Kingston’s IronKey D500S USB flash drive just got a bit more special. You see, the secure drive is now officially validated at FIPS 140-3 Level 3 by NIST. The company says this is the first and only USB flash drive to earn this top-tier security certification while also featuring a trusted and fully TAA-compliant supply chain.
Originally designed in 2020, the IronKey D500S was built not just to meet security standards but to exceed them. Kingston went beyond simply declaring the country of origin by ensuring every component and process used in the drive’s creation meets both TAA and CMMC compliance.
That includes the secure microprocessor, digitally signed firmware, drive launcher with multi-password support, NAND flash, and even the epoxy-filled rugged casing. Everything is sourced and assembled at Kingston’s California facility under strict oversight.
The D500S features military-grade protection, including IP67 dust and water resistance, and a rugged zinc shell that stands up to drops, vibration, and shocks. But the real standout features are the security innovations packed inside.
This USB drive is the first to offer a dual-partition setup on a hardware-encrypted drive. An Admin can create separate secure partitions, one for themselves and one for the User, with hidden file storage that only becomes visible when accessed with proper authentication. That means data can stay hidden even when the drive is used on untrusted systems or passed between users.
Admins also have the ability to enable global read-only mode or trigger a crypto-erase with a special password. That instantly destroys all data and resets the drive in case of compromise.
For organizations that take data security seriously, whether in government, defense, or enterprise sectors, this drive checks all the boxes. It is TAA-compliant, supports CMMC standards, and is physically hardened and cryptographically fortified. With capacities up to 512GB, it is also practical for real-world use.
Pricing varies by capacity, but all models are backed by a five-year warranty and Kingston’s free technical support. The drive is available now from Amazon.com.
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