Microsoft increases the security to OneDrive to protect users’ important OneDrive files with 2FA (two-factor authentication) code, PIN, fingerprint, face scan. It also expands the basic $2/month storage limit from 50GB to 100GB.
Microsoft OneDrive Personal Vault Increases Security for Files
Recently Microsoft adds a new feature to OneDrive called OneDrive Personal Vault. It is a new secured storage area in OneDrive, letting users store important or sensitive files. Microsoft new OneDrive Personal Vault will protect files and folders with an additional step of identity verification, and requires method of authentication to access these files in this storage area.
The verification methods include a two-factor authentication (2FA) code, PIN, fingerprint, facial authentication or Microsoft Authenticator app.
If you store files to this new OneDrive Personal Vault, it will require the additional code every time you want to access these files through website, Windows PC, or mobile devices.
Through the new OneDrive Personal Vault area, users can store their important files like digital copies of passport, ID, driver’s license, tax records, insurance/car documents, sensitive financial/property docs, pictures, etc. with improved security.
Users can scan the documents in the Personal Vault directly in the OneDrive app. You can also capture photos or videos with OneDrive app and directly send them to the OneDrive Personal Vault area.
For Windows 10 PC users, Microsoft will sync files in the Personal Vault by using a BitLocker-encrypted area of a local hard drive.
Recommended reading: 3 Ways to Create Automatic File Backup in Windows 10 Easily
The new OneDrive Personal Vault will be automatically locked up after a period of inactivity, users need to reauthenticate to access the files in Vault again. By default, after 20 minutes of inactivity on the Web or PC local hard drive, or after 3 minutes on mobile devices, the Personal Vault will be locked.
Besides, if you use a Web version to access OneDrive on another unfamiliar PC, the browser will not save any files from the Personal Vault in its cache. And this is also very secure for your personal files.
You can store all files into this OneDrive Personal Vault if you like, but then it will need authentication each time you access a file. Personal Vault puts no restriction on the number of files you save to it. You can store as many files you want, up to the total OneDrive storage limit. However, if you use the free OneDrive service or the base plan, there is a limit on the number of files you can add into Personal Vault.
The new OneDrive Personal Vault feature will be added to the web version of OneDrive, the OneDrive apps on Android and iOS mobile phones, as well as Windows 10 PCs. This feature will start rolling out in New Zealand, Canada, and Australia soon, and Microsoft will bring OneDrive Personal Vault to every consumers by the end of this year.
The competitors like iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox don’t have such a feature yet to make specific folders with additional 2FA authentication. Microsoft seems to be first one to add this feature.
Microsoft Will Double the $2/month OneDrive Storage from 50GB to 100GB
Another change Microsoft would apply to OneDrive is it will increase the storage from 50GB to 100GB for the $2/month OneDrive storage plan. For users who have subscribed this OneDrive storage plan, they will get the extra 50GB OneDrive storage for free.
As for Office 365 subscribers, they will now be able to buy more storage, up to 1TB. You can buy 200GB increments for $2/month, and buy up to 1TB storage for $10 per month.