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Defence Security

iStorage first to secure NCSC CPA and NLNCSA BSPA certifications for data storage devices

Award-winning provider of PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted data storage devices, iStorage, has become the first manufacturer to gain the NCSC CPA and NLNCSA BSPA certifications for their diskAshur PRO² portable Hard Drives/Solid State Drives and their diskAshur DT² desktop hard drive, making them the world’s first and only NCSC CPA and NLNCSA BSPA certified products.

Above: The diskAshur Pro2-SSD.
Courtesy iStorage

Both products were successfully tested for the prestigious National Cyber Security Centre Commercial Product Assurance (NCSC CPA) certification which evaluates the commercial off-the-shelf products, and their developers, against published security and development standards. After undergoing rigorous tests, iStorage successfully passed their assessment and were awarded the Foundation Grade certification, meaning that the diskAshur PRO² and the diskAshur DT² are proven to demonstrate good commercial security practice.

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In addition to NCSC CPA, both products also successfully went through the Baseline Security Product Assessment (BSPA) as a pilot assessment managed by the Netherlands National Communications Security Agency (NLNCSA), which is part of the AIVD, the Netherlands General Intelligence and Security Agency.

The result of this assessment is a Deployment Advisory (DA) that advises users how to configure and how to use product to be conformant to the Dutch “baseline information level for government institutions” (BIR 2017, upto level2). This DA includes a “Statement of Conformity” (to the Security Evaluation Target).

The BSPA scheme provides vendors the opportunity to have their IT security products assessed independently by licensed evaluation laboratories, whilst NLNCSA provides independent confirmation that products meet their criteria before issuing a Deployment Advisory.

This adds to the recent news of the datAshur PRO USB flash drive being certified to NATO Restricted level, putting iStorage on the list of reliable suppliers for NATO approved products.

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The accreditations do not stop there for iStorage as they are also currently undergoing tests for the FIPS 140-2 validation which tests on the levels of security for individual products, with validation expected to be granted within the next few months.

John Michael, CEO, iStorage Limited said: “I am immensely proud that iStorage’s diskAshur PRO² and diskAshur DT², successfully went through NCSC CPA and NLNCSA BSPA rigorous testing standards.

"This is a testament to the many years of research and development that iStorage invested in developing what we believe to be the most secure PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted hard drives and solid-state drives currently available. With FIPS 140-2 certifications underway and expected to be received soon, iStorage is uniquely positioned to reassure businesses and government organisations throughout the world of the robust level of data protection offered in our products.“

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