When discussing popular cloud storage options on the market, pCloud frequently tops many lists. Is pCloud safe and secure as many claim to be? Or better said – is it safe and secure as the company itself claims? Well, the answer to that question is obvious. It is.
However, some of you might not have heard about it. Thus, some will doubt pCloud’s generous offerings packed with attractive Lifetime plans. Don’t fret. In today’s article, we’ll focus on the security aspect of this cloud storage service and see why millions of users enjoy it.
If you want a full, in-depth analysis of everything that it offers, we strongly advise reading our pCloud review. But if you’re in just for a security examination, this is the article for you. It’s not going to be a long read, as pCloud is pretty transparent. Regardless, keep reading to find out more.
Is pCloud Safe and Secure? Security Features Examined
Of course, when talking about the safety and security of this service, we need to examine its features. We’re not going to go too deep into the amount of storage, file transfers, and other tidbits. We’re focusing strictly on security, so let’s see why pCloud is so special.
Swiss Jurisdiction
First of all, pCloud is a European cloud storage service.
Not only that but it’s based in Switzerland, which is known for stringent privacy laws. The company started out in 2013 and now counts more than 18M users, all of whom are very satisfied with the way it operates.
We have many notable examples of Swiss VPNs as well. For example, ProtonVPN, based in Switzerland, also stores no logs and is one of the top choices for privacy-aware users. So, is pCloud safe and secure if we take this into account? For now, the answer is yes, but let’s move on.
Files Stored on 3 Servers at the Same Time
Even though it’s in Europe, pCloud offers data centers in the following locations:
- Luxembourg
- Dallas (Texas)
However, for easier selection, pCloud lets you choose from the US (Dallas, Texas) and Europe (Luxembourg).
If you choose Europe, for example, your files will be replicated on several servers here, to ensure that they are always available. This is extremely important for keeping them safe and sound.
Let’s imagine only one server is available and it’s the only server with your files. If this server crashes or malfunctions, your files are unavailable. However, in the case of pCloud, if one, or even two servers malfunction, your files are still on the remaining server(s).
This allows you to always be able to access and use them, without fear of data loss. Plus, since the company has servers in the US and Europe, the performance is great for the most part.
That’s why pCloud is a fast cloud for downloads and uploads.
TLS/SSL Encryption
Encryption is a must-have for a safe and secure cloud storage provider. You see, pCloud uses well-known TLS/SSL encryption to secure your files. This encryption is applied when you transfer the files from your device to the provider’s servers.
As a result, no one can track the files you’re transferring or intercept the transfer process. Even if this happens, the person who intercepts it will see a garbled mess, as he/she won’t be able to access your files. By the way, this is also known as AES-256 encryption or bank-grade encryption.
Just think about why it’s called that – because it’s the strongest encryption available!
Zero-Knowledge Encryption (Paid Additionally)
To make sure you’re secured additionally, pCloud includes a premium feature called simply Encryption. Aside from TLS/SSL, this type of encryption will completely secure your transfers, all files, and every aspect of the cloud storage.
Zero-knowledge encryption, as pCloud calls it, lets only YOU access your files thanks to the master key that only you know. This encryption also prevents pCloud itself from peeking at your files, which results in additional trustworthiness that files are safely stored on the cloud.
Beware that this feature is paid for additionally but it increases the value of this product significantly. If you purchase it, just be sure not to lose your master and recovery keys, as this will result in the inability to access your files, and thus, lose them.
Speaking of encryption, pCloud is considered by many to be one of the best encrypted cloud storages.
File Versioning
Finally, file versioning is a feature we must mention to know if pCloud is safe and secure. But why is this a safety/security feature? Well, because it keeps all your file versions for up to 30 days, which lets you recover only a particular version later on.
If you accidentally edit a document and you don’t want this edit to be permanent, simply restore it to a previous version. Not to mention that even your deleted files are stored for up to 30 days, so if you make up your mind and you want to restore them, you can do so with a click of a mouse.
Even the free version has file versioning for 15 days, which you won’t find in many free options. For this reason, pCloud is often used to store photos on its cloud storage.
So, Is pCloud Safe and Secure? YES, It Is!
With everything said, we have the main question to answer – is pCloud safe and secure? And if you haven’t been lazy and you read the entire article, you already know it is. pCloud’s security features are impeccable and it’s extremely reliable even for storing the most important files.
Its servers never fail and because of the fast upload/download speeds, performing backups and syncing will be a breeze. Now, if you’re thinking about getting it, we recommend doing so through our site if you’re interested in making some savings.
Through 01net, you can save up to 80% on the custom 10 TB plan and enjoy large cloud storage. pCloud offers both Annual and Lifetime plans, in addition to Family and Business variants for more options, depending on your needs and preferences.
You should absolutely buy pCloud if you haven’t already. It has everything you need to store files without worries about losing them. Once again, scroll up and click on the link we left at the start to read the full review of pCloud.
You’ll see why it’s so revered among experienced cloud storage connoisseurs, including us.