Cloud storage storage guide
Protect Your Cloud Files: Check These Settings
Check account access, sharing permissions and recovery before relying on an online copy.
Start with account access and sharing settings. A service’s security claims cannot protect files if the wrong person can sign in or an unrestricted link is shared.
Secure your account
- Use a unique password and enable the provider’s two-factor authentication where available.
- Check the recovery email or phone number. Save recovery codes or recovery keys as the provider instructs, somewhere you can access without that same locked account.
- Review signed-in devices and remove access you do not recognize. If you suspect account compromise, use the provider’s account-recovery process before continuing cleanup.
Do not send anyone your password, recovery key or login codes.
Check sharing and recovery
- Sharing: check who can open the link and whether recipients can edit. Prefer named recipients for private documents when supported.
- Recovery: check trash retention and file-version limits before relying on them.
- Plan limits: password-protected links, expiry dates and longer history may require a paid plan.
- Verification: open important saved files independently before deleting local copies.
Deleting or disabling a sharing link does not retrieve copies someone has already downloaded.
Understand encryption
End-to-end encryption is designed to keep file contents readable only to authorized users with the required keys. It does not replace secure account practices or an independent backup.
With encrypted services, regaining access to an account and decrypting older files may require different recovery steps. Follow the provider’s recovery instructions before changing passwords or discarding keys. The Proton Drive guide is one starting point if this feature matters to you.
Check the result
Test that you can sign in through a trusted device, access your recovery method and open a saved file. Do not deliberately lock yourself out to test recovery.
For irreplaceable files, keep a verified independent copy. A synchronized folder can carry deletions, so read backup versus sync before treating cloud storage as your only protection.