Admin and User PINs. The Admin mode controls the universal programmable settings of the device and can only be accessed with the Admin PIN. The User mode is limited to basic external drive functions like read /write, unlock / lock, etc. The data on the drive can also be accessed with the admin PIN in the User mode.

Polymer-Coated Wear-Resistant Onboard Keypad

Drive is Unlocked by Entering a PIN on Keypad and not the Host Computer’s Keyboard. Until the secure USB drive device is unlocked via its keypad, it remains invisible to the host. The embedded keypad circumvents all hardware and software key logging attempts to capture passwords by excluding the host system from the authentication process. Polymer-coated buttons are wear-resistant and designed to not reveal most commonly used buttons.

Admin Forced Enrollment

Unique PIN Must be Established at Time of Setup. Eliminates Factory Default PIN Vulnerability. Out of the box, there are no factory pre-set default PINs. In order to set up and use the drive, a unique PIN must first be established by the Admin, from within the Admin mode.

User Forced Enrollment

Admin Can Program Device at Setup Requiring User to Establish a Unique PIN. Once a device is configured by the Admin, it can then be deployed in a state of USER FORCED ENROLLMENT in which the User must first establish his or her own User PIN before the drive can be accessed or used.

Data Recovery PINs

Creates State of User Forced Enrollment that Restores Access to Drive. In the event that a User PIN is forgotten, Recovery PINs can be programmed into the device to permit access to the drive’s data by creating a new state of User Forced Enrollment while the Admin PIN and the drive’s data remain intact. Once a replacement User PIN is generated, access to the drive is restored for the user.

Two ReadOnly Modes

Global, All Access Settings Controlled by Admin, and User Mode Controlling Individual Settings. Employed in situations that require the drive’s contents to be kept intact and unaltered for later examination. The two Read-Only modes are as follows: Universal Read Only is set by the admin from within the admin mode and can’t be modified or disabled by anyone but the admin. The second read-only mode can be set and disabled by a user but can also be enabled or disabled by the admin as well.

Programmable PIN Lengths

Admin Designates Minimum and Maximum PIN Lengths (between 7 and 16 Characters). The longer the PIN, the more secure the data on the device becomes. For example, the odds of brute force success on a secure USB drive go from 1/10,000,000 with a 7-digit PIN to 1/100,000,000 with an 8 digit PIN. In cases where the User sets up his or her own PIN from User Forced Enrollment, the Admin can set an enhanced User password length requirement as part of the overall security policy.

Brute-Force Defense

Select the Number of Consecutive Invalid PIN Attempts Permitted (4-20) Before Crypto-Erase. All Aegis Secure Drives are unlocked (authenticated) by entering a PIN on their own onboard keypad. Since the PIN is not entered using the host computer’s keyboard, they are not vulnerable to software or hardware-based key-loggers or software-based brute force attacks. However, if the device comes under a physical brute force attack, your data is protected with a programmable “Brute Force Hack Defense Mechanism” which, if the programmed number (between 4 and 20) of consecutive incorrect password entries has been attempted, the device will delete its own encryption key and destroy the ability to decrypt its stored data.

Unattended Auto Lock

Programmable Length of Time of Inactivity Permitted Before Drive Locks Itself. All Aegis Secure USB Drives will automatically lock once disconnected from a computer’s USB port or the power to that USB port is interrupted, or after a pre-programmed period of inactivity.

Lock Override

Allows Drive to Remain Unlocked During USB Port Re Enumeration (Virtual Machine, Remote Boot). Designated for specific cases in which the key needs to remain unlocked through USB port re-enumeration such as during reboot, or passing through a virtual machine.

Drive Reset Feature

All Apricorn Devices can be Reset and Redeployed Over and Over. Drive reset clears both the User and Admin PINs, destroys the data, creates a new randomly generated encryption key and allows the drive to be reused repeatedly, with an infinite number of randomly generated encryption keys, allowing the admin and or user to reset the drive as often as is needed.

