--- title: "What Firevault Is Not | Offline Secure Storage | Firevault" description: "Firevault is not cloud storage, not a backup app and not always-on. It's offline-by-default storage you own, accessed only in authorised windows." 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. 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It's offline-by-default storage you own, accessed only in authorised windows.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/images/og/og-base-platform.jpg" }, "inLanguage": "en-GB", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/why-oss/firevault-is-not#breadcrumb" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/why-oss/firevault-is-not#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://fire-vault.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Why Oss", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/why-oss" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "What Firevault Is Not", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/why-oss/firevault-is-not" } ] } ] --- 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 Co-operative Group 6.5M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Harrods Attempted intrusion ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Legal Aid Agency (Ministry of Justice) 2.1M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/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 Co-operative Group 6.5M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Harrods Attempted intrusion ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Legal Aid Agency (Ministry of Justice) 2.1M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/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) Setting Expectations # What Offline Secure Storage (OSS) Is Not Before you understand what Offline Secure Storage does, it helps to understand what it is not. We are fundamentally different from the tools you may be comparing us to. OSS is not cloud, not SaaS, not an application. It is offline secure storage: dedicated hardware that is physically disconnected from all networks until you authorise access. ## The Fundamental Difference A side-by-side comparison of how OSS differs from connected storage solutions. Feature Others OSS Network Connection Always connected Disconnected by default Infrastructure Shared multi-tenant Dedicated hardware Access Control Software policies Physical isolation Attack Surface Always exposed Zero when offline Third-Party Access Provider employees Only you Breach Impact Mass exposure Physically impossible In Detail ## What We Are Not Each of these technologies has its place. But none of them provide physical disconnection. ### Not Cloud Storage Always online means always exposed Cloud storage keeps your data online and reachable 24/7. That is the opposite of what we do. Why This Is Risky - Data is always connected to the internet - Third-party employees can access your files - Subject to mass breaches and credential attacks - You do not control the physical infrastructure The OSS Approach OSS is physically disconnected. Your data exists on dedicated hardware that is offline by default. No internet connection means no attack surface. ### Not a Data Diode One-way recovery versus two-way control Data diodes and immutable backup vaults are designed for protection through physical disconnection. OSS prevents the breach from happening. Why This Is Risky - Data flows one way only (write-once, read-never until disaster) - Designed for recovery, not active protection of live assets - Cannot retrieve files on demand for operational use - Does not prevent the breach, only survives it The OSS Approach OSS is pre-breach prevention with two-way controlled access. Your data is physically disconnected until you authorise access. Retrieve what you need, when you need it, on your terms. ### Not a Network Appliance Hardware isolation versus network segmentation Network appliances segment traffic or control connections. OSS removes the connection entirely. Why This Is Risky - Still operates within your network perimeter - Relies on software to control access policies - Can be bypassed through misconfigurations or exploits - The path to your data still exists when enabled The OSS Approach OSS is complete physical disconnection, not network segmentation. There is no path to manipulate because the cable is physically unplugged at Layer 1. ### Not Traditional Backup Copying data does not protect it Backup solutions create copies of data that remains reachable. We remove reachability entirely. Why This Is Risky - Backups are often connected to the network - Ransomware can encrypt backups too - Recovery assumes you detected the breach - Does not prevent the breach, only recovers from it The OSS Approach OSS is pre-breach protection, not protection through physical disconnection. Your most sensitive data is stored where attackers cannot reach it in the first place. ### Not Immutable Storage Write-once versus controlled access Immutable storage locks data to prevent tampering. But locked data you cannot access operationally is not useful for business-critical assets. Why This Is Risky - Data becomes read-only and inaccessible for updates - Designed for compliance archives, not operational use - Still connected to the network infrastructure - Immutability is enforced by software, not physics The OSS Approach OSS provides controlled access to live assets. Modify, update, and retrieve your data when needed. Protection comes from physical disconnection, not locking you out of your own files. ### Not File Sharing Collaboration versus protection File sharing platforms prioritise easy access and collaboration. We prioritise controlled protection. Why This Is Risky - Designed for convenience, not security - Shared links can be forwarded or leaked - No physical isolation from corporate networks - Access controls are software-based The OSS Approach OSS provides controlled access on your terms. Physical disconnection means access only happens when you explicitly authorise it. ### Not a VPN or Firewall Protecting the path versus removing it VPNs and firewalls protect network paths. We remove the network path entirely. Why This Is Risky - Still relies on software-controllable defences - Misconfiguration creates vulnerabilities - Zero-day exploits can bypass protections - The path to your data still exists The OSS Approach OSS takes a fundamentally different approach. If there is no network path to your data, there is nothing to protect or misconfigure. ### Not a Password Manager Credentials versus critical assets Password managers store login credentials. We store irreplaceable documents and sensitive data. Why This Is Risky - Focused on authentication, not data storage - Master password is a single point of failure - Cloud-synced password vaults can be breached - Not designed for large files or documents The OSS Approach OSS is a digital safe deposit box for your most sensitive assets: contracts, wills, intellectual property, evidence, and files that cannot be recreated. ### Not an Application or SaaS Software versus hardware isolation SaaS applications run on shared infrastructure with software-based security. We use physical hardware isolation. Why This Is Risky - Multi-tenant environments share resources - Software vulnerabilities affect all users - Provider has access to your data - If the provider is breached, you are breached The OSS Approach OSS is dedicated hardware, not a software layer. Your data lives on your own isolated storage that only you can access. What We Are ## OSS Is an Offline Secure Storage Platform for Data A dedicated hardware platform for your customer, commercial, confidential, and crown jewel data. Physically disconnected from all networks, accessible only when you authorise connection. #### Physical Disconnection No network path means no attack surface #### Dedicated Hardware Your own isolated storage, not shared infrastructure #### Identity Verified KYC/AML at onboarding, MFA at every session [Learn How It Works](/how-it-works/offline-secure-storage)[Explore Vault](/vault) ![Mark Fermor](/assets/mark-fermor-aWtKNSv7.jpg) ![David Bailey](/assets/david-bailey-Dgqj8eaE.jpg) ![Kenny Phipps](/assets/kenny-phipps-CVyooRsR.jpg) Online Now Concierge ## Understand what OSS actually does Take two minutes to see whether offline secure storage is the right fit for your data protection needs. Takes about 2 minutes. No account needed. Find Out Free 2 mins No sign-up