Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), a global data storage and information security company, today announced that the IronKey Workspace W500 has been certified by Microsoft for Windows To Go. IronKey Workspace W500 delivers a high-performance, high-security platform for Windows To Go deployment in enterprises and government organizations.
The IronKey Workspace W500 features hardware encryption and a rugged metal enclosure, with enterprise-grade deployment and device management options, including mass provisioning and IT management of the portable workspaces of mobile and remote users. The result is a fast, durable and secure IronKey Workspace PC on a Stick™ USB drive that lets IT meet the needs of a flexible, mobile workforce with Windows To Go, and protect the organisation with always-on hardware encryption.
Windows To Go is an enterprise feature of Windows 8 that lets people be productive from almost any location they choose to work. Enterprise IT departments provision a Windows To Go drive with their corporate image, then users simply insert the certified drive into a compatible computer* and thereby boot into a personalised Windows 8 image. The operating system, applications and data are all contained on the certified USB drive, while still using the host PC’s hardware and resources such as monitors, cameras and network connections.
Imation’s IronKey solutions general manager Barbara Nelson said: "Organisations requiring a highly secure, hardware encrypted option for Windows To Go can now depend upon the IronKey Workspace solution to meet their needs.
"Marrying military-grade security and convenience in one device, IT managers can rest easy knowing that data leaving the building is as secure as when it is accessed within the four walls. For IT leaders, the IronKey Workspace W500 dramatically simplifies provisioning, management and security, and is ideal for deployment of BYOD policies."
Features and benefits of IronKey Workspace W500 include:
- Military-grade security with hardware-based AES-256 bit encryption and strong authentication to help keep data safe and secure
- ‘Set and forget’ ease of use for an IT-provisioned, managed and secured workspace infrastructure
- Rugged metal casing protects against physical damage, and sealed components to defend against tampering. Drives exceed military waterproof testing requirements
- Superior speed, with more than five times the minimum read/write performance required for Windows To Go certified devices
- A range of capacity options for user needs (32GB, 64GB, and 128GB)
In addition to this, users will soon be able to implement centralised management for their IronKey Workspace W500 devices using the IronKey Enterprise Management Server, empowering IT to implement policy control, reporting, password reset and ‘silver bullet’ features for remote disabling and decommissioning a device through a central dashboard.
Additional optional enhanced features, including mass provisioning and deployment tools, and "crossover storage," allows the device to be used as a traditional encrypted security-enhanced flash drive as well as a PC on a stick device for Windows To Go.
Osterman Research president Michael Osterman said: "The ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) trend clearly is expanding beyond tablets and smart phones to the PC. IT departments are looking for ways to deliver secure, IT-provisioned and IT-managed desktops in a bring your own device world, and Windows To Go fits squarely in this space.
"Imation’s IronKey Workspace offerings empower IT to manage the desktop environment, enable users to employ any PC of their choice and deliver rock-solid security to minimize the risk of data loss in this new BYOD world."
Microsoft Windows Division senior director Stella Chernyak said: "Windows To Go has quickly become one of the most exciting features of Windows 8 Enterprise. We’re already seeing widespread piloting, deployment and adoption of Windows To Go on the existing certified drives. IronKey Workspace W500 delivers on our vision of a highly mobile solution that offers the same security and manageability you get with a PC and meets the needs of companies who have contingent staff, or mobile workforces that utilize a variety of devices."
IronKey Solutions meets the challenge of protecting today’s mobile workforce by featuring secure USB solutions for data transport and mobile workspaces. The IronKey line includes the world’s leading hardware encrypted USB drives, PC on a Stick workspaces for Windows To Go, and cloud-based or on-premise centralised device management solutions.
IronKey drives are available from Imation Mobile Security channel partners. To learn more, visit www.ironkey.com.
