SECURE STORAGE DEVICE

A secure storage system having authentication and cryptographic data protection is made by providing a mass-data memory and a security element communicatively coupled with the mass-data memory. This mass-data memory and the securing element are controlled by respective different control commands such that different drivers can be installed to operate the mass-data memory and the security element. A secured hardware data interface is provided between the mass-data memory and the security element, and the security element provides security-critical information concerning the data of the mass-data memory.