Recently, OneDrive introduced a new feature: Personal Vault. With this component you can protect files and you have access to extra functions to prevent the data from falling into the wrong hands. We immediately started working on it.
The OneDrive Personal Vault can be seen as an extra secured protected piece within your OneDrive account. You can only access the files in the vault after you have logged in via two-step verification, for example via text message or code by email. The safe also offers a few other features that can help you keep your files even more secure.
How much storage you have available in the vault depends on the OneDrive subscription. If you use a free OneDrive account or the plan with 100 GB storage, you can store up to three files in the safe. If you use OneDrive in combination with Office 365, you can store an unlimited amount of files in the safe.
You can access the safe via the web environment of OneDrive, but also via the mobile app (Android and iOS) and via the Windows 10 app. The Personal Vault works on all devices that you currently use OneDrive on. The new part is suitable, for example, for your proof of identity, driver's license and financial data. According to the creators, these files are still relatively safe after someone accidentally gains access to your device.
Set up OneDrive Personal Vault
Time to get started with the safe. Click the OneDrive icon in the Notification area (next to the clock). In the OneDrive welcome message, click the button To work. Is the welcome message not visible to you? Then you can access the vault by opening the File Explorer (Windows key+E) and choose Personal safe. A new window will open, in which you click Next one. After this, OneDrive asks for your explicit permission to enable the vault. Choose here To allow. The safe is set up.
As soon as you open the safe, a window will appear asking for your password. You also have the choice to sign in with a different Microsoft account. After this, the safe will be unlocked. You can then use the vault just like the rest of your OneDrive account. Drag and drop the files into the OneDrive window above to add them. Now fill your vault with the files you want to keep extra safe.
The Personal Vault has a few extra security measures while working with your files. First of all, two-step verification is always enabled to open the files. In addition, the files will be locked automatically after 20 minutes of inactivity. If you use the app for the smartphone, the lock will take place after only three minutes. Finally, file sharing is automatically disabled for anything stored in the vault.
More convenient is the option to use the Authenticator app when logging in. In the login window, choose Using my Microsoft Authenticator app. It's nice that you don't need an internet connection for the app.
Switch off
Do you no longer want to use the Personal Vault? You can turn it off at any time. First, make sure there are no more files in the vault: after you disable the vault, all files are removed from the vault. Open the OneDrive web environment and choose Personal safe. Move the files out of the vault. Then choose Institutions (you will find the button at the top right of the window, recognizable by the gear) and choose Options. In the left part of the window, choose Personal safe. Choose Switch off at the option Disable Personal Vault. Confirm by clicking on the additional question whether you actually want to disable the Personal Vault.
You can also disable the safe via the mobile app – discussed later in this article. In the app, tap Personal safe and choose Personal safe settingss. Tap on Disable Personal Vault. Confirm that you actually want to turn off the safe.
OneDrive on smartphones
The Personal safe actually works best on the smartphone: here you have extra options. Make sure you have downloaded the latest version of the OneDrive app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Once you have opened the safe in the app, the app makes suggestions to immediately scan a number of important documents and store them in the safe. This concerns, for example, passport, driver's license, tax data and birth certificate.
click on Show all suggestions to request the complete list. Press the button Scan next to the item you want to digitize. Importantly, the app saves the photo directly to the vault, even if your phone normally also automatically saves photos to the cloud. This prevents the data from also ending up outside the more highly secured vault. You can get back the list of recommended files to scan at any time. Tap at the top of the app Personal safe and choose Recommended files. This way you can spread the documents to be scanned over several moments.
You can adjust various options via the app. Tap at the top Personal safe and choose Personal Vault Settings. In the section Verification determine how the user control takes place. Here you can, for example, change the PIN code for the safe, but also manage the two-factor authentication (two-step verification). To further improve the protection of your data, enable the option Lock on exit. You can find this option in the section Security.
Via the option Auto lock you can also adjust after how many minutes of inactivity the app should automatically lock (for example after a minute). Bee Personal Vault notifications determine which notifications may be shown, for example a notification in the OneDrive app as soon as the safe is locked.
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