In an period the place information safety is paramount, cloud storage has grow to be the trusted resolution for storing and accessing data remotely. These companies provide scalable capability, dependable entry, and sturdy safety — managed totally by professional suppliers.
Nonetheless, when defending delicate information, not all cloud storage is equal. We’ve reviewed the highest suppliers with a pointy give attention to safety. Listed here are the six most safe cloud storage options obtainable right this moment.
Prime safe cloud storage options comparability
Right here’s a fast comparability of essentially the most safe cloud storage options, together with options, suitable working programs, our total rating for every, and their beginning costs.
Zero-Information Encryption | Collaboration & Productiveness Options | Suitable Working Methods | Our Product Rating | Beginning Price for Paid Plan | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IDrive | ✔️ | ➕ | Home windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | 3.8/5 stars | $2.95/12 months for 100 GB |
pCloud | ✔️ | ✔️ | Home windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | 3.8/5 stars | $49.99/12 months for 500 GB |
OneDrive | ❌ | ✔️ | Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android | 3.8/5 stars | $19.99/12 months for 100 GB |
Internxt | ✔️ | ➕ | Home windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android | 3.4/5 stars | Beginning round $2/month when billed yearly for 1 TB |
Sync.com | ✔️ | ✔️ | Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android | 4/5 stars | $5/month for 200 GB |
NordLocker | ✔️ | ➕ | Home windows, Mac, iOS, Android | 3.4/5 stars | $2.99/month billed yearly for 500 GB |
✔️=Sure ❌=No/Unclear ➕=Add-On
Usability and administration
3.3/5
Sync stands out for its user-friendly design and easy administrative instruments, making it a powerful alternative for each people and groups. Its clear net interface minimizes distractions, permitting customers to give attention to managing, sharing, and syncing recordsdata with ease, together with drag-and-drop uploads. Most notably, Sync provides zero-knowledge encryption, that means solely you may entry your information—nobody else, not even the supplier.
Execs
Cons
- Free tier storage: 5 GB
- Groups Customary plan: $6 per person per 30 days for 1 TB storage
- Groups+ Limitless plan: $15 per person per 30 days with limitless storage
- Free demo: Contact to schedule
- Knowledge restoration: Affords 30 days file historical past and restoration, with simple information restore settings.
- Authentication: Permits 2FA for brand spanking new gadgets and SSO for direct log-ins.
- Intuitive person interface: Options login monitoring, file actions, and historical past.
Sync supplies good safety on your cloud storage however doesn’t assist Linux. Think about pCloud for cross-platform compatibility.
Usability and administration
3.3/5
IDrive is an reasonably priced cloud storage resolution that mixes on-line backup, file sharing, cloud storage, and native backup in a single versatile platform. Designed for customers in search of versatile information administration, it provides many options for securely storing, accessing, and sharing recordsdata. With complete performance and powerful safety throughout gadgets and platforms, IDrive delivers an all-in-one strategy to defending your information.
Execs
Cons
- Free tier storage: 10 GB
- IDrive Mini: $2.95 per 12 months for 100 GB storage
- IDrive Enterprise: $69.65 for the primary 12 months with limitless customers, 250 GB
- Free demo: Video tutorials accessible anytime
- Zero-knowledge encryption: Transfers and shops recordsdata with 256-bit AES encryption.
- Recordsdata backup: Gives native backup to an exterior or community drive for all variations.
- Actual-time sync: Updates recordsdata repeatedly to mirror the latest adjustments.
- Catastrophe restoration: Delegates backup settings for simpler file restoration.
Whereas IDrive provides wonderful cloud storage, some customers want a contemporary UI aesthetic. For a sleeker interface, contemplate pCloud.
If you wish to handle all your small business’s cloud information in a single place, try our information to the greatest cloud information administration options.
Usability and administration
3.9/5
OneDrive, now a part of Microsoft 365, integrates with different Microsoft software program, together with Home windows and Workplace. It might probably enhance your information safety and privateness by adhering to important compliance certifications. In case your enterprise is searching for regulatory compliance and efficient information administration inside Microsoft’s area, contemplate OneDrive.
Execs
Cons
- Free tier storage: 5 GB by way of Microsoft 365
- OneDrive for Enterprise (Plan 1): $5 per 30 days per person for 1TB of storage
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise Customary: $12.50 per person per 30 days
- Free demo: Accessible anytime by way of Microsoft assist
- Collaboration: Permits customers to work collectively on Workplace recordsdata and paperwork in actual time.
- Private vault: Shops delicate recordsdata and makes use of an additional layer of verification for safety (private/household plans solely)
- Virus scanning: Scans paperwork at obtain time by way of Home windows Defender.
- Suspicious exercise monitoring: Raises alerts when Microsoft notices potential makes an attempt to illicitly entry information.
OneDrive provides 5 GB of free storage by way of Microsoft 365. In the event you want extra storage for free of charge, Internxt provides 10 GB of free storage.
