Flash Drive: Options for Small Businesses

Transferring large files to a flash drive is a huge convenience. It allows small businesses to be more efficient in an increasingly mobile ecosystem. As the storage price continues to fall, it is affordable and convenient to carry large amounts of storage in a small form factor.

The key to getting the correct flash drive for your business is to find out what you will be storing and transferring in them. Ensuring compatibility between the flash drive and the host device is crucial for seamless data transfer. While documents without images are easy to transfer to any flash drive, media files can take some time. Selecting the appropriate file system, such as FAT32 or exFAT, is important for compatibility and data management. Flash drives with the latest transfer rate specifications are the way to go because you can use them on any computer, and they are backward compatible.

A flash drive, also known as a USB flash drive, thumb drive, or pen drive, is a small, portable data storage device that uses flash memory to store information. Designed to be plugged directly into a USB port on a computer, flash drives allow users to transfer files between devices with ease. These handy devices are a type of flash memory storage that retains data even when the power is turned off, making them reliable for storing important documents, media files, and personal files. Whether you need to store information for work or personal use, a flash drive is a versatile and essential tool.

Using flash drives offers several benefits that make them indispensable for small businesses:

There are several types of flash drives available, each designed to meet different needs:

When considering a flash drive for business or work purposes, there’s more to take into account than just its capacity. A flash drive can be a linchpin in safeguarding important files, transferring data between devices, or even running software on different systems. Here’s what you should look for when making your decision:

Key Features to Consider in a Flash Drive:

Real-world Scenarios:

When it comes to choosing flash drives for your small business, several key factors should guide your decision. We also use these criteria to curate our recommendations to ensure you get the best options available. Here’s a rundown with a scale of importance from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important):

Samsung is a leading manufacturer of technology and makes some of the best USB flash drives on the market. This USB 3.1 drive has 256GB of storage and backward compatibility. It uses V-NAND technology with enhanced read/write performance and transfer speeds of 400MB/s.

The drive has a rugged metal casing to safeguard your data. And it is waterproof, shockproof, magnet-proof, temperature-proof, and x-ray proof.

SAMSUNG BAR Plus 256GB – 400MB/s USB 3.1 Flash Drive Champagne Silver

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Like Samsung, SanDisk is also a leading manufacturer of flash drives. This USB flash drive features a retractable design with a reversible USB 3.1 connector and a traditional USB connector, allowing you to use it on PCs and smartphones. It is backward compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0.

You get high-speed transfer speeds of up to 150MB/s and transfer files easily and quickly between smartphones, tablets and computers.

SanDisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive USB Flash Drive USB Type-C – USB-C, USB 3.1

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PNY offers some of the best value in the market. This versatile 1TB USB drive, with USB 3.1 technology, boasts read speeds up to 200MB/s and write speeds up to 100MB/s, making it ideal for efficient data transfer.

It is compatible with the current USB 3.1 Gen 1/USB 3.0 PC and Mac laptops and desktops. Likewise, it is backward compatible with USB 2.0 host devices at USB 2.0 speeds.

PNY 1TB Turbo Attaché 3 USB 3.1 Flash Drive

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This SanDisk uses Solid State Drive technology in its flash drives to store your data. And in this case, you will get read speeds up to 420MB/s and write speeds up to 380MB/s. This will require a USB 3.2 Gen 1 or USB 3.0 port.

SanDisk includes its SecureAccess encryption software to keep critical files safe. And it also offers RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software, which recovers accidentally deleted files. This drive has USB 2.0 and 3.0 backward compatibility and comes with a Lifetime limited manufacturer’s warranty.

SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO USB 3.2 Solid State Flash Drive

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This Corsair uses a high-speed 3D NAND memory to deliver read speeds up to 440MB/second and write speeds up to 440MB/second. The drive uses USB 3.1 Gen 1 protocol, but it is USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 backward compatible.

The drive is CORSAIR SSD Toolbox ready, so you can format, partition, and optimize drive performance. You can easily transfer files from one computer to another using this flash drive, making it practical for various audio-visual applications. And the universal operating system compatibility lets you work on Windows, macOS, and Linux without installing a driver. This is a rugged flash drive with a zinc-alloy housing and aluminum accents.

