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How to Encrypt Cloud Storage

How to Encrypt Cloud Storage in 2024: Secure Your Stored Files With Encryption

If you are worried about the privacy of your cloud data, you’ll want to make sure that it is encrypted. In this article we will explain how to encrypt cloud storage using zero-knowledge cloud service providers and third-party encryption software.

Aniket KetkarJackie LeavittJasna Mishevska

Written by Aniket Ketkar (Writer)

Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt (Chief Editor)

Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska (Lead Fact-Checking Editor)

Last Updated: 2024-03-04T09:13:37+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Cloud storage is a great way to store your information and share files with others. However, if you are worried about the privacy and security of your data, it is best to make sure that it is protected by zero-knowledge encryption. This guide on how to encrypt cloud storage data will help you make your cloud storage safe.

Key Takeaways: Secure Storage With Encryption

  • Cloud storage encryption ensures the privacy of your cloud data. 
  • Some cloud services have in-built zero-knowledge encryption, including Sync.com, pCloud and Icedrive.
  • Free third-party software such as Cryptomator or NordLocker allow you to encrypt your files before you upload them to the cloud.

While some cloud storage services have this utility in-built, like with Sync.com, some do not have it at all and others might own your encryption key. If the cloud service provider holds your encryption key, it could potentially access your data and share it with advertisers or government authorities. Keep reading to learn how to encrypt your cloud storage, plus the best providers for the task.

  • 11/30/2022

    Updated this guide to include information about Boxcryptor’s asset acquisition by Dropbox.

  • 04/05/2023 Facts checked

    Updated to replace Boxcryptor with Cryptomator and NordLocker after Boxcryptor assets were acquired by Dropbox.

How to Encrypt Cloud Storage: Two Ways

There are several ways to encrypt cloud storage. The first way is to simply use a cloud service with zero-knowledge encryption. The only thing you ended to do to secure your files with one of these services is to upload your files. It’s simple enough that anyone could do it with no previous cloud storage experience.

However, if you have your heart set on an unencrypted service, you can encrypt the files before you upload them using encryption software. This kind of software encrypts your files while they’re on your device. 

Some of them can integrate with cloud services to automatically upload your files to the cloud, while others provide their own cloud storage. Others still provide no cloud functionality at all and simply encrypt your files, requiring you to manually upload your files to the cloud.

Zero-Knowledge Cloud Storage Services 

There are a variety of cloud storage providers with in-built zero knowledge encryption. This is the easiest way to ensure privacy of your data on the cloud. Following are three of our best picks.

1. Sync.com

sync.com free accounts
Sync.com offers a free plan with 5GB of storage.

Pros:

  • Excellent security 
  • Competitive pricing 
  • Unlimited file sizes

Cons:

  • Slower sync speeds

Based on its security, features and ease of use, Sync.com tops our list of the best cloud storage services. Its one downfall is that it’s not the fastest cloud storage option.

It comes with a 5GB free plan. You can also choose one of their paid plans to increase the available storage space from 2TB up to unlimited. Overall, it can be a great fit for your encrypted cloud storage needs. You can check our full Sync.com review for more details.

Free
  • 5GB
More plans
Pro Teams Standard
  • Price per user
  • 1TB
Pro Teams+ Unlimited
  • Price per user
  • Unlimited GB

2. pCloud

pcloud lifetime plans
pCloud offers annual and lifetime plans.

Pros:

  • Great value
  • Fast syncing 
  • Integrated media player

Cons:

  • Encryption costs extra

pCloud is another great service that gives Sync.com a run for its money in our head-to-head comparison. It gives you up to 10GB of free cloud storage and has convenient monthly, annual and one-time payment plans for more storage. 

However, pCloud requires an additional payment of $4.17 a month (billed annually) for its zero-knowledge encryption service, pCloud Crypto. It also requires you to put your files in its designated crypto folder for encryption. If you don’t mind this slight difference in cost, you can read our full pCloud review.

3. Icedrive

icedrive paid plans
Icedrive’s paid plans start at just $4.99 per month when paid annually.

Pros:

  • Excellent privacy & security 
  • Beautiful user interface
  • Good pricing

Cons:

  • Lacks collaboration options 

While a relatively new cloud storage service with fewer features than its competitors, Icedrive is a great budget option with a stunning user interface. It gives you 1TB of cloud storage with client-side encryption for as low as $4.17 a month. 

Unfortunately, Icedrive still lacks a lot of collaboration options that you’ll find with other providers. However, if you are looking for a secure, value-driven cloud storage provider, you can read our full Icedrive review.

Free
  • Bandwidth limit: 50GB
  • 10GB
More plans
Lifetime (Add On) Stack 100
  • Additional 128GB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
  • 128GB
Lifetime (Add On) Stack 500
  • Additional 512GB storage for users who purchased the Lifetime Plan
  • 512GB

Add-on Zero-Knowledge Encryption Services 

Depending on the service, your cloud storage provider may not have in-built zero-knowledge encryption. Additionally, if you have an unencrypted backup of your files lying around, you might want to encrypt it before uploading it to a cloud storage or online backup service. A dedicated encryption service can help you out in either of these cases.

There are a handful of free encryption services to choose from, but be sure to use a trustworthy encryption service. Below, we will talk about cloud storage encryption using Cryptomator and NordLocker.