Self-Destruct PIN

When Programmed and Activated, Performs a Crypto-Erase and Becomes New Access PIN. The last line of defense for data security when the device’s physical security is at risk. The Self-Destruct PIN defends against these physically compromising situations by erasing the key’s contents, leaving it in normal working order appearing yet to be deployed.

LED Key Press Indicator

Visually Confirms Successful Button Presses via the Device’s LEDs.

IP67 Certification

Dust and Water Resistant Durable Aluminum Housing Protecting data goes well beyond encryption. Tough enough to go anywhere, the Aegis Secure Key’s resilient design makes it perfect for travel and field applications. With its rugged, extruded aluminum crush-resistant casing, the Aegis Secure Key is tamper evident and well-protected against physical damage.

Data Transfer Rate

Up to 190MB/s Read / 80MB/s Write

Power Supply

USB Port / Internal Battery

Interface

Super Speed USB 3.2 (Backwards compatible with USB 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1)

Dimensions

81mm x 18.4mm x 9.5mm | 22 g

Warranty

3-year Limited Warranty

Approvals

FIPS 140-2 Level 3, IP-67, FCC, CE, VCCI, WEE, C-TICK

Certification Policies

FIPS 140 -2 LEVEL 3 | NIST certificate #4420

ECCN / HTS / Cage Code

5A992.c / 8523.51.0000 / 3VYK8

System Requirements

Windows®, Mac®, Linux, Android and Symbian systems, or any powered USB OS with a storage file system

08-07-2019 | Operational-Security.com


The Apricorn Aegis family of flash drives, HDDs, and SSDs has been around for quite a while.

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03-23-2018 | Rene Millman, Absolute Gadget


We all need to secure the data we own, and the Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3z offers a memory stick that enables the user to safely carry around their data.

03-20-2018 | Desire Athow, Mike Moore: techradar.pro


Aegis Secure Key 3Z A super-tough USB storage option for everything you hold dear.

View Full Article

03-04-2018 | Sean Mancini, Cybrary


Another cool gadget I saw at the Toronto Tech Security Conference was ultra-secure USB storage by Apricorn http://www.apricorn.com. Now, this is cool their product is a secure USB thumb drive or SSD portable hard-drive it features built-in encryption built into the chip meaning no software needed on the PC.

View Full Article

01-21-2018 | Matt Porter, Gadget Man


If you watch Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, you will find a scene near the end of the movie where Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) hands a USB drive to her ‘handler’ Atlee (Simon McBurney)...

View Full Article

04-04-2017 | TweakTown


We take the highly secured FIPS 140-2 Aegis Secure 3z for a tune and test. If you need secure data, come and take a look.

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02-28-2017 | James Stevenson


How do we keep up with security, stay secure and stop data leaks? These are the question on everyone’s mind.

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02-23-2017 | Eric Jacksch


California-based Apricorn Inc. has developed a solid reputation for secure and easy to use encrypted USB storage devices. I have written about their products before, and the Aegis Secure Key USB 3.0 has become my preferred device for secure portable storage. It is often hard to improve on a great product, but Apricorn just did: Earlier this month the company released the Aegis Secure Key 3z, along with Aegis Configurator.

View Full Article

02-27-2017 | Chris Jolliffe


SSD Review's Chris Jolliffe puts the Aegis Secure Key 3z and Aegis Configurator through the paces.

View Full Article

02-07-2017 | Jon Jacobi


Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3z review:
This USB thumbdrive is small, secure,
and device-agnostic.
Like the Aegis Secure Key 3.0, But Better.

View Full Article

How do I know which specific manual to use for my Apricorn encrypted drive?

For Apricorn encrypted drives with a DOM (Date of Manufacture, found on original packaging label under the UPC code) of September 2017 to the present date, refer to the manual with product’s name and the word “Configurable” in the title. If unsure of manufacture date, all Aegis Configurator compatible devices have the “Configurable ‘C’” logo on the back. For older non-configurator compatible secure drives, refer to the manual that doesn’t have “Configurable” in the title.

What is an Aegis secure device?

