SanDisk Corporation introduced Cruzer Enterprise FIPS Edition, a USB flash drive with security certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States through its Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) program.

Many government agencies require FIPS certification for portable storage devices, as do some private-sector companies in highly regulated industries such as financial services and healthcare.

Based on SanDisk's secure Cruzer Enterprise flash drive, the new Cruzer Enterprise FIPS Edition has additional data protection features including:

• A software self-test routine that automatically runs whenever the drive is powered up, to verify the drive's cryptographic function is intact.
• Physical protection for the drive's internal security module to deter tampering.

Cruzer Enterprise FIPS Edition has received FIPS 140-2 Level 2 certification, and has also received the equivalent certification from Canada's CSEC (Communications Security Establishment Canada). The certification indicates that Cruzer Enterprise FIPS Edition has met NIST standards for design of the cryptographic module, for the strength of encryption algorithms, and for resistance to physical intrusion.

"Flash drives are a convenient and cost-effective way for IT managers to help their workforces become more mobile and more productive, but only if the drives offer the appropriate level of security," said Doron Peri, Product Marketing Manager for the Cruzer Enterprise product line in SanDisk's Enterprise Division. "With Cruzer Enterprise FIPS Edition, SanDisk can now meet the needs of organizations demanding the highest level of data protection."

Cruzer Enterprise FIPS Edition also offers all the features of the widely deployed Cruzer Enterprise, including:

• Mandatory password-protection and hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption for all files stored on the drive.
• Encryption keys never leave the drive, so they are safe from hacking attempts aimed at the host PC.
• "Plug & Play" functionality on any PC - unlike many other secure flash drives, which first require installation of supporting software on the host machine.
• Premium performance, with read speed of 24 megabytes (MB) per second and write speed of 20 MB/sec(1).
• Complete lifecycle management through SanDisk's CMC (Central Management & Control) server software. CMC provides password recovery and renewal through the network, remote termination of lost drives, central back-up and restore, and central usage tracking. This means data is not lost when a drive is lost, and IT administrators can provision a replacement flash drive with user files stored on the network.

Cruzer Enterprise FIPS Edition is available for order now in four capacities: 1 gigabyte for a list price of $87, 2 GB for a list price of $144, 4GB for a list price of $217, and 8GB for a list price of $385.

SanDisk Corporation