Industry has witnessed explosive private and corporate growth in use of transient and externally attached storage devices. Although these devices often serve much the same functionality that floppy disks once did, the necessity of authentication (one and two way) on such devices has become paramount. Enterprises are now beginning to require authentication of devices before connection by a host is permitted. No standard way of accomplishing that authentication exists for these devices. This standard will act to ensure the security of the enterprise using these devices while allowing a continued robust market and a convenient method of transporting information for the user.