Usability and administration
3.9/5
pCloud is a Swiss-based cloud storage supplier that allows seamless entry to your digital content material throughout gadgets. With robust collaboration instruments, cellular accessibility, and beneficiant storage choices, it helps each productiveness and comfort. Backed by strict privateness legal guidelines and unbiased audits, pCloud places person management and information safety on the forefront, making it a reliable alternative for people and groups.
Execs
Cons
- Free tier storage: 10 GB
- Marketing strategy: $7.99 per person per 30 days when billed yearly, 1 TB storage per person
- Enterprise Professional plan: $15.98 per person per 30 days when billed yearly, 2 TB storage per person
- Free trial: 30 days
- Free demo: Contact to schedule
- Gadget syncing: Manages file syncing between gadgets to make sure recordsdata are updated.
- Safe file sharing: Lets you share recordsdata with anybody whereas the admin assigns edit privileges.
- Restrictions: Controls person file entry, exterior sharing, and modifying permissions.
- Function administration: Permits admins to supply segmented role-based entry to recordsdata.
pCloud helps varied working programs, however Microsoft system customers might profit from enhanced compatibility and integration with OneDrive.
Usability and administration
2.9/5
NordLocker is file encryption software program constructed by Nord Safety that makes use of robust encryption methods to guard information privateness and safety. It’s a feature-rich resolution consists of safe cloud storage, folder locking, file versioning, and cross-platform compatibility to enhance information safety and privateness. It additionally supplies customers a secure approach to retailer and switch information by encrypting it earlier than importing it to the cloud or sharing it with different gadgets.
Execs
Cons
- Free tier storage: 3 GB
- Customary plan: $2.99 per 30 days, 500 GB storage (annual plan)
- Customary plan: $6.99 per 30 days, 2 TB storage (annual plan)
- Free trial: 30 days
- Free demo: Contact to schedule
- Ransomware safety: Helps defend gadgets from malware with information encryption.
- Zero-knowledge structure: Secures non-public recordsdata so solely the info proprietor has entry.
- State-of-art encryption: Retains recordsdata secure by way of cryptography algorithms and next-gen ciphers.
- Safe sharing: Permits customers to guard despatched hyperlinks with passwords and expiration dates.
NordLocker provides a variety of cloud storage options, however it’s pricier than a few of its rivals. IDrive surpasses it in cost-effectiveness.
Usability and administration
2.9/5
Internxt is a zero-knowledge cloud storage service that emphasizes safety. It makes use of military-grade encryption and strict entry controls to guard delicate recordsdata. It helps cross-platform accessibility and collaboration, permitting customers to share content material securely. Nonetheless, regardless of its robust safety focus, Internxt has primarily obtained destructive opinions from customers, with many reporting severe points associated to efficiency and reliability.
Execs
Cons
- Free tier storage: 10 GB
- Particular person plan: $13+ per 12 months for 200 GB storage
- Enterprise Customary plan: $18 per person billed yearly, 1TB storage per person
- Privateness-focused design: Permits customers to decide on sharing and downloading limits.
- Open supply: Makes code public on GitHub for anybody to assessment, audit, and confirm.
- Zero-knowledge expertise: Encrypts recordsdata so solely customers can entry them.
- Accessibility: Requires no id or electronic mail verification to begin utilizing the companies.
Internxt supplies strong file sharing; nevertheless, some customers really feel its ease of use and setup want enchancment. Sync.com is an efficient choice for simplicity.
Prime 5 options of safe cloud storage options
The 5 major options of safe cloud storage options — zero-knowledge encryption, safe information switch protocol, file syncing and sharing, platform integrations, and backup and restoration — all play vital roles in defending information. They keep confidentiality, defend in opposition to unlawful entry throughout transmission, allow cross-platform collaboration, and supply reliability by backups.
Zero-knowledge encryption
Zero-knowledge encryption is a safety method wherein information is encrypted regionally on a person’s gadget in order that the service supplier or third events can not entry or perceive it. Solely the consumer with the decryption key can unlock and skim the info on their native gadget. This provides utmost privateness and safety, because the service supplier can’t view information that’s encrypted on the consumer facet when it’s saved on cloud servers.
Safe information switch protocol
Safe information protocols defend information in transit by encrypting it whereas it’s transmitted between the consumer and server. Protocols akin to HTTPS and TLS are vital in cloud storage for shielding delicate data throughout transmission, supplementing data-at-rest safety methods. They make sure that information is encrypted and safe whereas shifting throughout networks, lowering the hazard of interception and malicious entry.
File syncing and sharing
File syncing options enable customers to entry recordsdata and collaborate on them throughout a number of gadgets in actual time.These capabilities usually embrace permission settings that management customers’ entry ranges to recordsdata. It’s necessary in cloud storage as a result of it permits for fast collaboration and entry to up to date recordsdata whereas adhering to data-in-transit safety laws, which defend delicate data whereas information is shifting.
Platform compatibility
Platform integrations in cloud storage check with compatibility with a number of working programs (e.g., Home windows, macOS, Linux) and cellular gadgets. It permits customers to entry their information from any gadget, growing flexibility and productiveness. Platform compatibility improves person collaboration and file administration, catering to person preferences and enhancing groups’ total expertise.
