Is Your Data Absolutely Safe in the Cloud?

For most users, cloud backup services may be the safest storage solution for data. Generally, cloud storage providers will do their best to ensure your data in the cloud. However, in order to provide some other usability features like integration or real-time co-editing, most cloud service providers have to sacrifice security and decrypt your documents on the server and read them.

You may think that it is acceptable for cloud storage providers to decrypt and read your data, but what if these files are leaked or hacked? What happens when the authorities come to your service office with a warrant? For legal or technical reasons, your data are still at risk of leakage at any time. If you want to have complete privacy and control of your data in the cloud, you can use zero-knowledge cloud backup services.

What Is Zero-Knowledge in Cloud?

Zero-knowledge is an alternative name for private, end-to-end encryption, which means that no one but you own the keys to your data, and only you can read your files. The encryption is performed on your local device before the files are transferred to the cloud. That ensures your privacy because the files can’t be decrypted after transfer so the cloud storage services cannot provide your unencrypted files to authorized institutions.

Nowadays, zero-knowledge encryption is usually regarded as the most secure way to use a public cloud, and many cloud backup services claim that they use this technology to ensure your privacy and data security. If you are interested in cloud backup services with zero-knowledge technology, you can learn the advantages and disadvantages first:

Advantages of using zero-knowledge cloud backup:

☛Highest control over your data.

☛Highest safety from data breaches and data privacy.

☛Nobody can find out your password, not even your cloud storage provider.

☛No need to trust your provider except the physical protection and storage of your data.

Disadvantages of using zero-knowledge cloud backup:

☛Can be slower than less-secure providers.

☛Some require additional charges and it’s not free.

☛Cannot effectively preview files due to the strong encryption.

☛If you forget your password, you can never access it again, or your data is lost.

Which Is the Best Zero-Knowledge Cloud Backup?

Obviously, zero-knowledge protection is important for cloud services users, especially for users of business plans. However, most cloud storage providers don’t adopt zero-knowledge encryption teleology or offer zero-knowledge encryption as part of their free or standard plans.

If you are seeking zero-knowledge online backup, please read on. We have listed 5 best zero-knowledge cloud backup with detailed security features and teleology. You can check them one by one can compare them from different aspects.

1. Sync.com

Established in Toronto in 2011, Sync.com is one of the several cloud storage providers that provide zero-knowledge encryption. It’s based in Canada, so you get the benefit of Canadian privacy laws.

Best of all, you don’t need to pay an extra fee for zero-knowledge encryption security.

In addition, Sync.com scrambles your files using AES 256-bit encryption and uses the TLS protocol to protect files in transit to its servers from man-in-the-middle attacks. Moreover, Sync.com offers two-factor authentication to help protect your password from hackers and provides an option for download limits for file links and expiry dates.

Price-wise, you get 5GB free storage for signing up. The Personal Pro 2TB plan is just $8 per month if you choose the annual plan. If you select the 500GB personal plan, then you can get access for just $4.08 per month. Generally speaking, Sync.com is not only the most secure cloud storage providers, but also offers the best value for money out of all providers listed.

2. pCloud

Released in 2013, pCloud provides zero-knowledge encryption but it will cost an extra $3.99 per month. Data will be encrypted on your computer before they’re transmitted to the server which ensures that no login information is stored for zero-knowledge. However, pCloud doesn’t offer zero-knowledge security for shared files.

Besides that, pCloud has many other great security features like deploying the TLS protocol and AES 256-bit encryption. And If you upgrade to one of their paid plans you can secure collaboration links with expiry dates and passwords.

pCloud offers a decent 10GB of storage space for free. Pricing starts at just $3.99 per month for 500GB and their Premium 2TB plan is $8, which is super cheap. If you’re not discouraged about the added price for zero-knowledge security, pCloud has plenty of amazing features to offer.

3. MEGA

Launched in 2013 by Kim Dotcom, MEGA has strong security that features zero-knowledge encryption. Their zero-knowledge encryption is free as well, which extends to the sharing of files. Mega uses end-to-encryption and the level of encryption at rest is AES 128-bit, which will ensure that your data is always kept safe.

The security that you get from Mega is pretty thorough. It also uses the TLS protocol to protect data during transfer. And the two-factor authentication is a nice touch, as it provides that extra layer of security and protection from hackers.

MEGA offers a massive 15GB of storage space for free. They also provide an extra 35GB for a limited period of time. And if you pay for a year in advance you get two months for free. The cheapest plan gives 200GB of storage for $5.69. The best value premium account offers a decent 1TB of storage for $11.38 per month.

4. Tresorit

Based in Switzerland, Tresorit is one of the most reliable and secure cloud storage available. Zero-knowledge encryption is an important feature of Tresorit safety and security. The zero-knowledge encryption is extended to the sharing of files. They also include expiry dates, password protection, and download limits for file links.

Tresorit uses the TLS protocol to prevent attacks that target files during transfer and AES 256-bit encryption to protect files at rest. Plus, two-factor authentication is available that offers an additional layer of protection to avoid breaches like the celebrity breach we discussed above.

Their free plan offers you 3GB of storage space. The lowest cost premium plan is $10.42 per month and that gets you just 200GB of storage. Solo is the other personal plan, and it provides 2TB of space for $24 per month. Tresorit also has business plans. Small Business is $20 per user per month and gives you 1TB of storage for each user.

5. Wolkli

Based on Nextcloud, Wolkli keeps your files in Switzerland so that you can enjoy some of the best privacy laws in the world. Actually, it doesn’t matter because Wolkli use zero-knowledge encryption to protect your data. Wolkli can’t recover your password by default. If you think you might forget your password, you can turn zero-knowledge off.

Wolkli offers the TLS protocol and AES 256-bit encryption, which is the best of the best. It can encrypt your files at rest. Wolkli also adopts two-factor authentication to protect your account. What’s more, ClamAV feature for Pro users is used to scan their files and protect their devices from trojans, viruses and more.

The paid plans of Wolkli are expensive on the market. For 10GB of storage space, you have to pay $7.54 per month. The next plan, Level C2, doubles the price and increases your storage five times to 50GB. Its business plans are also expensive. The first plan starts at 10GB for $402.45 per year or $33.53 per month.

Another secure free cloud backup option: CBackup 

If the above five zero-knowledge backup services don't have your preferred option, we recommend that you use CBackup, a free, equally secure cloud backup service. 

CBackup is a data cloud backup-focused tool that provides 5GB of free storage per user and allows users to expand space at very low prices if necessary. In addition, CBackup is extremely secure, using 256-bit AES technology to secure data during file transfer, and CBackup is based on the OAuth authorization system, so only users have access to their own files, and the service never saves the user's information.

CBackup providers have more than a decade of experience in data backup, and it gives users complete peace of mind by backing up files from their PC to the cloud. And it offers a variety of backup settings, such as Schedule backup, file filter, email, notification control, and more to help users quickly and easily back up data and manage files.

Final Words

To protect your privacy, zero-knowledge cloud backup is the best choice for you. The 5 best zero-knowledge cloud backup in the market has been introduced above and all of them have strong security. You can choose one according to price or your own needs.