Kingston DataTraveler 2000 Encrypted Flash Drive Review

Final Thoughts and Conclusions

The Kingston DataTraveler 2000 a great little USB 3.1 Gen 1 flash drive. For those that want to keep their data secure, the DataTraveler 2000 offers AES-256 XTS hardware based encryption using ClevX’s DataLock technology. Unlocking the drive for use requires entering a minimum of an 8-character PIN, which then the drive becomes unlocked and can be used with any USB port. If the PIN is entered incorrectly 10 times, your data is still safe from prying eyes, but will be automatically erased. In addition, the DT2000 automatically locks once it is removed from the USB port. Once unlocked, your data is available with Kingston rated speeds up to 135MB/s read and 40MB/s write. Hardware based encryption is not the only thing the DataTraveler 2000 offers, it also provides protection from everyday elements such as water and dust.

When it comes to performance, the Kingston DataTraveler 2000 32GB is rated for 135MB/s Sequential Read and 40MB/s Sequential Write. In each of the three benchmarks we ran against the drive, it met or exceeded the ratings. In testing, it reached a speeds up to 150MB/s and 90MB/s for the Sequential Read/Write tests! These speeds do not make it one of the fastest drives available, however if you are considering this drive, the speed is probably a secondary consideration. Pricing for it ranges from $107 shipped with Kingston’s 3 year warranty, for the 16GB edition, making it rather expensive for an encrypted flash drive, but considering the ruggedness, built-in keypad and data erasing capabilities, that price isn’t too bad for the peace of mind that your data is secured.

Legit Bottom Line: The Kingston DataTraveler 2000 has a lot to offer. It isn’t the fastest flash drive available, however it is one of the fastest flash drives that is fully encrypted with AES-256 XTS. Add in the waterproof/dustproof cover and you have a flash drive that will keep your data protected from both snooping and the elements.