Backup and restoration
Backup and restoration options in cloud storage routinely copy and retailer information to keep away from loss and permit restoration within the occasion of knowledge corruption, unintentional deletion, or system failure. For cloud storage suppliers, that is vital to guarantee information integrity, continuity of operations, and regulatory compliance. Dependable backup and restoration methods scale back downtime, decrease dangers, and defend necessary enterprise information.
SEE: OneDrive Cloud Utilization Coverage (TechRepublic Premium)
How we evaluated essentially the most safe cloud storage options
Our assessment of one of the best safe cloud storage programs concerned a predefined product scoring rubric based mostly on 5 main standards. We added a number of subcriteria to every main class, scoring every product based mostly on how properly it met all of the subcriteria. We chosen the highest options based mostly on the six highest rankings, and Sync, which scored the very best within the rubric, was the general greatest decide for safe cloud storage.
Growing a rubric and searching for particular options, pricing plans, and administrative capabilities helps us assessment merchandise pretty. We weight every criterion and subcriterion individually based mostly on their significance as properly — as an illustration, within the Safety Options class, a zero-knowledge encryption format was weighted extra closely than doc safety scanning for viruses.
There are all the time limitations to a rubric, together with true experiential product usability; we additionally checked out present buyer opinions to get an thought of potential points. A selected callout is that prospects have had points with sluggish speeds in most of those cloud storage options, so we advocate doing your personal analysis totally earlier than making a purchase order.
Analysis standards
Core options topped our 5 standards, reflecting what a cloud storage resolution can truly do for you. Safety features, together with zero-knowledge encryption, and pricing plans and free choices got here subsequent.
Then we thought-about ease of use and administration for simplified person administration, which incorporates documentation, coaching movies, and working system assist. Final, we checked out customer support choices, like electronic mail and cellphone assist channels.
- Core options (25%): We examined necessary cloud storage options akin to file sharing, backup, shared folders, and person exercise monitoring, which assist crew members collaborate and defend delicate recordsdata.
- Pricing (20%): We thought-about particular person person pricing for fundamental, mid-range, and supreme plans, in addition to enterprise pricing and whether or not a free tier or trial was obtainable.
- Safety features (20%): We evaluated safety features like 2FA, doc safety scans, and password safety for shared hyperlinks. Zero-knowledge encryption, which prevents anybody however the native person from decrypting a file, was additionally included on this class.
- Usability and administration (20%): This class considers the supply of cellular apps and APIs, product documentation and coaching movies for customers, and the working programs that the cloud storage software program runs on. It additionally considers total buyer assessment sentiment.
- Buyer assist (15%): We thought-about the supply of dwell chat, cellphone, and electronic mail assist, in addition to the crew’s hours of availability and any person boards obtainable for purchasers.
Criterion winner: OneDrive
Continuously Requested Questions (FAQs)
Is cloud storage safe?
Cloud storage is mostly safe because of the experience and help of cloud safety suppliers, sturdy information restoration capabilities, and particular safety features akin to menace protection integration. These components assist enhance cloud storage programs’ total safety and reliability. Whereas not all options provide the identical stage of safety, applied sciences like zero-knowledge encryption assist customers higher safeguard their information.
What are the dangers of utilizing cloud storage?
Whereas cloud storage is a useful device, it additionally poses threats and challenges:
- Misconfiguration
- Knowledge breaches
- Unsecured interfaces
- Unauthorized entry
- DDoS assaults
- Insider threats
- Lack of management
- Encryption weaknesses
- Patching points
Recognizing these dangers permits companies to develop knowledgeable danger administration and mitigation methods to correctly defend their information.Learn extra about total cloud safety dangers in case you contemplate shifting your small business’s delicate information to the cloud.
Do I lose possession of my information if it’s within the cloud?
You keep possession and management if you retailer your information within the cloud. You set the entry rights, and your technical crew might observe its standing as if the info have been stored in-house. Cloud suppliers usually have restricted entry, and community directors can not view consumer information with out permission. Nonetheless, reviewing your supplier’s privateness coverage and discussing information possession and entry rights together with your cloud vendor is vital.
What are the frequent challenges in information switch?
Software program choice impacts points for non-public clouds, however public clouds pose considerations concerning format, turnaround time, and help. Your contract together with your supplier ought to specify information format readability, well timed supply, and exit plans with assist to make sure easy transitions.
Backside line: Defend your recordsdata with safe cloud storage options
Defending recordsdata with safe cloud storage entails deciding on companies with encryption, safe protocols, and backup. To successfully decrease dangers and keep information security, complete safety consists of combining cloud storage with different safeguards like multi-factor authentication, antivirus software program, and information of greatest practices. Cloud storage options usually present free tiers and trials that enable enterprises to evaluate suitability earlier than absolutely committing.
A safe cloud storage resolution ought to complement different instruments for complete safety. Think about integrating your cloud storage resolution with password administration device for lowered vulnerabilities and enhanced total information safety inside the cloud surroundings.