Tuesday, May 3rd 2022
Verbatim Launches Write Once SSD in Japan
Every once in a while, a really odd product pops up and Verbatim's new write once SSD is such a product at first glance. The product is called SWOVA128G and the model name gives away that it's a 128 GB drive. As it's an external drive, it connects via USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, which is technically a regular old USB 3.0 port. Considering the read speed is a mere 540 MB/s this isn't going to hamper the performance. The write speed is a mere 180 MB/s, although don't expect to be storing data to this SSD using just any device, as Verbatim requires a full-fat version of Windows 10 or 11 running on an x86/x64 based CPU, with Microsoft's.NET Framework 4.8 or later installed.
Verbatim provides a custom piece of software for writing data to the SSD, although the company hasn't provided any screenshots of said software, so it's unclear as to what it looks like. The idea behind the SWOVA128G is for it to be used in place of optical media in situations where copies of data have to be made, but where it can't be changed at a later point in time. According to Verbatim this includes things like company ledgers and electronic bookkeeping, backup and offline storage of confidential data and for things like disc images. Once the data has been stored on the SSD, it can be read by any device that supports exFAT. Although Verbatim provides a 10 year warranty, they don't guarantee the data retention. The company didn't release any pricing.
Source:
Verbatim
Verbatim provides a custom piece of software for writing data to the SSD, although the company hasn't provided any screenshots of said software, so it's unclear as to what it looks like. The idea behind the SWOVA128G is for it to be used in place of optical media in situations where copies of data have to be made, but where it can't be changed at a later point in time. According to Verbatim this includes things like company ledgers and electronic bookkeeping, backup and offline storage of confidential data and for things like disc images. Once the data has been stored on the SSD, it can be read by any device that supports exFAT. Although Verbatim provides a 10 year warranty, they don't guarantee the data retention. The company didn't release any pricing.
18 Comments on Verbatim Launches Write Once SSD in Japan
They don't provide any more information, except saying that the only way to delete the data is to destroy the drive.
But optical media is harder and harder to come by, which is expected.
But you bring up a good question. How long is the drive expected to retain the data?
(Verbatim's are the ones making 100GB BD-R XL M-Discs)
www.engadget.com/2008-07-15-sandisk-introduces-write-once-worm-sd-cards.html
www.engadget.com/2010-06-23-sandisks-1gb-worm-sd-card-stores-forensic-images-longer-than-yo.html
(Unfortunately since WDs takeover of Sandisk, all their old pages are dead by now including articles on how WORM worked)
If it's written once only the data can't be changed so nobody can forge old records and storing them would be much easier as they take up a lot less space and require less careful handling than optical media.
I'm with the others, if they can't promise data retention or at least give figures, this is useless.Which actually isn't that bad. You're looking at several years at minimum for the worst QLC garbage out there. But may still be unsuitable for the roles they are targeting here.
An SSD with TBW of 0