Can you buy an encrypted hard drive?

What is an encrypted hard drive?

An encrypted hard drive is a storage device that uses encryption algorithms to encrypt (scramble) all the data stored on the drive. This prevents unauthorized access to the data, as it can only be decrypted and read if the correct encryption key is provided. Encrypted hard drives help protect sensitive data from theft or unauthorized access.

Why buy an encrypted hard drive?

There are several reasons why you may want to buy an encrypted hard drive:

• Protect sensitive data – Encrypted drives are essential for storing private information that needs to remain confidential, such as financial records, medical data, or proprietary business files.
• Prevent data theft – Encryption prevents thieves or other unauthorized users from accessing data if the hard drive is lost or stolen. The data remains scrambled and unreadable without the encryption key.
• Regulatory compliance – Some regulations like HIPAA require encryption to protect personal data. Encrypted drives help meet compliance requirements for handling sensitive data.
• Remote access security – Businesses may provide remote employees with encrypted drives to prevent unauthorized access to company data when accessed from home systems.
• Safe data disposal – You can securely erase sensitive data from encrypted drives by destroying the encryption key. This prevents recovered data being read from disposed hard drives.

What types of encrypted hard drives can you buy?

There are a few common types of encrypted hard drives available:

• External encrypted hard drives – These are portable external USB drives that come with built-in encryption. Popular models include Western Digital My Passport and LaCie Rugged Secured drives.
• Encrypted solid state drives (SSDs) – SSDs like the Samsung T7 Touch come with AES 256-bit hardware encryption built-in for robust security.
• Encrypted internal hard drives – Seagate and Western Digital offer internal SATA hard drives with AES 256-bit encryption to secure data stored within a desktop PC.
• Encrypted external SSDs – Portable, high-speed external SSD drives like the iStorage diskAshur2 have encrypted storage for security-conscious users.
• Encrypted RAID drives – These provide redundant encrypted backup storage. Popular models include Drobo encryption drives.

When shopping, look for hard drives that support the advanced AES 256-bit encryption standard for the best data protection.

Should you buy a pre-encrypted hard drive or encrypt it yourself?

When looking to buy an encrypted hard drive, you have two options:

• Buy a pre-encrypted hard drive that comes with encryption built-in.
• Purchase a standard hard drive and use disk encryption software to encrypt it yourself.

Here are the pros and cons of each option:

Pre-encrypted hard drive

Pros:

• More convenient as the encryption is configured and built-in.
• Hardware-based encryption may provide better security than software solutions.
• Drives like the Western Digital My Passport make encryption easy with no learning curve.

Cons:

• Less flexibility as you cannot change encryption algorithms or keys.
• Potentially less secure than manual software encryption allows.
• More expensive than an equivalent unencrypted drive.

Manual disk encryption

Pros:

• Allows you to choose from many different encryption software options.
• Can provide stronger security through customized encryption settings.
• Software-based encryption may be cheaper than hardware encryption.

Cons:

• Requires technical skill and knowledge to properly implement encryption.
• Time consuming to setup the encryption manually.
• Potential for user error in applying encryption incorrectly.

For most home and small business users who want encryption for simplicity and ease of use, a pre-encrypted hard drive is recommended. Power users who want more control may prefer manual disk encryption, but need the expertise to apply it correctly.

How does hard drive encryption work?

Hard drive encryption works by using a complex encryption algorithm and an encryption key to scramble data stored on the drive so it becomes unreadable. All data written to the encrypted drive gets encrypted on the fly before being stored.

When a user wants to access the encrypted data, they need to provide the correct encryption key. This key allows the encryption algorithm to decrypt the data so it can be accessed as normal unencrypted files.

Here is a basic overview of the encryption process:

1. An encryption algorithm (like AES 256-bit) and encryption key are applied to the hard drive when encryption is setup.
2. When a file is written to the encrypted drive, the encryption algorithm scrambles the data using the encryption key.
3. The scrambled data is then stored on the hard drive.
4. To access a encrypted file, the correct encryption key needs to be provided to decrypt the data.
5. The decryption algorithm uses the key to unscramble the file, allowing access to the original unencrypted data.

