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Learn what Vault is, who it is for, and how it protects your most sensitive data. ![Mark Fermor](/assets/mark-fermor-aWtKNSv7.jpg) Mark Fermor Director & Co-Founder, Firevault 4 min read Share [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffire-vault.com%2Flearn%2Fguides%2Fvault-buyers-guide)[](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffire-vault.com%2Flearn%2Fguides%2Fvault-buyers-guide&text=Vault%20Buyer's%20Guide%0A%0AA%20decision-maker's%20guide%20to%20evaluating%20offline%20secure%20storage%20for%20personal%20and%20professional%20files.%20Learn%20what%20Vault%20is%2C%20who%20it%20is%20for%2C%20and%20how%20it%20protects%20your%20most%20sensitive%20data.)[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffire-vault.com%2Flearn%2Fguides%2Fvault-buyers-guide)[](mailto:?subject=Vault%20Buyer's%20Guide&body=A%20decision-maker's%20guide%20to%20evaluating%20offline%20secure%20storage%20for%20personal%20and%20professional%20files.%20Learn%20what%20Vault%20is%2C%20who%20it%20is%20for%2C%20and%20how%20it%20protects%20your%20most%20sensitive%20data.%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Ffire-vault.com%2Flearn%2Fguides%2Fvault-buyers-guide) ![Vault Buyer's Guide](https://zomvctmqpgirvjnvawlz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/guides%2Fvault-buyers-guide.jpg) Guides Why it matters ## What this means for organisations holding critical data A decision-maker's guide to evaluating offline secure storage for personal and professional files. Learn what Vault is, who it is for, and how it protects your most sensitive data. **On this page**[Executive Summary](#section-0)[What is Vault?](#section-1)[What Vault is NOT](#section-2)[Who is Vault For?](#section-3)[The Problem Vault Solves](#section-4)[How Vault Works](#section-5)[Vault Buddy: Succession Planning](#section-6)[Security Architecture](#section-7)[Pricing and Plans](#section-8)[Getting Started](#section-9)[Frequently Asked Questions](#section-10)[Next Steps](#section-11) On this page 1. [Executive Summary](#section-0) 2. [What is Vault?](#section-1) 3. [What Vault is NOT](#section-2) 4. [Who is Vault For?](#section-3) 5. [The Problem Vault Solves](#section-4) 6. [How Vault Works](#section-5) 7. [Vault Buddy: Succession Planning](#section-6) 8. [Security Architecture](#section-7) 9. [Pricing and Plans](#section-8) 10. [Getting Started](#section-9) 11. [Frequently Asked Questions](#section-10) 12. [Next Steps](#section-11) ## Executive Summary **Who this guide is for:** Individuals, families, directors, and professionals who need to protect sensitive personal or business files beyond the reach of online threats. **What you will learn:** How to evaluate whether Vault by Firevault is the right solution for your needs, what it is (and what it is not), and how to get started. **Key takeaway:** Vault is a physical [digital safe deposit box](/vault). It is not cloud storage, not a software application, and not accessible remotely by anyone except you during authorised sessions. ## What is Vault? Vault by Firevault is a **secured offline digital safe deposit box** designed to keep personal and professional data out of reach from breaches, ransomware, and account takeover. Unlike cloud storage services, Vault is: - **Dedicated physical hardware** allocated exclusively to you - **Stored in Firevault Bunkers** (secure colocation facilities) - **Physically disconnected** when your vault is closed - **Accessible only when you authorise a session** The files that define your life deserve protection that matches their importance. ## What Vault is NOT Before evaluating Vault, it is important to understand what it is not: - **Not cloud storage** like Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud - **Not a software application** running on shared infrastructure - **Not accessible remotely** by Firevault, hackers, or anyone else when closed - **Not connected to the internet** when not in use Vault is offline by design. If it is disconnected, it cannot be scanned, stolen, or ransomed. ## Who is Vault For? Vault is designed for anyone who holds sensitive information that would cause significant harm if exposed: - **Individuals and families:** [Identity documents](/oss-for-identity-documents), financial records, medical files, photos, passwords, and digital legacy planning - **Directors and executives:** Board papers, contracts, M&A documents, personal liability protection - **Professionals:** Client files, [intellectual property](/oss-for-intellectual-property), confidential correspondence - **High-net-worth individuals:** [Estate planning](/oss-for-estate-and-succession), succession documents, family office records ## The Problem Vault Solves Every year, billions of files are stolen from cloud storage, email accounts, and online backups. The average breach costs £3.5 million for organisations and £21,500 for individuals. Yet most sensitive data remains online, exposed by default. Traditional solutions fail because: - Cloud storage is always connected, always exposed - Encryption alone does not prevent access if credentials are compromised - Backups stored online can be ransomed alongside primary data Vault removes the attack surface entirely by taking your data offline. ## How Vault Works Vault operates on three core principles: 1. **Physical disconnection:** Your vault is offline by default. No standing connections, no background exposure. 2. **Identity-locked access:** Access requires KYC verification and MFA. Only you can open your vault. 