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Kingston IronKey D500S: First TAA-Compliant FIPS 140-3 Level 3 Drive with Trusted Supply Chain
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 31: Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announces today its award-winning Kingston IronKey™ D500S hardware-encrypted USB flash drive has received NIST FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validation. Designed and assembled by Kingston in California, D500S is the world’s first and only FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validated drive with a TAA-compliant and trusted supply chain.
When the IronKey D500S was being designed in 2020, the business goal was to make it a best-in-class hardware-encrypted drive with XTS-AES 256-bit encryption and the newest NIST security standard, FIPS 140-3 Level 3. But, an additional goal was to also go beyond TAA-compliance, which only verifies the legally-declared Country Of Origin (COO). The D500S was designed to ensure that all its critical components and assembly processes fully meet TAA and CMMC compliance requirements.
Critical drive components include the following:
- Secure Microprocessor managing all encryption and authentication processes
- Digitally-signed firmware for the Secure Microprocessor
- Drive software launcher, which includes multi-password authentication and feature setting
- NAND Flash storage chips
- Assembly of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with all critical components
- Encasing the PCB assembly and injecting epoxy in the rugged casing to comply with FIPS 140-3 Level 3 anti-tampering protection
All critical drive components were directly sourced by Kingston from TAA-compliant and trusted suppliers, and stocked in the secured Kingston Manufacturing Centre in California, USA, to ensure drive assembly is done in tightly controlled, engineering-supervised processes. D500S will also have matching internal and external serial numbers for asset tracking and endpoint management.
“We went above and beyond competitors in the USB data protection industry to ensure that the IronKey D500S is an unrivalled best-in-class FIPS 140-3 Level 3 certified drive for securing data-at-rest and meeting stringent government and military standards worldwide,� said Kingston. “With a trusted supply chain supporting CMMC and TAA compliance, along with design and assembly at Kingston’s USA headquarters, D500S stands out as the most security-focused USB drive on the market—delivering unmatched assurance for customers who require the highest level of trusted data protection.�
D500S also has the industry’s first dual-partition option on a hardware-encrypted USB drive with multiple passwords. This allows Admin to create two custom-sized secure partitions for Admin and User, for a Hidden File Store that can be used to provision files to the User partition as needed. When using untrusted systems or sharing the drive, the Hidden File Stores keep data secure and invisible unless accessed through proper authentication.
Other advanced features include the capabilities of an Admin to set a Global Read-Only mode until reset, as well as to enter a Crypto-Erase password that will destroy the data and reset the drive to prevent unauthorized access in compromising situations. D500S also features a rugged zinc casing which meets military-grade shock, vibration and drop test specifications1Â with IP67 dust and water resistance rating2.
D500S offers fully customizable features and functionality to meet your organization’s specific needs, with capacities up to 512GB3 and backed by a 5-year warranty and free technical support.
For more information, visit kingston.com/ironkey.
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National
Kolkata’s Quiet Force Propels India to Global Space Leadership: Heritage Alumnus Subhradip Ghosh Orchestrates NISAR Mission’s Historic Launch
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 4: NASA and ISRO’s joint NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) Earth observation satellite has lifted off in a landmark mission, and Kolkata-born scientist Subhradip Ghosh played a pivotal role in its success. NISAR will measure Earth’s changing ecosystems and dynamic surfaces – from melting ice sheets to vegetation changes – providing critical data on biomass, sea-level rise and natural hazards. Launched on July 30, 2025 from India’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre, NISAR carries advanced L- and S-band radars and represents the first-ever joint hardware collaboration between ISRO and NASA.
Landmark NASA-ISRO NISAR Earth-Observing Mission
The 3-stage Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk II (GSLV Mk II) rocket – a 52-meter tall launch vehicle – carried the NISAR spacecraft into orbit. This state-of-the-art Earth-monitoring satellite is one of the most advanced ever developed, carrying dual payloads built by ISRO and NASA. Its sophisticated radar will map surface changes, cloud-penetrating to see through storms, and help monitor critical infrastructure worldwide. The mission will return data on ice sheet dynamics, deforestation, groundwater changes and more – a leap forward for global science and disaster preparedness.
Subhradip Ghosh’s Critical Propulsion Role
ISRO’s Systems Reliability Division at Sriharikota entrusted Subhradip Ghosh – an ISRO Scientist/Engineer with six years of experience – with the crucial liquid propulsion system of the NISAR launch vehicle. As the launch vehicle’s liquid-propulsion engineer, he oversaw the integration and handling of the rocket’s fuel system. Ghosh’s responsibilities included managing the rocket’s liquid propellants, ensuring exact fuel loading and monitoring, and running 24×7 monitoring of the fuel systems. His steady leadership in these critical phases helped power the NISAR mission into a successful lift-off.
Heritage Institute Celebrates Alumnus Achievement
An alumnus of Heritage Institute of Technology (HITK), Kolkata (B.Tech. 2013–17, Chemical Engineering), Subhradip Ghosh makes the entire Heritage family proud. He has been associated with more than 25 ISRO missions, including Chandrayaan-2 and 3, Aditya-L1, and recent SPADEX launches. His story is a testament to Indian talent and the strong educational foundation provided by HITK, fueling national pride in this historic mission.
Prof. Basab Chaudhuri, Principal of Heritage Institute of Technology, remarked, “We are incredibly proud of Subhradip. His success in the NISAR mission reflects the rigorous training and innovative spirit fostered at HITK. Subhradip’s achievement shows current students that hard work and a solid technical foundation at Heritage can launch even the most ambitious dreams.”
Pradip Agarwal, CEO of Heritage Group of Institutions, added, “This is a proud moment for India and our Heritage family. Our mission has always been to nurture excellence in science and engineering, and Subhradip’s role on this NASA-ISRO project exemplifies that vision. We congratulate him and all our alumni who are contributing on the world stage.”
Subhradip Ghosh himself expressed gratitude to his alma mater: “I owe my success to the strong foundation and values taught at Heritage Institute. The years I spent in HITK’s classrooms and labs prepared me to tackle challenges at ISRO. This accomplishment belongs not just to me but to every teacher, mentor and peer who encouraged my passion. I dedicate this success to the entire HITK and Indian scientific community.”
A Triumph for India and Beyond
As Union Minister Jitendra Singh aptly noted, this mission is “symbolic of India’s transition from utility-based space programs to global scientific leadership”. This achievement creates a powerful positive effect, inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers within India and demonstrating the extraordinary possibilities that arise from dedication and quality education. It also strengthens India’s international partnerships and enhances its global standing as a reliable, technologically advanced, and collaborative space power.
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