11 Things You Can Do With Kanguru Defender Elite Encrypted Flash Drives

1. Communicate security policy changes and updates directly to the drive and enforce changes as necessary via remote management.
2. Audit drive usage to ensure policy updates.
3. Create lists (whitelist/blacklist) of approved IP ranges so that drives are only used in trusted locations.
4. Track device usage and location via IP addresses.
5. Set a master password for administrator access.
6. Immunize any PC or Laptop with Defender Elite’s onboard Anti-Virus.
7. Disable and/or delete devices that have been lost or stolen.
8. Meet regulatory requirements through the use of a verifiable security audit trail.
9. Track device activity on each workstation/computer using Kanguru USB Device Control.
10. Revoke drive access to former employees still in possession of their drives.  (Particularly useful if their drive contains proprietary company info.)
11. Sleep well knowing that 100% of your data is secure!

Data Security

The Kanguru Remote Management Console – Cloud Edition was recently reviewed at eSecurityPlanet.com.  We’d like to thank Lisa Phifer for thoroughly testing the platform and giving us great feedback and suggestions.  While this review provides a helpful tour of the platform, Kanguru is ready to help you evaluate for yourself and “try before you buy”.

 We would also like to respond to some of the feedback and give additional details where it might be helpful.

• To clarify pricing:  KRMC Cloud retails for $19.95 per drive per year, with volume licensing options available.  Optional BitDefender anti-virus renewal is $7.95 per drive per year.
• Linux and Mac OS compatibility will be available soon for Defender Elite flash drives.  This functionality will be added to existing hardware through a secure remote software update.
• Automatic license assignment is available for centralized provisioning.
• The ability to deactivate and disable onboard AV without Kanguru’s help will soon be available as a provisioning option.
• A number of the “wish items” are available in the more full-featured Enterprise version of KRMC.

Data Security, Portable Storage

If you own a Defender Elite flash drive, adding Kanguru’s web-based remote management is quick, easy and inexpensive.  Just follow these steps:

1.  Click “Reset to factory default” and run the setup wizard.  (Be sure to backup your data.)

2.  Select “Enable KRMC Cloud”:

If this option does not appear, you may need to update to a newer Defender Elite version.  Update your drive when prompted or go to http://support.kanguru.com to download a free update tool.

3.  Purchase a KRMC Cloud license at Kanguru.com or contact your Kanguru Reseller for volume purchasing information.

KRMC Cloud allows you to manage your Defender Elite flash drives anywhere in the world.  As an administrator you can manage passwords, enforce security policies and remotely disable/delete lost drives.

Data Security, Portable Storage

Kanguru is proud to announce a new partnership with OPTIMAL System-Beratung that will make Kanguru Secure USB Flash Drives available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

OPTIMAL, based in Aachen, Germany, has extensive experience distributing system management and security products.  View today’s press release (German) for additional details on the partnership.

Uncategorized

The Kanguru Remote Management Console (KRMC) for USB Flash Drives is now available as a Cloud-based subscription service. 

KRMC is a powerful tool for managing Secure USB Drives throughout your organization.  Lost drives can be remotely terminated, the help desk can remotely assist users, and all actions can be logged and audited for compliance.  KRMC Enterprise Edition is currently being used by hospitals, banks, government agencies, and other large organizations to protect sensitive information.  Now KRMC Cloud Edition is available for smaller organizations to get the same protection without investing in infrastructure.

Read the full announcement here.

Data Security, 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

A recent NY Times story on the Google – China confrontation mentions an increasingly common attack using USB flash drives to load malware.

Often, malware infections are a result of high-tech twists on old-fashioned cons. One scam, for example, involves small U.S.B. flash drives, left in a company parking lot, adorned with the company logo. Curious employees pick them up, put them in their computers and open what looks like an innocuous document. In fact, once run, it is software that collects passwords and other confidential information on a user’s computer and sends it to the attackers.

USB malware is a serious problem and Kanguru highly recommends using endpoint security to defend against these types of attacks.  Portable flash drives may cause security concerns, but blocking them altogether can reduce worker productivity and cause major inconveniences.  Endpoint security is an easy way to allow limited flash drive usage and still keep out unauthorized devices.  That is why Kanguru has built USB Device Control directly into its Remote Management Console.  Now organizations can remotely manage their secure devices and lockdown all others from one integrated console.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage

The latest issue of State Tech Magazine highlights a great feature of the Kanguru Defender and Defender Elite - the ability to track and manage USB drives in the field.

One feature of the Kanguru Defender drives that Conover appreciates is the ability to remotely set a password and wipe the drive clean if necessary. The agency has about 12 offices throughout the state, many of which are several hours away from headquarters in Albany.

For more info, view our Flash Presentation or contact your account manager at one of our authorized solution providers.

Government, Portable Storage

Via Axcess News:

A survey released today reveals that in the last year, 4,500 memory sticks have been forgotten in people’s pockets as they take their clothes to be washed at the local dry cleaners.   From 6th April onwards if data is lost and it causes a major security breach, this could now cost a company up to £500k with new powers given to the Information Commissioner’s office (ICO) to fine companies who have not sufficiently protected customers details under the Data Protection Act.

This is actually an improvement compared to last year’s survey, which hopefully means that security awareness is improving.  It’s still an awfully large number of flash drives, though, and there is no telling what kind of data is on them.  Given today’s large storage capacities, a memory stick could contain an entire database.  Wouldn’t you want the power to remotely delete a lost drive before it turns up at the dry cleaner?

Data Security, Portable Storage

One of the lessons that can be drawn from last week’s massive flash drive recall is the importance of central management.  Right now many organizations are scrambling to retrieve their formerly secure flash drives from all over the globe.  Little thought has gone into things like patch management, because thumb drives have not been treated the same way as other information assurance products.  That may change after this incident.

Kanguru Remote Management Console allows Kanguru’s Secure USB Drives to be updated remotely anywhere in the world.  Not only can you modify the security settings and password requirements, but the device firmware itself can be updated without physical possesion of the drive.  Audit logs keep track of which devices are up-to-date and which are out of compliance.  Administrators can even create automated actions to disable drives that have not checked in for updates within a certain period of time.

Central management is key to lowering the overall cost of ownership when you factor in costly compliance issues and helpdesk support.  Now we can add security updates to the list of cost savings.

Data Security, Malware, Portable Storage