The key pieces that enable the encryption are the encryption algorithm (like AES), the encryption key itself, and the decryption process used to unencrypt files for access.

Encryption key management

The encryption key is critical for accessing data stored on an encrypted drive. If the key is lost, the data cannot be decrypted and is inaccessible.

Encryption keys are typically managed in one of the following ways:

• User-generated passphrase – The user chooses a text passphrase used to generate the encryption key.
• Local key file – An encryption key file is stored locally with the encrypted drive.
• Remote key management – Keys are stored remotely on a central server and accessed over the network.
• Hardware token – A physical token device contains and accesses the encryption key when connected.

Proper key management is important to prevent loss and ensure encrypted data stays accessible.

What encryption algorithms and standards are used?

Here are some common encryption algorithms and standards used by encrypted hard drives and security software tools:

• AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) – AES is the most widely used hardware and software encryption standard today. It has variants AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256 based on key length. AES-256 is considered the most secure implementation.
• Blowfish – Developed in 1993, this alternative to AES is known for high-speed encryption. Often used for encrypting data in transit.
• Triple DES (3DES) – Uses three 56-bit DES keys for a total 168-bit key length. Offers stronger encryption than standard DES.
• RSA – A public-key algorithm commonly used for encrypting digital signatures and key exchanges when establishing secure connections.
• SHA-2 – Secure Hashing Algorithm (SHA) used for cryptographic hash functions to verify data integrity.

Many encrypted storage devices use industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption today as it provides the best balance of security and performance. Manufacturers sometimes develop custom implementations optimized for their hardware.

Are encrypted hard drives safe?

Encrypted hard drives provide a significant layer of security and protection over unencrypted drives. However, no data protection solution is 100% foolproof. Some factors to consider regarding encrypted drive safety:

• A strong, sufficiently complex encryption algorithm and key are essential. AES 256-bit is typically recommended.
• Full disk encryption is more secure than file/folder encryption as all data is encrypted.
• Allowing auto-backups or easy password recovery options reduces security of the drive.
• Encrypted drives are still vulnerable to viruses, malware, and firmware attacks.
• Poor user practices like weak passwords can compromise otherwise secure encrypted drives.
• Proper encryption key management is crucial to prevent locked out data in case of lost keys.

By following best practices around encryption, passwords, and security protocols, encrypted hard drives provide robust protection against many data theft and hacking risks. For maximum security, use encrypted drives in conjunction with secure networks, multi-factor authentication, antivirus scans and other IT safeguards.

What are the best encrypted external hard drives?

Some top encrypted external hard drive options include:

Model	Encryption	Capacity	Price
Western Digital My Passport	AES-256	1TB – 4TB	$50 – $100
Samsung T7 Touch	AES 256-bit	500GB – 2TB	$80 – $230
LaCie Rugged Secure	AES-256	1TB – 5TB	$90 – $165
iStorage diskAshur2	AES-256	500GB – 5TB	$170 – $340

Key features to compare include encryption algorithms used, maximum capacity offered, rugged and durable designs for portability, speed, and ease of use. Models with PIN code or biometric fingerprint authentication provide added security.

Conclusion

Encrypted hard drives provide an excellent way to secure sensitive files, protect personal information, prevent data theft, and meet compliance requirements. Both pre-encrypted external drives and software encryption of internal drives allow users to implement robust security fairly easily.

When shopping for the best encrypted hard drive, look for trusted brands using AES 256-bit encryption with large storage capacities at reasonable prices. Maintaining good password practices and encryption key management is essential to maximize the protection from a secure encrypted hard drive. Along with other security tools, encrypted storage helps keep your data safe in case devices are lost, stolen or subject to cyberattacks.