Company: Imation, Campbell, CA
Company Description: Imation is a global data storage and information security company reaching customers in more than 100 countries. IronKey mobile security solutions offer mobile workforces end-to-end protection via secure portable Microsoft-certified Windows desktops for Windows To Go, hardware-encrypted USB drives and cloud-based and on-premises enterprise device management platforms.
Nomination Category: New Product & Service Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Hardware - Computer

Nomination Title: Imation's IronKey Workspace W700

Tell the story about this nominated product or service (up to 650 words). Describe its function, features, benefits, and performance to date.

The Bring Your Own Device movement and the increasing number of workers who contract or telework are reshaping the way employers equip their workforces. Enterprises and government agencies can now serve the productivity needs of their fast-evolving, highly mobile workforces, while simultaneously providing data protection expected and required by their organizations and security mandates. IronKey Workspace W700 outfits ultra-mobile workforces with secure workspaces at a fraction of the cost— savings of up to 50%— compared to the cost of laptops.

IronKey Workspace W700 utilizes Microsoft Windows To Go, a key enterprise feature of Windows 8/8.1 and the upcoming Windows 10, to equip employees and contractors with a fully manageable Windows corporate desktop— complete with their applications, security controls and access policies— all contained on a virtually indestructible IronKey USB 3.0 flash drive, built to be the world’s most secure flash drives. It’s like having a secure Windows desktop in your pocket.

Employees and contractors simply insert the Microsoft-certified IronKey Workspace W700 into a compatible computer to boot a clean, trusted and centrally managed Windows desktop without worrying if the computer is infected with malware or otherwise compromised. Since the host computer boots directly off the W700 flash drive, and not from the host computers hard drive, it is only used for CPU, display, keyboard and mouse. To ensure data stays safe and secure, the IronKey drive features military-grade security with hardware-based XTS-AES encryption and strong authentication. IronKey Workspace W700 drives work on PCs certified to run Microsoft Windows 7 or higher operating systems and compatible tablets and Macs.

IronKey Workspace W700 is the first – and so far only - Microsoft Certified device to achieve FIPS 140-2 Level 3 full device certification, a government requirement and a benchmark of security for highly-regulated industries, such as financial or healthcare, required to meet the strict data handling regulations of highly sensitive, but unclassified data. Achievement of this certification required rigorous testing, which was then reviewed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) Publication 140-2 is a certification program for cryptographic devices. It is concerned with making it hard to access the security key that could be used to access and decode the encrypted data on the device. The W700SC version also features support for CAC/PIV smart cards so agencies are in full compliance with the HSPD-12 Presidential directive.

Windows To Go running on an IronKey Workspace drive connected through a USB 3.0 port is faster than many systems running on internal hard drives. In fact, IronKey Workspace W700 delivers high performance and superior speed with more than five times the minimum read/write performance required for Windows To Go certified devices. Users will get sequential read performance of up to 400MB/sec and write to 316MB/sec.

Enterprises and government agencies can administer device access and usage policies across thousands of IronKey Workspace W700 drives from a central location with cloud-based or on-premises enterprise class device management. With the advanced management features of the exclusive IronKey Silver Bullet, you can force a device to be in read-only mode, remotely force password changes, re-commission devices that are no longer in use, and even remotely wipe or disable lost or stolen drives.

IronKey Workspace W700 drives undergo thousands of hours of rigorous read/write tests and protect against physical damage. Ruggedized and waterproof to military standards (MIL-STD-810F) with a virtually indestructible metal casing that protects against physical damage, and sealed components defend against tampering. Even if a user runs a drive through a washing machine or if it is exposed to harsh military environments out in the field, the drive will still work.

IronKey Workspace enables new levels of flexibility for mobile workers. The W700 represents an affordable laptop or VDI alternative for enterprises and provides a secure, high-performance solution for employees, remote workers, contractors and business travelers. Whether enabling BYOD or contractor enablement, the possibilities for the W700 are endless.

In bullet-list form, briefly summarize up to ten (10) of the chief features and benefits of the nominated product or service.

• Best of TechEd Award Winner - Penton’s Best of TechEd Awards, co-sponsored by Microsoft and Windows ITPro, named IronKey Workspace W700 the winner of Best of TechEd in the hardware category. Judges said, “IronKey’s abilities are extremely timely as companies are looking for a better BYOD solution.”

• SSD Product Review – “The IronKey W700 is the only Windows To Go drive that is actually FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified.” The write up also notes that “the W700 is the fastest Windows To Go drive in the market, period.”

• Best in Biz Gold Winner– The W700 receives top honors as the Gold winner in the Enterprise Product of the Year in the hardware category.

• FedTech Product Review – IronKey Workspace W700 delivers a secure, portable computer on a stick. “Even on a 10-year-old notebook unable to support Windows 8.1 on its own, the W700’s on-screen interface was quick and speedy.”