The Best USB Lockdown Software Tools

Lockdown USB access to your network with this selection of USB access control and DLP solutions.

To allow users to take their flash drives home, network administrators must constantly balance preventing important data loss against USB-based malware. Removable hardware has always posed a threat to the security of your internal network. You can no longer rely on such devices' security when they return to your network after leaving it. Because USB flash drives are one of the main sources of these risks, the simplest approach is to lock down USB access on your network.

You can accomplish this in a variety of ways, but one of the simplest methods is by using USB control software. You can use this software to block unregistered USB external drives and lock down port access.

These software options come in several different packages discussed below. Broadly speaking, there are several freeware options available that can fulfill the task of USB lockdown, but if you’re working in a larger-scale business you may want something more reliable—fortunately, there are centrally controlled DLP (Data Loss Prevention) software solutions that come with USB lockdown functionality as standard

Here is our list of the best USB Lockdown Software Tools:

1. ManageEngine Device Control Plus – EDITOR'S CHOICE You can track and lockdown USB access across your network using ManageEngine's Device Control Plus, a full DLP software solution—identify harmful malware and prevent it from accessing your sensitive data by monitoring network activity between your endpoints' USB flash drives. Download the 30-day free trial.
2. Endpoint Protector A cross-platform solution called Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys protects your network from malicious USB firmware-based assaults at every endpoint.
3. Drivelock Proves itself as an exceptional endpoint protection solution by utilizing both the drivelock USB lockdown features and the built-in encryption and antivirus system, which shields your network from malware and data loss.
4. Symantec DLP A comprehensive data loss prevention (DLP) solution that incorporates endpoint monitoring, extensive compliance reporting, and USB lockdown as part of its feature-rich toolbox.
5. Budulock Although Budulock isn't a program for locking down USB devices specifically, it does let you apply encrypted password security to any folder or USB port that is accessible on your computer.
6. URC Access Modes A freeware alternative with limited capability that nevertheless provides enough safety to suit your demands for USB port locking for small businesses, especially those concerned about cost.
7. Gilisoft USB Lock Primarily designed for small business networks because it provides a very minimal set of USB lockdown settings that only function on the device that the software is installed within.

Device Control Software

One of the best network solutions you can utilize is device control software. Any data that is sent between the devices on your network and any portable storage, such as USB flash drives, is monitored and controlled by this software. By providing a single point of management for all connections from external devices, device control software enables you to physically prohibit any undesirable USBs from your network.

You can monitor the data delivered and flag any that may be hazardous if you keep allowing flash drive connections as an alternative. You'll notice that a lot of device control solutions are included in complete DLP software packages—Data Loss Prevention (DLP) software and device control software go hand in hand.

This article discusses seven different USB Lockdown software solutions that you can use to secure your network from data loss and USB-propagated malware.

The Best USB Lockdown Software Tools

1. ManageEngine Device Control Plus – FREE TRIAL

You can monitor and restrict USB access across your network with ManageEngine Device Control Plus, a comprehensive DLP software solution. Monitoring network traffic between your endpoints and USB flash drives allows you to identify harmful malware and stop it from accessing your private information. With a straightforward agent rollout and monitoring dashboard for your remote network administration requirements, the product is made with network administrators in mind. To enhance your reporting and monitoring capabilities, the solution features extensive dashboarding and data auditing systems.

Key Features:

• Uninterrupted device control
• Trusted device lists for granular control
• Grant temporary access upon request
• Monitoring dashboard
• Block unauthorized USB access

Other capabilities allow you to give users temporary access for predetermined lengths of time, which might reduce productivity sluggishness when you need to rapidly access something that is knowingly safe but isn't fully registered.

The software can be downloaded for free and used for 30 days.  A year-long gateway server license costs $345. The software itself operates on a subscription model, with an annual license typically costing $595 for 100 devices.

ManageEngine Device Control Plus Start a 30-day FREE Trial

2. Endpoint Protector

Device control is a feature of Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys that guards your network against malicious USB firmware-based attacks at each endpoint. Endpoint Protector uses data loss prevention tools to safeguard your network against data leakage in addition to safeguarding USB-propagated malware.

Key Features:

• Uniquely identify connected USB devices
• Granular control over USB ports
• Reporting for USB activity
• Remote data encryption control
• Block unauthorized USB access

The solution is fully cross-platform and requires dispersing a single, lightweight agent over your network. A web-based interface is used to manage monitoring and settings. Even when the device is offline, you can still authorize remote USB access for brief connections. For more precise control, you can define more comprehensive rules based on policy.

The solution is accessible on the business website for a 30-day free trial. You must ask CoSoSys for a customized quote to learn the entire cost of the program; however, keep in mind that the price may vary greatly based on your specific needs.

3. Drivelock

By using both the drivelock USB restrictions and the integrated encryption and antivirus system, Drivelock establishes itself by completely protecting your devices from USB-based malware attacks. Regardless of the size of your organization, this solution offers a rather straightforward collection of highly optimized functionalities that make it ideal for the task it promotes.

