StarTech CK4-PM204C Secure 4-Port Quad-Monitor KVM Switch

Overview

The StarTech CK4-PM204C is a NIAP Protection Profile 4.0-certified secure KVM switch designed for classified and high-security environments where four users or four workstations must share a single quad-monitor console without any risk of data leakage between sources. It accepts two DisplayPort inputs per host (eight total across four ports) and outputs to four HDMI displays simultaneously — meaning you get a full 4K 30Hz picture on every screen regardless of which host is active. If you manage multi-domain workstations in a government, defense, or regulated enterprise facility, the CK4-PM204C was built precisely for that operational requirement.

The metal chassis measures 12.7 in × 6.7 in × 2.7 in and weighs 4.2 lb — rack-adjacent or desktop-deployable depending on your console layout. The all-metal construction is not cosmetic; it supports the tamper-evidence requirements that come with NIAP-certified hardware.

Key Features

• NIAP PP 4.0 Certification: The CK4-PM204C carries NIAP Protection Profile for Peripheral Sharing Switches version 4.0 — the current and most stringent standard. This matters because many federal contracts and classified environment deployments mandate PP 4.0 specifically; PP 3.0-certified switches will not satisfy current requirements. Verify your site's accreditation authority accepts PP 4.0 before ordering any alternative.
• 4-Port, Quad-Monitor Output at 4K 30Hz: Four host computers, four HDMI monitors, all driven at 4K (3840×2160) resolution at 30Hz. You get evidence-grade display fidelity for each source without downscaling or compromising pixel density on any monitor in the array.
• 2x DisplayPort In → 4x HDMI Out per Host: Each of the four host ports accepts two DisplayPort connections (8x DP female total on the host side) and the console side delivers two HDMI outputs per monitor pair (8x HDMI on the host connector side, 2x HDMI on the console interface). This dual-link DP-to-HDMI conversion is handled internally — no external adapters, no additional signal path to introduce failure points.
• USB 2.0 Keyboard/Mouse Console: Three USB 2.0 Type-A ports on the console interface handle keyboard, mouse, and an optional USB peripheral. The host side provides eight USB 2.0 Type-B ports (two per host), so each connected workstation maintains its own isolated USB path — a core requirement of the NIAP PP 4.0 data isolation model.
• 3.5mm Stereo Audio per Host: Four 3.5mm stereo female connectors on the host side (one per host) plus a single 3.5mm stereo female on the console side provide switched audio. Audio routing is tied to the active host selection — a detail that matters in secure environments where audio cross-contamination between domains is as significant a concern as video.
• 6-Meter Maximum Cable Run: Supported cable length tops out at 19.7 ft (6 m) between hosts and the switch. That covers a standard single-room secure workstation setup. For longer runs you would need signal extension, which introduces additional points outside the certified signal path — a tradeoff worth raising with your facility's AO.
• Metal Construction, Black Finish: The all-metal chassis addresses physical tamper resistance — plastic enclosures cannot meet the same physical security expectations in evaluated configurations. The black finish is standard for ops-center and SCIF-style console environments.
• Operating Temperature 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F): Rated for standard conditioned indoor environments. Storage extends to -20°C to 60°C, which covers shipping and staging in non-climate-controlled areas without affecting unit integrity.
• 3-Year Manufacturer Warranty: A 3-year warranty provides a reasonable lifecycle alignment for equipment deployed in accredited secure facilities, where replacement cycles are often tied to re-accreditation windows rather than ad-hoc failures.

Integration and Compatibility

The CK4-PM204C (often searched as CK4 PM204C) connects to any DisplayPort-equipped workstation or server on the host side and drives any HDMI-capable monitor on the console side. The USB 2.0 console interface is OS-agnostic for standard HID devices — keyboard and mouse work without driver installation, which is relevant in air-gapped environments where software installation may be restricted. The 3.5mm audio ports are compatible with standard analog headsets and speakers; check that your audio peripherals do not require USB power or USB HID enumeration, as those paths are separate from the analog audio circuit. For deployments where your KVM switch selection must appear on an approved products list, confirm CK4-PM204C's NIAP validation listing status with the current NIAP evaluated products list prior to procurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What NIAP certification level does the CK4-PM204C carry?

A: The CK4-PM204C is certified to NIAP Protection Profile for Peripheral Sharing Switches version 4.0 — the current highest level, required for many U.S. federal and classified environment deployments.

Q: How many monitors and computers does the CK4-PM204C support?

A: It supports four host computers and drives four HDMI monitors simultaneously. Each host connects via two DisplayPort cables; the console side outputs via HDMI at up to 4K 30Hz per display.

Q: What is the maximum cable length supported?

A: The maximum supported cable length between the hosts and the switch is 19.7 ft (6 m). Exceeding this may affect signal integrity and falls outside the certified configuration.

Q: Does the CK4-PM204C require any drivers for keyboard and mouse operation?

A: The console USB 2.0 ports handle standard HID keyboard and mouse devices without additional drivers — relevant for air-gapped or software-restricted secure environments.

Q: What is the warranty on the CK4-PM204C?

A: StarTech provides a 3-year manufacturer warranty on the CK4-PM204C.

Q: Can the CK4-PM204C be used in environments with limited cooling?

A: The unit is rated for 0°C to 40°C operating temperature, which requires conditioned indoor air. It is not suitable for unconditioned spaces that exceed 40°C ambient without supplemental cooling.

Jerry Tildsen

When a procurement officer hands me a requirement for a quad-monitor secure KVM at NIAP PP 4.0, the CK4-PM204C is the unit I bring to the conversation first. The PP 4.0 certification is not a marketing badge — it reflects a specific evaluated configuration that the National Information Assurance Partnership has validated for data isolation between domains. That matters in any facility where two or more classification levels share physical console space.

Technical Highlights:

• NIAP PP 4.0: Version 4.0 is the current active profile — deployments that accepted PP 3.0 switches a few years ago may now face re-accreditation requirements that only PP 4.0 satisfies. Confirm against the NIAP EPL before procurement closes.
• 8x USB 2.0 Type-B Host Ports: Two isolated USB paths per host (eight total) mean each connected workstation gets its own enumerated USB channel — core to the PP 4.0 anti-crosstalk requirement and something you cannot retrofit around a switch that cuts corners on USB isolation.
• 4K 30Hz across all four HDMI outputs: Every console monitor runs at full 4K 30Hz simultaneously. For analysts working across four screens with classified data, there is no acceptable reason to run any display below native resolution — this spec closes that gap without requiring external scalers.

Deployment Considerations:

• Cable runs are hard-capped at 6 m (19.7 ft). If your console is further from your workstations than that, you need to address the room layout or introduce a signal extender — understand that the extender sits outside the evaluated configuration boundary, which your AO will need to adjudicate.
• Operating temperature ceiling is 40°C. In a rack-dense SCIF or server room without dedicated cooling to the console area, verify ambient temperatures at the switch location specifically — not just the room average — before signing off on the install.

The CK4-PM204C is the right answer for a four-workstation, four-monitor classified console room where NIAP PP 4.0 is a hard contractual requirement and cable runs stay within 6 meters — a very common configuration in intelligence community and DoD facility buildouts.