On March 1, 2010, the Massachusetts Data Protection Law will finally be in effect.  All businesses (including law firms) who holds personal and private information of clients needs to implement security to safeguard client data.

I’ve taken part in several conferences lately where attendees were concerned how far an attorney has to go to safeguard their client’s data.  One specific question that comes up is what about USB drives (otherwise known as thumb drives) and whether after the new law comes into effect, we’re still allowed to carry thumb drives with our client’s information on them.

I present to you the most secure USB drive on the planet – The IronKey.

This thumb drive provides software safeguards as well as hardware safeguards.  It has built-in encryption and password protection.  If after a limited number of incorrectly input passwords, the data contained in the IronKey will self-destruct.  If you try to physically pry the IronKey open, the memory chip will become damaged making all information on the chip inaccessible.  The US military uses the IronKey and if it’s good enough for the Army, it’s good enough for attorneys.

If you, like me, keep all your client files with you on a USB drive at all times, this is the only USB you will (and should) ever buy.