How to Use Cryptomator to Encrypt Your Files

Cryptomator is a free, open-source solution for encrypting cloud storage files. This donation-based service is easy to use, allowing you to create virtual drives and store files within them. (Read our Cryptomator review for more specifics.)

Unlike the other encryption services, Cryptomator uses transparent encryption, whereby you can see the hierarchy of how your files are encrypted. 

If you sign up with Cryptomator, you might be asked for a donation and you can easily choose the amount to donate to keep this solution running. However, if you choose not to donate, Cryptomator is not too pushy about it. Here’s how you can use Cryptomator to encrypt your cloud information.

  1. Download and Install Cryptomator

    Download the Cryptomator software from its official website. Once download is complete, open the installer file to install the program on your computer.

    download cryptomator
  2. Launch Cryptomator and Create the Vault

    You can launch Cryptomator from the shortcut created on the desktop or the Windows “start” menu. Once launched, you can click on the “+” symbol to create a new vault.

    launch cryptomator
  3. Name the Vault and Choose the Storage Location

    You can choose a name for the vault, the storage location and a password. Choose OneDrive as the storage location (or the other cloud storage service that does not have built-in encryption) to encrypt your data.

    vault location
  4. Set Password

    Now you can choose a password. Make sure to keep your password safe. You can also use a secure password manager.

    set password
  5. Launch the Vault

    To view the encrypted files in your vault, you can unlock the vault using the password set in the previous step. Your vault will open in Windows Explorer. When you are done viewing the files, you can lock the vault again to keep your files protected. Once locked, no one else can decrypt your files, not even the cloud service provider.

    launch the vault

How to Use NordLocker to Encrypt Your Files

NordLocker is another easy-to-use tool for securing files stored on the cloud. While NordLocker has its own cloud storage service, it can also be used to encrypt data on your preferred cloud service such as OneDrive. 

  1. Download and Install NordLocker

    You can download the software from the NordLocker official website. Once downloaded, you can install the software on your device by following a few easy steps.

    download nordlocker
  2. Create NordLocker Account

    Once NordLocker is successfully installed on your PC, it will launch automatically. You can also launch it from the desktop shortcut or the Windows “start” menu. You’ll then be prompted to create an account.

    create nordlocker account
  3. Create the Master Password and Save the Recovery Key

    Once the account is created, you can choose a password. You will also be provided with a recovery key. Make sure to keep your password and the private key somewhere safe or use a reliable password manager. If you lose your password and the key, no one can help you recover the data.

    create master password
  4. Add a New Locker and Use OneDrive as the Storage Location

    Now, you can add a new locker by clicking on the “+” symbol that appears on the left side next to “my lockers.” Choose OneDrive (or your preferred cloud storage provider) as the storage location to encrypt the files within the service.

    add locker select onedrive
  5. Encrypt the Files

    Once the locker is created, you can drag and drop the files here or add the files and import a folder. The files stored will automatically get encrypted. You will need your password to view the files and no one else can decrypt them.

    encrypt files

Why Should You Encrypt Your Cloud Storage 

Your data on the cloud is susceptible to risks such as data leaks, spyware and possibly surveillance from your own government. If your cloud storage provider holds your encryption keys, it can technically access your data. Providers such as Google (Google Drive) and Microsoft (OneDrive) even monitor your data for any illegal content. 

However, if you encrypt your files yourself, you’re the only one that holds your encryption keys. This means that only you will be able to access your data. This also goes for zero-knowledge cloud services, whose applications encrypt your data while it’s still on your device, and unencrypted files never reach their servers.

Zero-Knowledge Cloud Storage Services vs Third-Party Encryption 

A zero-knowledge cloud storage provider encrypts everything you store without requiring any extra work on your part. It’s certainly the easier way to encrypt files, but it’s not without its faults. For example, it’s usually slower than regular cloud storage. 

Zero-knowledge encryption also makes it difficult for providers to include relatively simple features, like file previews, and collaboration is usually out of the question, barring rare examples like Sync.com and Woelkli.

Third-party encryption, on the other hand, allows you to encrypt files before you upload them to the cloud. While this is a great solution to possible data leaks, it’s not the most practical method as it adds an extra step to the process. However, it does take out the trust factor, since you know for sure that your files are getting encrypted.

Final Thoughts

If you are not worried about the privacy of your data, storage services without zero-knowledge encryption that offer fast block-level syncing and easy file sharing might suit you more. However, if you store sensitive data on the cloud, you should make sure that the data is secure. 

You can use zero-knowledge cloud storage providers such as Sync.com and Icedrive. However, if you prefer using other providers such as Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive, you can look at third-party encryption software such as Cryptomator to secure your data on the cloud. 

Have you encrypted the information on your cloud storage? Which of the two methods did you use? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

FAQ

  • You can either use a zero-knowledge cloud service to secure your data automatically, or use an encryption software to encrypt the files yourself. 

  • If you store sensitive data on the cloud or you’re worried about the privacy of your data, you might want to encrypt your files before storing them on the cloud.

  • You can easily encrypt your cloud storage using encryption software such as Cryptomator. For this, you will have to download and install the service’s software on your desktop.

  • Yes, using encryption software such as Cryptomator or NordLocker, you can select OneDrive as the vault/locker location, which will encrypt your files on OneDrive.

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