Corsair Flash Voyager GTX 512GB USB 3.1 Premium Flash Drive

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Increasing the security of your data is always a good thing. And the iStorage datAshur PRO² allows you to secure your drive with a physical and software encryption solution. This 512GB device has PIN-authenticated hardware – you have to enter a 7-15 digit PIN to authenticate and use it as a normal USB flash drive.

You also don’t need any special software; the datAshur PRO2 USB flash drive will work on any device with a USB port. As soon as you disconnect the drive, it encrypts your data using AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption. It is also FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified to help you stay compliant with data regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA.

The USB 3.2 provides up to 168MB/s read speeds and up to 116MB/s write speeds as well as backward compatibility with previous USB versions. It is dust and water-resistant.

iStorage datAshur PRO² 128 GB Secure Flash Drive

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This USB flash drive has a very small factor but still manages to provide 128GB of storage with USB 3.1. It has read speeds of up to 250MB/s and is compatible with PC and Mac operating systems and is backward compatible with USB 3.0 and 2.0 devices.

Additionally, Lexar provides DataVault Lite software, an advanced security solution with 256-bit AES encryption to protect your data.

Lexar JumpDrive S47 128GB USB 3.1 Flash Drive

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The Kingston Datatraveler Max is a type-C USB flash drive using the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard to offer up to 1,000MB/s read speeds and 900 MB/s write speeds. Running out of storage space is never a problem with this USB flash drive – it has capacities of up to 1TB.

This USB flash drive also features a durable and convenient design – a unique ridged casing and keyring loop for the ultimate in portable devices.

Kingston DataTraveler Max 256GB USB-C Flash Drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 Performance

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The Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth isn’t like most USB flash drives – it is a military-style memory stick with USB 3.0 and USB .2.0 compatibility. The anodized aluminum housing is waterproof to 200 meters, vibration-resistant, and shock resistant.

The Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth USB 3.0 offers read speeds up to 4 times faster than traditional USB 2.0 drives. Transfer data and large files with speed and ease, and rest assured your information is safe. No software is required to use this USB flash drive.

Corsair CMFSS3B-256GB Flash Survivor Stealth 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive

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With read and write speeds of up to 120/60 MB/s, the Gigastone Z60 is one of the better USB flash drives out there. It uses a USB 3.1 interface and is compatible with USB 2.0 USB 3.0 for Windows PC and Mac computers.

Gigastone offers a 5-year limited warranty on its USB drives.

Gigastone Z60 256GB USB 3.1 Ultra High Speed Pen Drive

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Another of SanDisk’s flash drives, the Ultra Dual Drive is a 2-in-1 flash drive with a reversible USB Type-C and a traditional Type-A connector. Having dual USB drives means you can seamlessly move content between your USB Type-C smartphone, tablets, Macs and USB Type-A computers.

Read speeds on this USB flash drive are up to 150MB/s; write speeds vary by capacity.

SanDisk 256GB Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB Type-C

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This memory stick for Apple devices has 256 GB of storage space. It has a multi-port design to easily transfer files and data between devices.

USB Flash Drive 256GB for iPhone USB Memory Stick Thumb Drives High Speed USB Stick

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Protecting sensitive information is crucial, and flash drives can be encrypted to enhance security. Here are some common types of encryption available:

Flash drives have numerous applications in a business setting, making them a valuable asset:

By understanding the various options and benefits of flash drives, small businesses can make informed decisions to enhance their data management and operational efficiency.

Even though USB 2.0 (60MBs transfer rate) is still around, USB 3.0 is now the standard manufacturers are using. Technically, 3.0 is supposed to have top speeds of 5Gbps, but many factors come to play in achieving those numbers.

Now there are 3.1, 3.2, USB 3.2 Gen1, and Gen 2×2 with max speeds of 20Gbps. There is also a USB 4 on the way with 40Gbps. Again, it is worth mentioning, your computer must be compatible in order to achieve these high transfer rates. There are also flash drives with USB-A and USB-C connectors so you can hook them up to phones, tablets, and laptops with these ports.

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