OneDrive, the cloud storage service from Microsoft, is quite popular among Windows users. OneDrive uses several industry-leading security measures to keep your files safe. But what if you want more protection for your important and sensitive files stored in OneDrive?
OneDrive Personal Vault
OneDrive recently launched a new feature called OneDrive Personal Vault. Personal Vault is a protected area in OneDrive that can only be accessed with a fingerprint, face, PIN, or a code sent to your email or mobile. In short, the Personal Vault adds an extra layer of security to your files. So, even if someone gains access to your OneDrive account or your PC, he/she won’t be able to access your files in the OneDrive Personal Vault.
You can add as many files as you like to the Personal Vault. There is no limit.
As said before, you can use your face, fingerprint, PIN, Microsoft Authenticator app, or code sent to your email address/mobile to access files stored the Personal Vault.
The OneDrive for mobile app lets you quickly scan documents, take pictures, shoot videos, and save them directly to the OneDrive Personal Vault.
If you are syncing your OneDrive Personal Vault files to a Windows 10 device, you need not worry as the OneDrive syncs Personal Vault files to a BitLocker encrypted area of the hard drive. Not sure how this will work on editions of Windows 10 where BitLocker is not present.
Besides that, OneDrive Personal Vault automatically relocks on online, PC, or any other device after a short period of inactivity. So, files that were open will require reauthentication to access again.
With all said, the OneDrive Personal Vault is not available in all regions/countries right away. The feature will start rolling out soon in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The feature will be available to everyone by the end of the year. Until then, we suggest you create password-protected ZIP files and then upload them to OneDrive to add an extra layer of security to your important files.
How to sign out of OneDrive in Windows 10 guide might also interest you.
badbanana says
or instead of waiting, one can encrypt some or all your folders using BoxCryptor. it is transparent and you won’t feel it is there. works like a charm!