Kingston IronKey D500S Hardware-Encrypted USB 256GB Flash Drive

The Kingston IKD500S/256GB is a hardware-encrypted USB flash drive created for people and organizations that cannot risk a data leak. It combines a generous 256 GB capacity with encryption that runs completely on the device, so files stay protected even when the drive is used on unfamiliar computers or travels across borders.

The drive is on track for FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification, a standard trusted by government agencies and defense contractors. Its implementation of the XTS-AES 256-bit algorithm locks every bit of data the moment the drive is removed from an approved system, meeting strict compliance rules without extra software.

A zinc housing shields the electronics from water, dust, and shocks. That means a field engineer can toss it into a toolkit, a journalist can keep it in a pocket during travel, and an IT technician can rely on it in busy server rooms without worrying about physical damage.

Access management is flexible. An administrator password controls global settings, a separate user password provides everyday access, and a one-time recovery password prevents lockouts if credentials are forgotten. For material that needs an extra veil of secrecy, you can create a hidden partition that stays invisible until the correct credentials are entered.

Speed does not take a back seat to security. Over a USB 3.2 Gen 1 connection the drive reads up to 240 MB per second and writes up to 170 MB per second, so large video files, CAD drawings, or database exports move quickly.

Whether you work in healthcare, finance, media, or government, the IronKey D500S offers a practical balance of capacity, performance, and hardened protection for data that simply must not fall into the wrong hands.

Highlights:

• FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certification in progress
• Hardware encryption that uses the XTS-AES 256-bit algorithm
• Administrator and user passwords plus a one-time recovery option
• Dual hidden partitions for invisible file storage
• USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds up to 240 MB/s read and 170 MB/s write
• Zinc casing that withstands water, dust, and shocks