--- title: "Control Lock Module: lock down access on demand | Firevault" description: "Lock hardens network access on demand, holding paths in a read-only or disconnected state until an authorised release. Read how the guardrails work." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization", "name": "Firevault", "legalName": "Firevault Limited", "url": "https://fire-vault.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/logo.png", "width": 200, "height": 60 }, "foundingDate": "2025-03", "description": "Protect what matters with Offline Secure Storage and control what moves with Control by Firevault. Physically disconnected, always reachable by you.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB", "addressLocality": "United Kingdom" }, "contactPoint": [ { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "hello@fire-vault.com", "availableLanguage": "English", "areaServed": [ "GB", "EU", "US", "AE" ] } ], "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/firevault", "https://x.com/firevaultuk" ], "slogan": "Disconnect to Protect", "knowsAbout": [ "Offline Secure Storage", "Physical Air Gap Data Protection", "Ransomware Protection", "Data Sovereignty", "GDPR Compliance", "NIS2 Compliance" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website", "name": "Firevault", "alternateName": [ "Firevault", "Firevault UK", "Firevault Limited" ], "url": "https://fire-vault.com", "publisher": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-GB", "description": "Protect what matters with Offline Secure Storage and control what moves with Control by Firevault. Physically disconnected, always reachable by you.", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://fire-vault.com/learn?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/control/modules/lock#webpage", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/control/modules/lock", "name": "Control Lock Module: lock down access on demand", "description": "Lock hardens network access on demand, holding paths in a read-only or disconnected state until an authorised release. Read how the guardrails work.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/__l5e/assets-v1/16185ad5-5940-414a-9f76-80671f146f1d/og-control-lock.webp" }, "inLanguage": "en-GB", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/control/modules/lock#breadcrumb" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/control/modules/lock#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://fire-vault.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Control", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/control" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Modules", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/control/modules" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Control Lock Module: lock down access on demand", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/control/modules/lock" } ] } ] --- Recent Breaches Breaches [2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Lidl GB Customer contact data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Asahi Group Production systems disrupted ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Kido International 8K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches)[2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Lidl GB Customer contact data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Asahi Group Production systems disrupted ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Kido International 8K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches) [View All →](/learn/breaches) [![Firevault - offline secure storage, physically disconnected from the internet](/assets/logo-color-DBVl0KCg.png)](/) Products Solutions [Why OSS](/why-oss) More [Help](/help)[Get started](/get-started) Control Module - VAULT # FV-Lock. Access governed as one coherent layer. Lock restricts access through identity, authority, policy, permission and operational controls. Each of these matters on its own, but the protection comes from treating them as one coherent layer rather than five disconnected ones. Schedule a Demo[Back to Control](/solutions/control) Control at a glance ![FV-Lock module artwork: access governed as one coherent layer](/__l5e/assets-v1/5fea7bee-dada-43e2-b2ee-ba36eccf187a/control-module-lock-hero.webp) Control removes the physical path. Blueprints show where each module sits. Exposure How it worksExplore moreQuestions The exposure in numbers 01 Who is asking, established before anything else Identity Who is asking, established before anything else 02 Under whose authority the request is being made Authority Under whose authority the request is being made 03 What the policy of the moment actually allows Policy What the policy of the moment actually allows 04 Controls that reflect the state of the environment Operational Controls that reflect the state of the environment The Problem ## Access controls that disagree with each other quietly grant everything. 01 ### Fragmented enforcement When identity, policy and operational controls live in different places and tools, the disagreements between them tend to resolve in favour of access. 02 ### Permissions without authority A user may hold a permission, but without the authority to use it in the current context, the permission alone is not enough to justify the action. 