Combination write blocking systems with connection interface control devices and methods

A connection interface control device for use in a write blocking system including a host computer, a storage drive, and a switch, wherein the host computer is physically separate from the connection interface control device and configured as a blocking driver;

• the blocking driver is configured to prevent the host computer from altering data stored on the storage drive when the host computer is operatively coupled to the storage drive;
• the switch is configured to be connected to the host computer and the storage drive and is operable selectively to operatively couple the host computer to the storage drive;
• the connection interface control device is configured to be operatively coupled to the host computer and the switch, and is configured to communicate with the blocking driver while the connection interface control device is operatively coupled to the host computer, and thereafter, selectively to operate the switch to operatively couple the host computer to the storage drive to establish communication between the storage drive and the host computer.

A method of write blocking comprising:

• sending by a connection interface control device a communication to a processor of a host computer configured as a blocking driver configured to prevent the host computer from altering data stored on a storage drive when the host computer is operatively coupled to the storage drive, the connection interface control device being physically separate from and configured to be operatively coupled to the host computer and operatively coupled to a switch that is operable to operatively couple the host computer to a storage drive;
• receiving by the connection interface control device a communication sent from the blocking driver;
• after receiving the communication sent from the blocking driver, operating the switch by the connection interface control device to operatively couple the storage drive to the host computer.