Holiday Gift Guide 2023: iStorage diskAshur M2 Review

Data privacy is a big concern these days. From bank statements to medical records, all of our most sensitive data has been digitized; and yet, it seems like every day we hear news stories about the latest data breach. So what can we do to keep our important files more closely guarded? If you want to give the gift of peace of mind this holiday season, iStorage has you covered with the diskAshur M2!

The iStorage diskAshur M2 is a PIN-authenticated, hardware encrypted SSD with capacity starting at 240GB. You may recall that I reviewed another iStorage product for the back-to-school season, and this offers the same amazing security. After you attach the diskAshur M2 to your choice of device, you use the built-in keypad to enter your personal security code to unlock the drive. It has a built-in brute force hack defence mechanism, so if the PIN is entered incorrectly too many times in a row, all the data will be wiped. This makes it ideal for situations where you need to bring important information into a public place, such as a school campus, and you need to protect it from hacking and theft.

The diskAshur M2 is also small and lightweight, and it comes with both a protective sleeve and a protective carrying case, making it ideal for carrying with you to work, school, airports, coffee shops, or any other place that you need to work while on the go. The security features even extend to the hardware, which is covered in a extremely tough tamper-proof epoxy resin with a wear-resistant keypad, so an eagle-eyed ne’r-do-well can’t guess your PIN by looking at which keys are worn down. It’s also waterproof, shockproof and crushproof, protecting your data from the elements and making it very travel-friendly.

Although the security technology is advanced, the diskAshur M2 is user-friendly and easy to set up. It has extremely fast data transfer speeds to make it efficient to move large files around, and it comes with both Type A + C cables so that you can easily hook it to your phone or laptop. I had mine up and running quickly, and I know it will be a great asset the next time I’m trying to get work done in a hotel, plane, or wherever my travels take me next!

We’re recommending the iStorage diskAshur M2 as one of our top gift picks for 2023, because would be a great gift idea for so many people on your list:

• • The spouse who travels a lot for work: I’ve spent a lot of time on the road travelling on press trips and other media events, and logged countless hours working in airports. It’s a delicate balance, because you want to use the time wisely and get things done while you sit around waiting for your flight; but you’re also in a public area and have to take precautions to keep your data safe. The diskAshur M2 is ideal for this, since it allows you to travel securely with your work projects.
  • The child in high school or college: Similarly, children in school these days do a lot of their schoolwork digitally – some teachers I’ve chatted with recently have told me that they are trying to fundraise laptops for their classrooms because the SATs are now all online. If your child needs to take a portable drive to school with them, you can be confident that their work will be kept secure on the diskAshur M2.
  • The sibling who’s interested in cryptocurrency: If you’re into crypto, then you’ll know that one important factor is storing your passphrases securely. It’s vital to make sure that you have a copy of your passphrases backed up somewhere, so you don’t end up like the person who was diving through dumpsters trying to retrieve a fortune in crypto that was thrown away on an old hard drive. But at the same time, anyone who has the phrase can access (and spend) your crypto, so you also have to guard the information very closely. The diskAshur M2 is ideal for this scenario, because you could securely store a file containing your crypto passphrases on it. If a thief tried to break in and guess the PIN, it would wipe the drive and they would be unable to access your information.
  • A stocking stuffer for anyone who loves tech & gadgets: The diskAshur M2 has a big capacity in a small package, so it’s the perfect size to tuck into the stocking of anyone who loves playing with new devices, like my techie husband!

The iStorage diskAshur M2 is available to purchase in capacities ranging from 240GB to 2TB on iStorage-UK.com starting at £149 – click here to buy now. Follow iStorage on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.