Aegis secure devices are any of our 256-bit hardware-encrypted drives as follows: Aegis Secure Key 3, Aegis Secure Key 3nx, Aegis Secure Key 3z, Aegis Padlock 3, Aegis Padlock DT, Aegis Padlock DT FIPS, Aegis Fortress, Aegis Fortress L3, Aegis Padlock SSD, and Aegis Bio 3.0.

Why is my Aegis secure device showing a solid blue/green led combination when I try to use it?

If the device is showing a solid blue/green LED combination then there is no Admin PIN set. An Admin PIN must be established prior to unlocking and using the drive. Follow steps in the product Quick Start Guide for ‘First Time Use’ to set an Admin PIN and begin using the drive.

Why is the red led blinking when I attempt to unlock the device?

If the red LED is flashing rapidly then the device has entered Brute Force Protection Mode. This occurs at the halfway point of consecutive incorrect unlock attempts. This number is programmable; the max (and default setting) is 10 attempts. Follow the steps in the product manual which refer to Brute Force Protection to permit the second half of your remaining unlock PIN entries. Note: if all of the allowed attempts are spent on incorrect PIN entries, the device will assume it’s under brute force attack and perform a crypto-erase, rendering all of the device’s data as indecipherable.

Why is my device locking and entering standby mode while it is still connected to my PC?

If your encrypted Aegis secure device is locking when it is connected to a PC running Windows 8 or Windows 10 it is most likely due to suspend commands that Windows is issuing to the drive in order to reduce power consumption. When Windows suspends an Aegis secure device it will lock. The PIN must be entered again in order to unlock and use the drive. The following instructions will show you how to configure Windows to stop issuing suspend commands: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/prevent-hard-drive-going-sleep-windows

Why is my drive locking and entering standby mode while it is still connected to my Mac?

There are Energy Saver system settings within the Mac OS that could be sending suspend commands to the Apricorn drive, forcing it to lock when not in use. To disable these settings, open the system preferences in the Mac OS and navigate to the Energy Saver settings. There is an option here to “put hard disks to sleep when idle.” Uncheck this option and the Aegis secure device should stay unlocked as long as the Mac is not put to sleep/shut down.

Why is my drive locking and entering standby mode while connected to my PC even after I have configured the power settings correctly?

If Windows continues to suspend your Apricorn encrypted drive, causing it to return to its standby mode, a registry edit will need to be run in order to tell Windows to stop that suspension. Please fill out the following form for technical support and you will receive a reply with the necessary registry edit:
 
https://apricorn.com/product-support-request

What can I do if I forget the admin pin?

If the Admin PIN was the only PIN generated in initial device setup then the only option is to perform a device reset and establish a new Admin PIN. All device's data will be lost as a result of device reset. If User PIN(s) and / or data recovery PINs (Configurator-compatible devices only) were created at initial setup, then it is possible to unlock the device using any of these PINs.

What can I do if I forget the user pin?

Access the drive using the Admin PIN. Follow the steps in the manual to remove the User PINs (which will also remove all recovery PINs and self-destruct PIN) and then add new User PIN(s). If your device has a “Configurable” symbol on it, up to 4 recovery PINs can be programmed onto the device (typically by the Admin during initial configuration). If you forget your original user PIN, the recovery PINs will allow you to create a replacement User PIN. If your drive was issued by your workplace, your IT Administrator/Help Desk should be able to provide you the recovery PIN. Once the new User PIN is set up, you will be able to unlock the drive and access your data. If Recovery PINs were not created at initial setup, the Admin PIN can be used to unlock the drive and recover the data. Additionally the Admin can generate a new User PIN(s) from within the Admin mode. In the event that no recovery PINs were set and both the User and Admin PINs are forgotten, the drive can be reset and used again but all of the device's data will be lost as a result of the reset.

What if I forget all the pins on my Aegis configurator-compatible secure device?

