Kingston IronKey KP200 achieves FIPS 140‑3 Level 3 certification

This week, Kingston announced that its IronKey Keypad 200 USB drives, including the KP200 and KP200C, have achieved NIST FIPS 140‑3 Level 3 validation. The certification places the KP200 line alongside the already‑approved IronKey D500S, strengthening Kingston’s position in supplying independently verified, tamper‑resistant data storage.

FIPS 140‑3 Level 3 is the latest U.S. government cryptographic hardware standard and is widely recognised across Europe as a benchmark for security. Level 3 requires physical tamper resistance, identity‑based authentication, protected key handling, separation of critical interfaces, and safeguards against abnormal voltage or temperature conditions. Certification is granted following testing by NIST‑accredited labs and a final review by NIST.

The KP200 series are keypad‑based drives compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and mobile devices via USB‑A or USB‑C. They are designed for environments where encrypted removable media is required to load or transfer software on medical, industrial, scientific, and other OT systems. NIST’s new SP 1334 guidance also highlights the need for stronger USB security in OT infrastructure.

The KP200 series includes dual Admin/User PINs, optional Global and Session Read‑Only modes to prevent unauthorised changes or malware exposure, and IP68 dust‑ and water‑resistance. The USB drives are available with up to 512GB of storage and come with a three-year warranty.

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KitGuru Says: The number of cyber attacks carried out has grown each year, so data security is always important, especially when working in sensitive fields.

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