Secure Portable Drives: Protect Your Data on the Go

The best secure portable drives offer the highest level of security and data protection wherever your career or passions take you. These drives utilize advanced safety measures (e.g., hardware encryption, biometric verification, etc.) to ensure that no matter what, your data cannot be stolen or accessed without your permission. If you’re looking for a portable drive that will keep all of your data completely secure, these are some of the best choices available.

1. Samsung T7 Shield SSD

The T7 Shield from Samsung is one of your best options for a secure, portable SSD. The T7 Shield is an ultra-portable, incredibly speedy SSD that offers read and write speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and 1000 MB/s, respectively. Not only is the T7 Shield very fast, it’s also very secure. It features a ruggedized, IP65-rated exterior that protects the drive from physical hazards, such as drops or extreme weather. The T7 Shield also supports 256-bit AES hardware encryption, so all of your data will be safe and secure, even if the drive is stolen or lost.

2. A. SecureData SecureDrive BT

The brand is called SecureData, so that’s a good sign. Its SecureDrive BT series is a Bluetooth-enabled hardware-encrypted drive. You connect it to your computer and then use the companion DataLock app on a supported smartphone or tablet to enter the PIN and unlock the drive. It is FIPS compliant, if that is needed for your applications, and has remote management options, including the ability to erase the data remotely if it is lost or stolen. It is a safe option and is available in HDD and SSD versions in a variety of sizes up to 5TB and 8TB, respectively.

2. B. SecureData SecureDrive KP

Another option from SecureData, the SecureDrive KP uses a more traditional unlocking approach: a keypad. Certified secure with FIPS level 3, this drive has its own processing to perform hardware encryption without any loss of speed. It will work with practically every operating system and unlocking is performed by typing in your passcode via the keypad. It is available in HDD and SSD versions in a variety of sizes up to 5TB and 8TB, respectively.

3. Apricorn Aegis Fortress Secure Portable Drive

Keypads just make a drive look secure and deterrents can be enough to prevent malicious acts. If you want an alternative choice here, Apricorn offers the Aegis Fortress. It is FIPS 140-2 level 2 validated, meaning it meets government requirements for protecting data. It can be configured, has adjustable minimum PIN lengths, and has more administrator control. It can be set to lock after time unattended and even has a Self-Destruct PIN to destroy all data in an emergency. This one is impressive in that you can get it as an SSD up to 16TB, though the 1TB HDD is a fine option for most.

4. Rocstor Rocsecure EX31 Encrypted Drives

Last on the list is interesting. The Rocstor Rocsecure EX31 is another FIPS 140 Level 2 and NIST-certified drive, but this offers dual-factor security. It comes with physical token keys that need to be attached before the drive will even mount or display on your computer and then requires password validation. This keeps your data extra protected because it has another layer of protection. Also, the aluminum frame, shock and thermal protection, and load-bearing case will protect the drive from physical damage. Find it as an HDD or SSD up to 4TB.