03 ### Standing privilege Privilege that exists permanently is privilege that can be abused permanently, by anyone who reaches the account or the session. Control Module - VAULT > Access is a sentence with five clauses. Lock reads all of them before answering. The Scenario ### Scenario: a permitted user, the wrong moment An administrator who holds the necessary permission attempts a sensitive operation outside the approved change window. Identity and permission both check out, but the operational controls do not, because the change window is closed. Lock refuses the operation, returns the rationale and notifies the policy owner. The administrator schedules the work for the next window and the operation proceeds in its proper place. "Lock is what stops a yes from being the answer to the wrong question." FV-Lock in placement ## Where Lock enforces named, scoped access. Lock turns access from a long-lived right into a named, scoped event. Reach is granted to a person, for a purpose, for a window, and recorded. Grounded in NIST CSF PR.AC-1 and PR.AC-4, ISO 27001 A.5.15, A.8.2 and IEC 62443-3-3 SR 1.1, SR 2.1. Inputs ─┐ Telemetry ─┐ ![FV-Lock module icon](/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) FV-Lock Control layer ┌─ Outputs ┌─ Control 01 SR 2.1 Privileged operator sessions Administrative reach into protected zones is granted per session, per person, with explicit scope. 02 A.5.15 Vendor maintenance accounts Vendor identities are locked to a named engagement. No shared, evergreen credentials. 03 A.8.2 Crown-jewel data access Sensitive datasets are reachable only by named requestors through an approved Lock event. 04 PR.AC-4 Emergency break-glass Emergency access is a Lock event with quorum approval, full audit and a hard expiry. Relies on · prerequisites - Reliable identity for the named actor - Scope that is narrower than the access path can technically allow - Recorded purpose for each grant, not just the grant Pairs with · companion modules ![FV-Relay module icon](/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png)Relay ![FV-Execute module icon](/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png)Execute ![FV-Unlink module icon](/assets/unlink-icon-B8GFAVW1.png)Unlink ![FV-Validate module icon](/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png)Validate Featured In [![TechRadar Pro logo](/press/techradar-pro-logo.svg) ](https://www.techradar.com/pro/uk-startup-put-physical-disconnect-switch-in-its-cloud-storage-offering-to-mitigate-ransomware-attacks-but-will-that-be-enough "Read about Firevault on TechRadar Pro") [![Yahoo Finance logo](/assets/yahoo-finance-logo-white-aNkUpCH7.png) ](https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/firevault-launches-help-businesses-directors-074500961.html "Read about Firevault on Yahoo Finance") [![Channel Insider logo](/assets/channel-insider-logo-white-CFFo4iu7.png) ](https://www.channelinsider.com/security/tools-and-platforms/firevault-security-offline-platform-offering/ "Read about Firevault on Channel Insider") [![Security Buyer logo](/assets/security-buyer-logo-white-o6oIaBWz.png) ](https://securitybuyer.com/uk-cybersecurity-startup-launches-firevault/ "Read about Firevault on Security Buyer") [![SecurityBrief logo](data:image/png;base64,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) ](https://securitybrief.com.au/story/firevault-unveils-offline-digital-vault-to-combat-rising-cyber-risks "Read about Firevault on SecurityBrief") Capabilities ## What you get with every deployment 01 ### Identity as the first clause Who is asking is established before any other clause is evaluated. 02 ### Authority as the second The authority under which the request is made is treated as a first-class input. 03 ### Policy as the third The policy of the moment, including its exceptions and constraints, is part of the evaluation. 04 ### Permission as the fourth Permissions are necessary but not sufficient, and are evaluated against the other clauses rather than alone. 05 ### Operational state as the fifth Operational controls reflect the current state of the environment, so an answer that suits one moment is not assumed to suit another. 06 ### Evidential record Outcomes and rationales are recorded through Archive on physically separate storage. Demo to Live ## Adoption Guide Step 1 #### Map the access surface Identify the access decisions that matter, the identities involved and the policies that apply. Step 2 #### Define the five clauses For each decision, agree the identity, authority, policy, permission and operational expectations. Step 3 #### Pilot a coherent decision Move one workflow onto Lock end-to-end, with the rationale returned to the requester. Step 4 #### Operate and review Extend Lock across further workflows and review patterns through Archive on a regular cadence. Step 1 #### Map the access surface Identify the access decisions that matter, the identities involved and the policies that apply. Step 2 #### Define the five clauses For each decision, agree the identity, authority, policy, permission and operational expectations. Step 3 #### Pilot a coherent decision Move one workflow onto Lock end-to-end, with the rationale returned to the requester. Step 4 #### Operate and review Extend Lock across further workflows and review patterns through Archive on a regular cadence. [Organise a Demo](/contact) Playbooks ## Which playbook covers this module Each playbook shows where this module sits in a real deployment, who authorises it and how a pilot scales into rollout. [ Firevault Leadership Briefing ### The Leaders' Playbook Sets out authority, custody and succession, including who may open what after a change of control. Read the playbook: The Leaders' Playbook ](/playbook/leaders)[ Firevault Legal Playbook ### Close the File. Protect the Record. Covers permission, supervision and client confidentiality obligations on retained records. Read the playbook: Close the File. Protect the Record. ](/playbook/legal) ## Explore More [ ### FV-Validate Checks ahead of access, action and transfer. Learn more about FV-Validate ](/control/modules/validate)[ ### FV-Unlink Remove inherited trust before governing access. Learn more about FV-Unlink ](/control/modules/unlink)[ ### FV-Transfer Approved paths governed by Lock. Learn more about FV-Transfer ](/control/modules/transfer) Questions ## Frequently Asked Is Lock a replacement for the existing identity system? What about emergency access? How does Lock handle service accounts? Where do decisions live for review?