One of America’s Most Renowned Medical University Realizes the Benefits of Hardware-Encrypted USB Drives with Apricorn’s Aegis Secure Key 3.0

Posted by Apricorn on Oct 28th 2019

Data Management Services Department of a World-Renowned Medical University Located in the Eastern United States Realizes the Benefits of Hardware-Encrypted USB Drives with Apricorn’s Aegis Secure Key

Background

A private university’s research team of researchers and students that fosters data management best practices by providing guidance, education and training by offering data archiving and sharing services in support of researcher, institution, and funding goals. The identity of the university is kept confidential to comply with their vendor / product non-endorsement policy, as well as with their data security policy.

Challenge

University researchers and faculty are incredibly busy, particularly at the medical institutions. A medical researcher’s work day can average 12 hours. Workflow pauses and delays, such as technological inconveniences, invariably lead to time-shaving shortcuts–even at the expense of data security. In fact, data security research shows that the largest percentage (more than 40 percent) of all breaches stem from within organizations, primarily by way of employee negligence / failure to follow procedures. Bearing this in mind, the time it takes to launch a software program to unlock a software-encrypted USB storage device has been identified as time-consuming and therefore, a shortcut vulnerability waiting to happen.

Bypassed security policies (particularly for those in the healthcare sector) that lead to data breaches are brutally costly, both financially and reputationally. And when you’re one of the most respected medical universities on the planet, that reputational toll is even higher. With time being at such a premium for these university researchers and faculty, the process of protecting information has to be fast and simple to implement.

Effective data management can increase the pace of the research process, contribute to the soundness of research results, and meet project requirements of making research data easy to share. One of our concerns is securely and efficiently sharing data. The Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3.0 takes care that without risking any of it to a breach.

Solution

After reviewing software encryption options, the university researchers concluded that not only were they slowing down the workflow, they also weren’t as secure as hardware-based encryption as they are vulnerable to software hacking and keylogging attacks. They found that Apricorn Aegis Secure Key USB drive’s numeric keypad is easy to use and demonstrates security at a glance and are currently using the Aegis Secure Key 3.0 as a “show and tell” during trainings and consultations.

They were also able to point out the advantages of the AES 256-encryption in media. One key feature that stood out was the ability to set up an additional user along with the admin. It works well for collaborations, specifically with graduate students that might need temporary access to the data. Furthermore, this process teaches the best practice of having research groups take responsibility for file access management for research including medical and science.

Even the secure USB drive’s larger size is helpful and easy to keep track of in the lab, rather than a tiny USB thumb drive that could get lost or wander home in someone’s pocket. And at 30GB, the Aegis Secure Key proves very useful for their work in data archiving, providing a secure means of transferring research data from faculty offices.

Benefits of Aegis Secure Key

The Aegis Secure Key line packs several data security features into the smallest of form factors. Software-free, 256-Bit AES hardware encrypted, FIPS validated, and six storage capacities ranging from 16GB to the industry-leading 480GB.

Additional features include:

  • Independent admin and user PINs; no default passwords
  • No software or drivers involved
  • Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux and any USB enabled host
  • Military grade AES 256-bit XTS hardware encryption
  • Auto-lock on USB port removal or after predetermined period of inactivity

Solution Snapshot

Organization: Private Medical Research University and Hospital (identity kept confidential)

Operational Challenge: Securely and quickly transfer data

Solution: Apricorn’s Aegis Secure Key

Benefit: The Aegis Secure Key brings data security to your fingertips. The USB flash drive is easy-to-use and incorporates PIN access prior to connecting to your device.

Per university policy preventing endorsement of any product or service, This review is not an official endorsement of the product. The Aegis Secure Key was provided to the university’s data management services department for evaluation purposes after which, was adopted into their general security policy’s approved and recommended storage device list.