SanDisk offers secure USB storage for Macs

SanDisk on Thursday introduced a Mac version of its secure USB storage device.

A lack of Mac support has kept enterprises from being able to effectively support removable-media security policies across all their users, according to SanDisk. The Cruzer Enterprise can be initialised from either OS X or Windows.

The device, said to be the first of its kind by SanDisk, uses hardware-based 256-bit AES encryption and imposes mandatory access control on all files as protection against loss or theft of the drive. Users can access all of the drive's encryption features from the Mac, including shutting down access to the encrypted storage area, managing passwords and changing preferences.

The Cruzer Enterprise is available in configurations of 1GB, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB, and supports OS X 10.4 'Tiger' and OS X 10.5 'Leopard'. SanDisk is also making Mac support available on older versions of Cruzer Enterprise via a firmware update, available from the company's website.

In July, PGP Corporation targeted the ongoing problem of data breaches via mobile devices with PGP Endpoint, designed to allow administrators to centrally manage policies for various types of devices, including laptops, desktops and mobile devices, and removable storage, such as USB drives, CDs and DVDs.

The launch of the Mac-friendly data-protection device follows a declaration by Apple this week that Macs are "safe out of the box". The company had featured an article on its support site that urged Mac owners to install multiple antivirus protections from its Knowledge Base site, which provides guidance for users. Apple withdrew the article after security experts questioned whether the use of several antivirus products might cause problems.

Mac security has also attracted the attention of Yoggie Security Systems, which, on Tuesday, started selling versions of its plug-in Gatekeeper security devices for Apple's computers. The Gatekeeper devices are Linux-based mini-computers that carry 12 protective applications, such as antivirus, anti-spyware and intrusion-detection software, to check internet traffic before it reaches the Mac. The Gatekeeper Pico for Mac is in USB form, while the Gatekeeper Card Pro for Mac plugs directly into an ExpressCard slot.