Secure Charging for IT Teams and Field Workers

If you are an IT manager or someone who supports field teams, you know the pattern. Your users are spread across time zones, working from hotel rooms, client sites, airport lounges, and rental cars. The inbox fills with “my battery died” tickets, but the security logs are what really demand your attention.

This is the Power vs. Privacy Paradox. Your team needs reliable power to stay productive, but every unknown USB port represents an untrusted endpoint that could expose company data.

For IT professionals who value specs over marketing language, the answer is not telling users to stop charging their devices. It is about issuing the right gear for untrusted environments. That is where Plugable’s charge-only USB-C cables come in, including the USBC-CC1M, USBC-CC2M, and the bulk-ready USBC-CCS5X.

A Practical Look at “Juice Jacking”

When a standard USB-C cable is plugged into a rental car infotainment system, airport kiosk, or public charging station, the device is not just drawing power. It is also establishing a data connection with an unknown USB host.

Software-based protections help, but they are not foolproof. User prompts can be dismissed, policies can be misconfigured, and operating system behaviour can change over time. A hardware-based approach removes the data path entirely.

Plugable’s charge-only cables are physically wired with no data lines. There is no data negotiation, no sync capability, and no exposure to untrusted USB hosts. The result is isolated power delivery by design.

The Gear, Built for Real Travel and Fleet Use

These are not stripped-down cables. Plugable’s charge-only USB-C cables are built for modern devices and real-world use.

Each cable supports USB Power Delivery 3.1 Extended Power Range up to 240W (48V, 5A) and includes an integrated E-Marker chip. This allows devices and chargers to safely negotiate the correct power level, even for high-performance laptops. Because there are no data lines present, these cables provide a straightforward way to reduce risk when charging from unknown ports.

For the Road Warrior (USBC-CC1M and USBC-CC2M)

The USBC-CC1M (1m, 3.3ft) and USBC-CC2M (2m, 6.5ft) are designed for everyday carry. They are long enough for hotel nightstands, seat pockets, and coffee shop outlets, while still being easy to manage in a bag.

Both cables include a spec tag and a cable strap, helping prevent them from becoming mystery cords at the bottom of a backpack.

Use cases: hotel rooms, airports, coffee shops, rental cars, and anywhere fast charging is needed without exposing a device to data connections.

The USBC-CCS5X is a 5-pack of 6-inch charge-only USB-C cables built for clean, repeatable deployments. Each cable features bright red connectors and a clearly labelled “Data-Blocking Charging Cable” tag, making it easy for staff and users to identify the safe option at a glance.

The short length keeps shared spaces tidy and discourages unintended data use.

Use cases: front desk charging bars, conference rooms, classroom carts, device lockers, grab-and-go kits, and vending-style deployments.

For IT teams, the key is distinction. Standard USB-C cables are essential at desks and docks where data connectivity is expected and controlled. In untrusted environments, those same data paths introduce unnecessary risk.

Charge-only, data-blocking cables fill that gap. They allow you to standardize behaviour across your fleet without slowing users down. At a trusted desk, users dock normally. In untrusted environments, they are charged with a cable designed specifically for safety.

The Bottom Line

Security does not have to come at the expense of productivity. By equipping teams with 240W-capable, data-blocking USB-C cables, you give them the ability to charge anywhere, from a rental car to a crowded trade show floor, while keeping data paths closed by design.

For IT teams supporting mobile users, this is a simple, physical control that fits cleanly into existing travel kits, charging stations, and standard-issue gear.