Years ago I came to the realization that I had become a "mobile professional." Not because I crisscrossed the nation racking up frequent flier miles faster than I could count them, but rather because I was rarely in one spot for too long, and only infrequently made it to my desk to use my desktop computer. Across the week, my computer work gets spread across 6 different computers, and all my data gets stored on removable media. My solution to this problem was found in flash memory, and thankfully the capacities kept up to allow me to do this.
Removable USB drives generally fit into two categories: USB flash drives, or USB removable hard drives. I use both as each has their advantages. The USB flash drive is quite small, and easy to store and carry with me anywhere, however the downside is the smaller capacity, and depending which brand is purchased, they may be slow. Conversely, a USB removable hard drive gains quite a bit in capacity, and may be quicker, but the downside is that even with a more portable one they can be larger than what easily fits in a pocket to carry around all day.
Size
From the pictures, it was not obvious to me that the Padlock SSD was smaller than a USB removable hard drive. I would characterize it as three times bigger than a USB flash drive, but this keeps it small enough to fit easily into a front shirt pocket. It is definitely more portable than a USB removable hard drive that fits in a bag, but nobody puts that in their pocket.
The Padlock SSD includes:
- Padlock SSD
- Quick Start Guide
- Y-cable
- Protective pouch
There is no software to install. There is a longer manual as a PDF preloaded onto the drive.
Materials
The Padlock SSD is definitely made using solid construction. The case is made out of a lightweight metal alloy that gets rated to withstand 6000 pounds of crush. It has a membrane numeric keyboard on the front, and the USB 3.0 cord is integrated into the device. Being permanently sealed keeps the dirt out.
The drive itself is flash based, and not a mechanical solution. This makes it quite silent in operation. Also, it makes it more durable, and better able to withstand vibration as well as extremes of temperature.
Encryption
The goal of this drive is to not only store a considerable amount of data, but also to keep it secure. This is achieved with data encryption.
The device when first connected to the PC requires a password of 7 to 16 characters. For times when the drive is left unattended, it can be set to autolock after 5 to 20 minutes of nonuse. If someone decides to access the drive by repeatedly trying to enter the password, better known as a "Brute force attack," after 5 tries, the drive will lock, and require the user to unplug the drive from the USB to reset it. After 10 tries the drive requires a more complicated reset, and after 20 tries the drive requires a reformat for use, so rest assured that the Padlock SSD will not be opened this way. Optionally, it can also be setup with a "Self destruct PIN" to blank the drive's data when this is entered.
The security encryption scheme is 256 AES, which is the highest level and qualifies for US Government Top Secret designation.
Speeds
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| USB 2.0 Connection |
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| USB 3.0 Connection |
Pricing
120GB: $329
240GB: $499
480GB: $799
Conclusion
The Padlock SSD is a good mix of durability, portability, password encryption and capacity. It does not fit easily into a category, but almost a decade ago I put a similar product into this micro hard drive category. For the right user, this is an attractive solution.
-Jonas
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