Key Features:

• USB access restrictions
• Inbuilt file encryption and antivirus
• Network access reports
• Basic security monitoring
• Granular control based on file type

This software allows you to set security constraints for several types of external storage in addition to merely safeguarding USB flash drives. With no backdoors and 2FA support, encryption is incredibly safe and relatively rapid. You should also consider using the Encryption 2-Go function, which offers user-transparent encryption for external devices and data media.

Drivelock's software offers a free 30-day trial period during which you can evaluate its functionality. After the trial time, pricing and subscription alternatives will be available; nonetheless, each client will cost about $70.

4. Symantec DLP

The complete Data Loss Prevention (DLP) package, Symantec DLP has capabilities for USB port lockdown as part of its feature-rich toolkit. Symantec DLP scans endpoints, network file shares, databases, and other data repositories for sensitive data to give thorough visibility and control over your information. You can find sensitive information nearly anywhere and in any file type by using content-aware detection techniques with DLP.

Key Features:

• Feature-rich DLP toolset
• Critical data protection tools
• Endpoint access restrictions and reporting
• Unified policy framework
• Compliance regulations

You can also reduce the impact of your DLP efforts on end-users and get rid of false positives. The solution offers choices for data encryption and thorough compliance reporting. Large and enterprise-scale enterprises that require a more complete DLP solution, which includes USB port locking, are best suited for this solution.

A full-year license of the enterprise edition of the product costs about $96 at MSRP and is available from several Symantec partners.

5. Budulock

While Budulock isn’t strictly a USB lockdown tool, it allows you to apply encrypted password protection to any accessible folder on your system, which extends to USB access. By adding an encrypted password barrier to your USB access, you can effectively simulate USB port locking.

Key Features:

• Freeware password-locking solution
• Flash drive locking feature
• Encrypted folder protection
• Windows only
• Limited functionality

The software itself is freeware, and extremely lightweight and straightforward to use. It has a specific purpose: applying password restrictions to folders, and it executes this function extremely well by reducing unnecessary steps and focussing solely on the required functions. The Flash Drive Lock, which is the USB password lockdown feature, is the function you need for limiting USB access on your network.

Budulock is fully free to download—there are no premium features or add-ons that need to be bought. It can be acquired from several freeware sites, including the one linked above.

6. URC Access Modes

For small enterprises, especially those worried about cost, URC Access Modes is a freeware option with minimal functionality that nonetheless offers sufficient protection to meet your USB port locking needs. Only those who are unable to buy standard USB port locking solutions or if port locking is a minor problem for your company would we advise using this solution.

Key Features:

• Freeware port locking solution
• Regedit restrictions
• CD drive restrictions
• Master password security
• Windows only

Although the UI isn't up to par with more expensive software, it has port access limits as well as several additional sources that can be restricted, including CD drives, regedit, and command prompt. Keep in mind the risks associated with unrestricted USB access, and if you have personnel that frequently utilize USB media, think about investing in more expensive solutions.

There are no premium features or add-ons that must be purchased with URC Access Modes; it is entirely free to download. URC Access Modes is only available for Windows machines.

7. Gilisoft USB Lock

Because it offers a very basic set of port locking options that only work on the device that the software is installed within, Gilisoft USB Lock is primarily made for small business networks. This is one of the best solutions available when you only need to secure a few devices because it is simple compared to some of the other alternatives on this list, but it is also inexpensive and easy to use.

Key Features:

• Block USB/SD Drives
• Trusted Devices White List
• Website and programs Lock
• Reports and Logs
• Powerful Self-protection Mode

It offers just personal protection and lacks centralized control features, but it may be distributed over a network using a command-line and pre-configured parameters. For compliance reasons, you can set reporting logs and completely deny access to illegitimate USB devices.

A full trial can be downloaded from the website, which is ideal for feature testing. The whole program is reasonably priced for small company use, costing roughly $50 for a lifetime license on a single machine.

In Summary

There is a large variety of options available for locking down USB access on your network, though most premium solutions are rarely developed for strictly that purpose. While there are several freeware USB lockdown software solutions available, it is considered a simple feature and only comes as part of a wider toolset in enterprise or large-scale corporate products.

This means that if you need an enterprise-level solution, but only need the USB lockdown functionality, you might end up having to pay for an expensive feature-rich product for only one fraction of the product's capabilities—the best option available to you in this circumstance is probably Drivelock.

Alternatively, if you are on a smaller network and just need an easy-to-distribute solution that just does the job, then you can select from the three presented cheaper options. Gilisoft USB Lock has a few extra functions presented in a cleaner package compared to URC Access Modes, but they effectively achieve the same thing.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive solution that comes as a fully-featured DLP solution, then Symantec DLP, ManageEngine Device Control Plus, and Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys are worth your consideration. Each of them can perfect USB lockdown, but all of them have different other features that are worth checking through before making your purchase commitments. ManageEngine Device Control Plus and Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys sit higher on this list purely because they have trials available that make them infinitely more accessible than Symantec DLP.