If you forget the User and Admin PINs you may still access the device using a data recovery PINs, provided they were established at initial device setup. If data recovery PINs were NOT established, you will not be able to access or recover any of its data. There are no back doors or hidden manufacturing codes that will allow data access. To resume using the device, you will need to completely reset which will result in the following:

  • All data on the drive will be erased
  • A new encryption key will be generated automatically
  • All PINs will be deleted (Admin, User, Self-Destruct, Data-Recovery)
  • A new Admin/User PIN(s) will need to be established
  • Data Recovery PINs should be established
  • The Aegis Secure Device will need to be reformatted

What if I forget my pin on my non-configurable Aegis secure device?

If you forget the User and Admin PINs, you will not be able to access the data. Recovery of the data will not be possible. There are no back doors or hidden manufacturing codes that will permit access to its data. You will need to completely reset the Aegis secure device which will result in the following:

  • All data on the drive will be erased
  • A new encryption key will be generated automatically
  • All PINs will be deleted (Admin, User, Self-Destruct)
  • A new Admin/User PIN(s) will need to be established
  • The Aegis Secure Device will need to be reformatted

Is there a problem with leaving the drive in lock-override mode?

Potentially. In the lock-override mode, the drive will stay unlocked until either the USB port power is interrupted or the device’s lock button is physically pressed. To protect the contents of the device, use this mode with an abundance of caution, especially when plugged into a powered hub. If the drive is left unlocked and unattended while inserted into a powered hub, it is possible to move the hub's host side USB cable to another computer without interrupting USB power to the unlocked device. It is always a good practice to lock the drive or remove it from the USB port whenever unattended.

What encryption algorithm is used in this product?

The entire family of Aegis secure devices uses an AES-XTS 256-bit algorithm.

What is BadUSB and are Apricorn devices susceptible to this exploit?

BadUSB is a theoretical exploit that was presented by SR Labs at the Black Hat conference in August of 2014. SR Labs demonstrated a vulnerability in one USB device that allowed malicious code to be programmed into the USB controller through a firmware update process. The attack described is very sophisticated and in the case of Apricorn's products would require advanced knowledge of our USB controller, a leaked version of our firmware, the programming tool to update our controller, the password used for our programming tool, and an in depth understanding of the device's functionality, etc. According to SR Labs, the failsafe method to eliminate this threat is to simply disable the ability to update the controller's firmware. Apricorn's devices shipping today, including all of our USB 3.0 security products, Padlock and Padlock Pro families already have the firmware locked which prevents field updates to the USB controller. As a continuous improvement, Apricorn is locking down the firmware on all USB controllers used in Apricorn devices to safeguard against this vulnerability.

What are the ECCN and HST codes used for shipping this device outside the US?

ECCN: 5A992C

HTS code for HDD devices: 8471.70.2000

HTS code for SSD and Secure Key Devices: 8523.51.0000

How do I unlock the Aegis secure key if the battery is dead?

Your Aegis Secure Key has a built-in rechargeable battery. If the battery is fully discharged you can still continue to use the product by following the instructions below:

  1. Connect the Aegis Secure Key to a USB port on any computer that is powered on.
  2. While the Key is connected to the computer, enter the User or Admin PIN to unlock the drive
  3. While connected to the USB port, the internal battery will automatically charge. We recommend you keep the drive connected for approximately 1 hour to fully charge the battery

Can the secure key be used for Windows To Go?

Yes. While it has not been Microsoft certified, it has been extensively tested and will work well for this purpose. To use this drive for booting, turn on the Lock-Override feature in the Admin Settings and verify that the drive is in read/write mode (not read-only).

The drive seems to run hot; can its operating temperature harm the device or its contents?

The SSD in the Secure Key is operating at roughly the same temperature as the SSD you might have in your notebook or desktop computer. The Secure Key case is designed to dissipate the heat generated by the chips, keeping them within the acceptable range of recommended operating temperatures and therefore pose no threat to the device or its contents.

How do I get my Apricorn device and my wireless mouse to work together?

The Signal to Noise Ratio through the USB cable drops dramatically over distance. Simply plugging the two devices into USB ports that are not immediately adjacent usually resolves the issue. if this doesn't resolve the issue, a USB extension cable may be used to further increase the distance between the USB3 storage and the wireless mouse receiver.