CES: SanDisk adds AES encryption to business USB drives

SanDisk has boosted security across its USB drives with the addition of AES encryption and online backup.

The storage firm has incorporated its SecureAccess software across its entire retail range of USB drives.

This will protect important business and personal files against unauthorised access by placing them in an encrypted and password protected 'vault', the company said.

The software also comes with 2GB of online storage thanks to an arrangement with Dmailer2.

"Business travellers lose more than 12,000 laptops each week in US airports, and more than half of those laptops contain confidential or sensitive information," said Kent Perry, director of product marketing at SanDisk.

"Data security has become an absolute necessity, and SanDisk USB drives with SecureAccess software offer an easy-to-use vault protected by AES encryption."

The features are already on some SanDisk drives, and the firm said that it will complete the rollout by the end of this quarter.

SanDisk also announced two new USB drives. The Ultra USB Flash Drive offers transfer speeds of up to 15MB/s, and will be released later this quarter in 8GB and 32GB versions.

The Cruzer Edge USB Flash Drive, meanwhile, is more consumer friendly, and is available now in 2GB and 16GB versions.

Finally, SanDisk has launched a high capacity CompactFlash card which it claims is the world's fastest of its kind.

The Extreme Pro offers 128GB of storage and up to 100MB/s write speeds, and is pitched at high-end digital SLR camera users with around $1,500 (£970) to spend.