This is the USB flash drive James Bond would use

Carrying important information on an unencrypted flash drive is a silly move. Losing a drive, and anyone who finds it, has immediate access to all your data, and the consequences can range from embarrassment to potentially losing your company to legal headaches.

What you need is a flash drive that keeps everything on it safe at all times. You also need one that doesn’t require you to install software on the machines you want to use the flash drive on. I mean, not only is this problem really inconvenient, but some machines are going to be so locked down that you can’t install third-party software on them.

ALSO: The Best Security Keys You Can Buy (And How They Work)

Now, here’s the answer to those problems — in fact, the Kingston Ironkey Keypad 200 is the USB flash drive that James Bond would use to keep all his secrets safe.

ZDNET Recommends

Kingston Ironkey Keypad 200

The built-in rechargeable battery and keypad can be used to unlock the drive without using any software, and you can then plug it into any system that supports USB Type-A mass storage devices.

Kingston Ironkey Keypad 200 Features

• FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certified military-grade security
• OS/device independent
• XTS-AES 256-bit encryption
• forced alphanumeric pin
• Multi-PIN (Admin and User) option
• 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB
• Up to 145MB/s Read, 115MB/s Write
• Certified for IP57 rating
• built-in battery
• Built-in wear-resistant keypad
• USB-A interface

In short, the IronKey Keypad 200 is like a mini Fort Knox for your data. It meets the new FIPS 140-3 Level 3 military-grade security specifications published by NIST. This specification further enhances the security capabilities of the drive and mandates tamper-resistance.

Also: Do ​​RFID Blocking Cards Actually Work? My Flipper Zero reveals the truth

The drive includes XTS-AES 256-bit encryption as well as BadUSB attack protection with brute-force and digitally signed firmware. The drive is also filled with a special epoxy that makes it nearly impossible to remove without damaging components, thereby protecting the drive from low-level attacks.

What’s more, the security doesn’t end there. The keypad can be used to set a passcode that is an easy-to-remember but hard-to-guess alphanumeric PIN for both the administrator and the user.

Also: What are USB hubs used for and what does the best one include?

And if you’re worried that the keypad is going to corrode — and this wear pattern can betray passwords — the keypad is coated with a polymer that protects the keys from wear and fingerprints, too.

Brute-force protection means that if the passcode is entered incorrectly 10 times, the data will be irreversibly destroyed and the drive reset.

Too: The Best Home Security Systems (And If You Need a Subscription)

And for auditing purposes, each drive is laser-engraved with a unique serial number.

The drive slides into a tough, aluminum extruded shell to provide further protection, and there’s a rubber gasket to help secure the shell to the drive and prevent dirt and water from entering.

I’ve tested the protection against dirt and water ingress, and the outer shell does a great job of keeping your data safe.

On the end of the drive is a tough wire ring to secure the drive to your keyring.

For performance, the specs claim read speeds of up to 145MB/s and write and access speeds of up to 115MB/s Blackmagic Disk Speed ​​Test app, I was able to get speeds within 5% of these rated speeds.

If you’re in the market for a high-security, strong, tough, military-grade certified drive, look no further than Kingston Ironkey Keypad 200, It’s also priced very competitively, with the 8GB version selling for $75, and the 128GB version selling for $204.