3. **Time-boxed sessions:** When you need access, you authorise a session. When complete, the connection closes. Accessible when you need it. Physically disconnected when you do not. ## Vault Buddy: Succession Planning What happens to your digital legacy if you are incapacitated? Vault Buddy allows you to designate a trusted successor who can access your vault under defined conditions, ensuring your files are not lost. ## Security Architecture Vault is built to the security expectations of environments where isolation is mandatory: - Hardware encryption on dedicated drives - RAID 1 mirrored backup for resilience - Firevault Bunkers with physical access controls - No multi-tenancy or shared infrastructure ## Pricing and Plans Vault is available in multiple capacity tiers. Pricing reflects the cost of dedicated hardware, secure facility hosting, and managed access services. Contact our team for current pricing and to discuss which tier fits your needs. ## Getting Started Ready to protect your most sensitive files? 1. **Book a consultation** to discuss your requirements 2. **Complete identity verification** (KYC/AML) 3. **Your vault is provisioned** with dedicated hardware 4. **Upload your files** during your first session 5. **Close your vault** and it goes offline ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can Firevault access my files? No. When your vault is closed, it is physically disconnected. Even Firevault cannot access your data. ### What happens if I lose access? Identity recovery procedures and Vault Buddy [succession planning](/oss-for-estate-and-succession) ensure you are never permanently locked out. ### Is my data backed up? Yes. RAID 1 mirrored backup is included by default. ### How quickly can I access my files? Sessions typically connect within minutes of authorisation. ## Next Steps Vault is for people who understand that some files are too important to leave online. If that describes you, book a demo to see how Vault works and whether it fits your needs. About the author ![Mark Fermor](/assets/mark-fermor-aWtKNSv7.jpg) ### Mark Fermor [](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfermor) Director & Co-Founder Co-founder of Firevault, focused on offline secure storage and protecting individuals and businesses from fraud, fines, loss and damage. Speaker, owner and advisor. The Firevault view**Offline Secure Storage® keeps a clean copy beyond the reach of an attacker.**[Why #OSS →](/why-oss) Control systems and access**Cut the physical paths attackers and third parties depend on.**[Explore Control →](/solutions/control) Get started**Get started, or talk to a member of the team.**[Get started →](/get-started) How Firevault would handle this ## A recovery copy an attacker cannot reach Offline Secure Storage® keeps a clean copy of your data on hardware that is physically disconnected, so backup and recovery do not depend on systems an intruder can touch. [Get started](/get-started)[Talk to the team](/demo) **Hardware**Your copy sits on dedicated encrypted hardware **Disconnect**Offline by default, connected only when you say so **Recovery**A known-clean copy to rebuild from, on your timetable **Location**Held in a secure Firevault Bunker ## Continue learning - [ ### Storage Buyer's Guide A decision-maker's guide to enterprise-scale offline storage infrastructure. Learn how Storage by Firevault delivers the '0' in your 3-2-1-0 backup strategy. Read guide ](/learn/guides/storage-buyers-guide) Related Reading ## You may also find these useful [ ![Protecting Students, Peers and Partners: A Practical Education Data Briefing](/__l5e/assets-v1/6ecf6bfc-3d28-40a7-8a6a-2d42fe36a21a/safeguarding-education-data-2026-v2-2x.jpg) Guides ### Protecting Students, Peers and Partners: A Practical Education Data Briefing A practical, forward-looking briefing to help schools, colleges and universities protect students, staff and partner data after the Department for Education breach. 29 Jul 2026 13 min ](/news/guide-safeguarding-education-data)[ ![Urgent Briefing and Advice: Protecting Personal Data for High-Profile Figures in the Public Eye](/__l5e/assets-v1/084c38b8-253b-4cc2-9056-c78a2fbd36c3/urgent-warning-triangle-20260714-2x.jpg) Guides ### Urgent Briefing and Advice: Protecting Personal Data for High-Profile Figures in the Public Eye Practical steps for serving and former politicians, councillors, campaigners, journalists, executives, broadcasters and anyone in the public eye, covering email security, device hygiene, threat handling and offline secure storage. 14 Jul 2026 22 min ](/news/urgent-guide-protecting-personal-data-high-profile-public-eye)[ ![500,000 Volunteers Breached Through Authorised Access: A Controlled Access Buyer's Guide](https://zomvctmqpgirvjnvawlz.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-images/news%2Fcontrolled-access-buyers-guide.jpg) Guides ### 500,000 Volunteers Breached Through Authorised Access: A Controlled Access Buyer's Guide In April 2026, approved researchers exfiltrated the health records, genetic data, and medical histories of 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers through authorised access channels, then listed the data for sale on Alibaba. The breach was not caused by a hack. It was caused by a model that assumes licence agreements can prevent data theft. This guide covers why that model fails and what physical controls replace it. 23 Apr 2026 18 min ](/news/controlled-access-buyers-guide-offline-secure-storage) ![Mark Fermor](/assets/mark-fermor-aWtKNSv7.jpg) ![David Bailey](/assets/david-bailey-Dgqj8eaE.jpg) ![Kenny Phipps](/assets/kenny-phipps-CVyooRsR.jpg) Online Now Concierge ## Put this guide into practice Ready to apply what you have learned? Explore how Firevault delivers the offline protection covered in this guide. Takes about 2 minutes. No account needed. Find Out Free 2 mins No sign-up