How Do I Enable Encryption on OneDrive?

Though backing up files to OneDrive makes it convenient for accessing data from anywhere, it can pose a significant risk to your privacy. Especially for enterprises, important documents such as project files and customer information are their greatest assets. If data is lost or leaked, the consequences will be disastrous.

Backing files with encryption is a technology that prevents your data from unauthorized access. If you are looking for solutions to backup to OneDrive encrypted, you’ve come to the right place! In this tutorial, we will show you two easy methods to encrypt file backup on OneDrive.

Why Need Encrypted Backup on OneDrive?

On the one hand, files backed up on OneDrive can usually be accessed from any networked device as long as you are logged in with the correct account. On the other hand, OneDrive only offers encryption at rest and encryption in transit, without end to end encryption, which leaves your data easy to access for third parties.

Setting up OneDrive folder encryption can help you prevent access and reduce the risk of data breaches for anyone without the correct key. This acts as an extra layer of protection for your sensitive data. In the following, two solutions are provided to let you encrypt backup files/folders on OneDrive.

How to Create Encrypted Backup to OneDrive

You can enable OneDrive encryption via the OneDrive Personal Vault feature or with the help of professional Windows Backup software. Please take a look at the detailed steps to implement OneDrive backup with encryption.

Way 1. Encrypted backup to OneDrive using Personal Vault

Does OneDrive use encryption in transit? Yes, transport layer security (TLS) encryption is applied for Microsoft OneDrive encryption in transit from clients. OneDrive also comes with a protected area, named Personal Vault, where files can only be accessed with additional authentication, such as fingerprint/facial authentication, PIN, email or text message code, etc. And Personal Vault automatically locks after a period of inactivity, requiring you to unlock it to access files again.

One drawback of OneDrive Personal Vault is that it is limited to three files for anyone who has a free OneDrive account. However, as long as you don't exceed the OneDrive storage limit, you can bypass the maximum three-file restriction by compressing multiple files into a single Zip file, and then uploading the Zip file to your OneDrive Personal Vault folder. Now, follow the steps below to encrypt OneDrive folders and files easily:

Step 1. Go to Help & Settings on OneDrive and click on Unlock Personal Vault.

Step 2. Follow the on-screen guide to set up your Personal Vault folder on OneDrive.

Step 3. On the Verify your identity page, verify your account information and choose a verification method. Then, enter the received code and click Verify.

Step 4. Then, you will receive a notification saying that Your Personal Vault is all set up.

Now, you could head to the OneDrive folder on File Explorer/Finder to locate the Personal Vault folder and add files to it with encryption.

Way 2. Backup to OneDrive Encrypted using AOMEI Backupper

If you don’t rest assured about OneDrive security settings, there is another security tool, AOMEI Backupper, that you could use to do encrypted backups to OneDrive. This Pro version of this software allows you to create file/disk/partition backups to OneDrive, encrypted as an image file with a password. After backup, only those who know the password are able to restore and access the backed-up files.

Also, this tool is capable of backing up files to Google Drive, Dropbox, and more clouds with encryption for free, and it allows you to perform system backup to OneDrive and other clouds. Free download AOMEI Backupper and go on with the following guide to create Windows encrypted backup to OneDrive easily!

Step 1. Run the AOMEI Backupper program, select Backup on the left, and choose a backup mode (here we take File Backup as an example).

Step 2. Tap Add Folder or Add File to choose the files you want to backup.

Step 3. When adding the destination, pick the Select a cloud drive option and choose OneDrive.

Step 4. Hit Options in the bottom right corner, enable encryption for backups, and input a password for the backup task. Then, click OK.

Step 5. Finally, click on Start Backup to backup files to OneDrive with encryption.

Turn to Another Secure Cloud Backup Service - CBackup

Actually, OneDrive is not backup software in the traditional sense, and it makes more sense to call it a sync tool. If you want professional backup software with high security, we recommend you try CBackup.

This is a free cloud backup and sync service that allows users to back up computer files to CBackup Cloud and public clouds, like OneDrive and Google Drive. This freeware is based on an OAuth authorization system, so it will never save information of users, and 256-bit AES Encryption is applied during data transfer. If you want to remove cloud access to CBackup, you can permanently disconnect your cloud account at any time.

For data backup, it offers Scheduler to sync/backup files to cloud automatically, File Filter to exclude files from sync/backup, and Email Notification to get an instant report of your task result. Please install this software on your computer and try to back up files to 10GB of free CBackup Cloud space now.

Step 1. Sign up for a free CBackup account and log in to its desktop app.

Step 2. Select the Backup tab and press the Backup PC to CBackup Cloud button.

Step 3. Name the task and pick files to back up. Then, hit Start Backup to backup files to CBackup Cloud.

Conclusion

Using Personal Vault is a great way to keep files encrypted on OneDrive. However, if you don’t trust OneDrive security, AOMEI Backupper is a perfect tool that allows you to create encrypted backup to OneDrive with a password. It can encrypt your files, folders, hard drives, and a whole system easily.