Have you ever wondered how safe is OneDrive? It might have come to your mind, as you use Microsoft’s cloud to store and organize important personal or work files. Of course, you would never want to lose access to those or to have them in the hackers’ hands. We let you how to make an informed decision.
What does it offer?
Microsoft’s cloud storage solution offers storage space, and also the option to organize your content. With a Microsoft account, you can use it on any Windows system.
The user has the choice to synchronize the files across all their devices. And the available free storage is 5GB. Also, they can do this only for selected apps and devices. This is valuable, as you can benefit from automatic backups. Moreover, it offers the sharing option, which comes with the opportunity to collaborate on these files.
How safe is OneDrive?
For security reasons, Microsoft uses end-to-end encryption for uploads, downloads, and backups. Also, the SSL/TLS encryption standard and the two-factor authentication add other security layers. Still, this encryption is not zero-knowledge. This means that both developers and authorities may get access to the data stored in OneDrive.
The encryption the company uses for its cloud storage solution is powerful enough to keep away brute-force attacks.
The SSL/TLS standard works for encrypting data during transfers between the customers and the server. Still, keep in mind that the company also has an encryption key.
According to the company, its developers can access users’ data only in exceptional circumstances. This would involve explicit permission and under strict security requirements. Of course, the U.S. authorities have the right to ask for access.
Isolated networks and firewalls also protect the entire network, while mobile encryption of data is available with the app. If you lose access to your account, you can use your email, phone number, or a security question to recover it. Also, you are notified of any suspicious login(/s).
Spam does not have too many chances to get through, as there is spam filtering and Microsoft Defender scans the email. Still, the company does not explain how such scans and analyses happen. Here are more tips on how to protect your safety and privacy when using cloud computing.
Make informed decisions
So, how safe is OneDrive? All the files saved in this cloud are hosted in data centers in the U.S., E.U., and Asia. This is visible in the Microsoft Office 365 settings. However, users do not have the option to choose where their data is kept.
Therefore, if the above things do not convince you, keep in mind that there are always good alternatives for it.
Always compare the options on the market and consider the security, and data protection they offer. Here is a list of the most secure cloud storage options in 2023, from TechAdvisor.
