Apricorn, the leading manufacturer of software-free, 256-bit AES XTS hardware-encrypted USB data storage devices, today announced the release of an 18 TB version of its Aegis Padlock DT FIPS Desktop Drives. Continuing its history of innovation and industry leadership, Apricorn is the first to bring an 18 TB encrypted drive to market, delivering high performance and mass capacity.

The Padlock DT FIPS Desktop Drives come with AegisWare - the proprietary firmware and feature set recognizable of Apricorn's Aegis Secure Drives and Secure Keys. Consistent with the Apricorn line of secure drives, all passwords and commands are entered by way of the device's onboard keypad. One hundred percent of the authentication and encryption processes take place within the device itself and never involve software or share passwords / encryption keys with its host computer. Additionally, all have military grade 256-bit AES XTS encryption so firmware is locked down and can't be updated or modified, defending against malware and ensuring data remains secure and accessible only by the user.

Apricorn, a leading designer and manufacturer of data security products for business, military, and government, has raised the bar by elevating the security level of their workhorse desktop drive. The combination of USB 3.0 speed, high-capacity storage (up to 6 TB), and FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated security makes this drive one of the most user-friendly/hacker-hostile data storage units in existence.

"Reports of lost or stolen unsecured drives are a daily occurrence," said Mike McCandless, VP of Sales and Marketing at Apricorn. "A seemingly small breach like a single unsecured drive that's lost or stolen from a medical office can translate to tens of thousands of private confidential records becoming anything but private and confidential."

Apricorn (www.apricorn.com), a leading designer and manufacturer of data security products for business, has expanded their award winning Aegis Secure Drives to the desktop environment with the announcement of a new, powerful desktop edition, the Aegis Padlock DT.

Sporting a spacious capacity of up to 3 TB with a Super Speed USB 3.0 interface, the Aegis Padlock DT not only provides immense storage and lightning fast access speeds, but also protects its data with seamless AES-XTS hardware encryption and secure PIN access. With its software free design, simple setup and starting price of $229, the Aegis Padlock DT provides a complete data storage solution that is affordable, secure and effortless to deploy in a demanding office environment.