We recently received an ioSafe Solo external harddrive for review. The ioSafe Solo is slightly different to most external backup solutions in that it’s both fireproof and waterproof.
The single harddrive inside has a capacity of 500GB – 1.5TB depending on the model and is surrounded in metal that measures 11 x 7.1 x 5 inches that provides a protective layer around the drive. On the waterproof side it can be dunked for 3 days in up to 10 feet of water without causing damage to the drive inside. On the fireproof side of things the drive can withstand temperatures up to 1550 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes.
On the back of the device there is a USB 2.0 port for connecting the drive to your computer. Also the power connector can also be found there along with a hole in a plate that allows you to bolt the Solo to a floor or desk.
The ioSafe Solo weighs 15lbs making it rather heavy duty which is exactly what it wants to achieve. The benefits of having a waterproof and fireproof drive is that you know your data will always be safe in the unfortunate event there is a fire or water issue.
There is one thing to note with this drive though. Only the harddrive stored inside is protected from flame and water. The casing, power supply and all other electronics that make the enclosure work would be rendered dead within seconds should you dunk it in water. If you suffer a drive accident then you need to ship the burned out or dunked enclosure to ioSafe who will recover the data that is kept completely safe on the drive within. When buying the drive you get access to 1 years of service which can be extended all the way to 5 years for a cost of $99. ioSafe also offer extra warranty on the drive as standard that allows for a $1000 service to recover the data. Although you might want to extend beyond 5 years, this is not possible. Chances are though that you will be upgrading in that time frame anyway to a newer larger drive.
In my opinion the ioSafe is great. It might lack a few connectivity features, but it can be safely dunked in 10 feet of water for 3 days or subject to flames for 30 minutes at a temperature of 1550 degrees F, you are getting peace of mind. Of course such security doesn’t come cheap. The 500GB model costs $149.99 while the larger 1.5TB model costs $299.99. Yes, they are more expensive then standard external drives, but should you loose data due to fire or water incidents then the price tag suddenly seems small.
Check out the video of the drive being torched and dunked… impressive stuff. The ioSafe Solo is available here.
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