Keeping Data Safe, Offline

At GITEX Global 2025, CXO DX spoke with Melanie Kubasik, Sales Director at iStorage, about the company’s latest encrypted data-storage innovations, government-grade certifications, and the growing demand for offline, secure backup solutions across industries.

Tell us about the product range from iStorage and mention the new launches

We offer a range of hardware-encrypted, portable data-storage solutions, including USB flash drives, hard drives, SSDs, and desktop drives from 4 GB up to 30 TB. We’ve recently launched a 30 TB desktop model, which has been presented for the first time here at GITEX. All our keypad drives operate without any software installation; you simply enter the correct PIN to unlock and decrypt the data. They’re completely independent of the host system and are designed to keep data secure in transit, offline, and off-site. These devices are ideal for offline secure backups, for organizations enforcing authorized removable-media policies, or for engineers moving data from site to site. Our customers include government, law enforcement, energy, finance, education, and healthcare sectors — essentially any environment handling sensitive or confidential information.

What storage capacities and configurations are available in your products?
Our drives range from 128 GB up to 16 TB for SSDs, and our desktop models go up to 30 TB. We have both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch enclosures; the form factor stays the same, whether you choose HDD or SSD.

Tell us about the security certifications your products have?

Our devices carry multiple government-grade certifications, including FIPS 140-3 Level 3. Our datAshur PRO C flash drive was the first hardware-encrypted USB flash drive globally to receive this certification. We’ve also submitted other models,  for the same level. In addition, several of our solutions hold NATO Restricted and European certifications. For enterprise users, we also offer centrally managed devices, allowing organizations to monitor, assign, and encrypt specific users. It’s all about simplicity; full-disk encryption, straightforward PIN setup, and no extra software or configuration needed.

Who are the main user segments for these products?
Predominantly government and public-sector organizations. Certified devices such as the datAshur PRO C, PRO F3, DT F3, and diskAshur PRO 2 are widely deployed across ministries and large corporations. We also serve major enterprise customers — for example, engineering firms, law-enforcement agencies, and even Aerospace OEMs like Airbus. These organizations typically use our devices for secure, offline backups, including virtual-machine backups or data that must remain disconnected from the cloud.

How do you ensure physical security if a device is lost or stolen?
Each device allows only a limited number of PIN attempts; typically 10 for flash drives and up to 15 for hard drives (three cycles of five). If those attempts are exceeded, the encryption key and all cryptographic parameters are wiped, rendering the data completely unrecoverable. The devices are also tamper-evident and tamper-resistant. Critical components are protected under layers of epoxy resin, making it extremely difficult for anyone to access the circuitry. This combination of logical and physical deterrents ensures complete data protection and peace of mind.

How long has iStorage been operating in the GCC region?
We’ve been active in this market for around 10 years and have been working closely with our regional distribution partner, Bulwark Technologies. We’ve built strong relationships across the public sector, which remains a key growth driver.

Which sectors are driving demand in 2025?

There’s growing demand not just from public-sector organizations but also from the media industry, which increasingly needs offline encrypted storage for sensitive content. The surge in ransomware and cyberattacks globally has made offline backups an essential part of data-protection strategies. Our solutions help organizations stay resilient by keeping data secure, disconnected, and independent of the network.

How do you see demand trends in the Middle East and globally?

We’re seeing steady year-on-year growth worldwide. Demand is strongest in defense, military, law enforcement, healthcare, and other critical-infrastructure sectors, but awareness is rising across all industries — even among consumers — that data protection is non-negotiable. The need for air-gapped, hardware-encrypted storage continues to grow as organizations recognize the importance of keeping critical data completely offline and under their control.

Where is iStorage headquartered?

We’re based in the UK, with our main office in London, and we also have a team and office in the US to serve our global customer base.