Apricorn has released a new Padlock Secure Hard Drive that offers customers secure access to the drive using a customised personal identification number. The portable encrypted drive and secure storage system comes with a keypad and software-free design.

According to Apricorn, the new drive comes in a choice of AES-128 or 256 bit hardware encryption and 250, 320, and 500GB capacities. It provides real-time encryption to keep data secure even if the hard drive is removed from its enclosure.

Apricorn said that, with the ability to run on any platform, the new drive can be deployed in corporate environments and is suitable for business travellers looking to secure their data on the move. Its Administrator Feature recognises enrolment of up to ten user IDs and one administrator, further allowing to function as a secure business collaboration tool.

The new drive supports Microsoft 7, XP or Vista OS, Mac OS 10.2 or higher, and Linux OS, and connects to a USB port. It comes preformatted in NTFS for Windows support. Depending on the host operating system, users can reformat to a compatible format.

Mike McCandless, vice president of sales and marketing at Apricorn, said: “With the never-ending number of data-breaches and laptop thefts, securing your data is an ongoing priority to both individuals and enterprises. With affordable pricing and simple setup the Aegis Padlock Secure Drive leaves you no excuse to not lock down your data.”