Kanguru is pleased to announce a new technology partnership with anti-virus provider BitDefender.  Read the full announcement.

BitDefender is a global leader in virus and malware protection.  The company’s products have won numerous awards and recognitions, including a #1 rating in protection from Consumer Reports in 2008.

Kanguru and BitDefender are teaming to provide onboard anti-virus scanning on the Defender Elite encrypted USB drive.  All files stored on the drive are scanned to prevent malware from spreading through USB ports.  Kanguru is including a 1-Year subscription with every purchase of the Defender Elite.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

Integrated anti-virus and malware protection for the Kanguru Defender Elite encrypted flash drive will be going live next week.  All Defender Elite drives will come standard with a one-year A/V subscription.  Defender Elite drives that have already been purchased can be updated to include the new A/V functionality by using the “Check for Updates” menu option.  Contact Kanguru for further info.

In the next few days, Kanguru will be announcing a strategic partnership with one of the industry’s leading antivirus vendors.  This partnership combines the expertise of two data security leaders to create one of the world’s most secure flash drives.

Malware delivered by USB devices is becoming one of the biggest concerns for Public-Sector and Business security professionals.  We’ve highlighted some of the risks here and here.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

In early 2009 the National Archives announced that it had lost a 1TB portable hard drive containing sensitive information from the Clinton Administration.  Since none of the data was encrypted, the social security numbers and other personal data could easily be used to commit fraud.  NARA had no remote management capabilities for the device, so there was really no way for them to track down the drive short of offering a substantial reward.  Now they have announced exactly that - Federal Office Offers $50,000 Reward for Missing External Drive.

Upgrading hard drives and flash drives to encypted models with remote management capabilities would have cost less than $50,000 plus credit monitoring costs.  Public and private companies can face even bigger costs than NARA when it comes to a data breach.

Data Security, Government, Portable Storage

According to the Toronto Star, the private data of 8600 Toronto teachers is now in the hands of thieves after unencrypted laptops were stolen from the Ontario Teachers’ Insurance Plan.

The theft has served as call to action for OTIP:

OTIP spokesperson Julie Millard said the company is racing to finish a process it had started last fall to encrypt all data it holds on some 160,000 policy-holders.

“Because of what’s happened we’re working faster to encrypt all our communication devices by March—laptops, BlackBerries, even USB keys,” Millard said of the non-profit company owned by the province’s teachers’ unions.

Data Security, Portable Storage

Kanguru has just published a new whitepaper that explains how to use data cloning to roll out a new Operating System.  Transitioning to a new OS, like Windows 7, can be time-consuming and tie up your IT staff for weeks or months.  Using automated data cloning devices like the Kanguru Hard Drive Duplicator can greatly speed up the process.

This paper (PDF) explains the process of data cloning and the advantages of hardware-based duplicators.  It also has a step-by-step guide to creating a master system image and provisioning multiple computers at once.  Rather than installing a new OS, searching for system drivers and then reinstalling all of the applications, you can create one master disk and simply replicate it.  The time-savings easily cover the cost of the duplicator.

Duplication