What is offline secure storage?

Offline secure storage (OSS) is a data protection method where data is physically disconnected from the internet when not in use. Unlike cloud storage, data stored offline has zero remote attack surface — it cannot be hacked, ransomed or accessed remotely because it is not connected to any network. Firevault provides this through hardware-encrypted vaults that are physically isolated.

How does Firevault protect against ransomware?

Firevault protects against ransomware by physically disconnecting your data from the internet. Ransomware can only encrypt data it can reach over a network. When your data is stored offline in a Firevault, ransomware attacks cannot reach it. Even if your entire network is compromised, your offline vault remains untouched and intact.

How much does Firevault cost?

Firevault Vault starts from £75 per month (inc VAT) for individuals. Business Storage starts from £360 per month (inc VAT). Enterprise Platform pricing is available on request. All plans include hardware encryption, identity verification, and physical disconnection by default.

Who is Firevault designed for?

Firevault is designed for individuals protecting passports, wills and crypto keys; professionals such as solicitors, accountants and consultants protecting client data; SMEs and businesses protecting crown jewel data; and regulated industries including healthcare, financial services and legal sectors requiring offline backup for compliance with GDPR, NIS2, DORA and FCA regulations.

Is Firevault GDPR compliant?

Yes. Firevault is designed to support GDPR compliance by keeping sensitive personal data physically isolated and offline. Physical disconnection ensures data is not exposed to network-based attacks, supports data minimisation principles, and provides an audit trail of access. Firevault is also designed to support NIS2, DORA, FCA and SRA compliance requirements.

What is a physical air gap?

A physical air gap is a security measure where a computer or storage device is completely isolated from the internet and all unsecured networks. Unlike a logical or software air gap, a physical air gap cannot be bridged remotely. Firevault uses a Layer 1 physical air gap — your data is stored on hardware that is physically disconnected from any network when not in active use.

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Personal Securitybeginner

Digital Estate Planning: Succession Offline

Wills, trusts, power of attorney documents, and family wealth records are increasingly digital. But digital succession planning has a fatal flaw: the person who needs access is often the person least likely to have credentials. OSS solves this.

10 min read

The Digital Succession Problem

When a business owner dies, becomes incapacitated, or is otherwise unavailable, their digital estate becomes a labyrinth. Cryptocurrency wallets, cloud storage accounts, business banking credentials, intellectual property files, and legal documents may be scattered across dozens of systems, each protected by passwords that only the owner knew.

Traditional estate planning assumes physical documents in a solicitor's safe. Modern digital estates require a different approach: one that maintains access to critical digital assets while preventing premature or unauthorised access during the owner's lifetime.

What Belongs in a Digital Estate Vault

Financial Assets

Cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases and private keys
Banking and investment platform credentials
Pension and insurance policy access details
Business banking authorisation credentials

Legal Documents

Wills and codicils (digital copies alongside physical originals)
Power of attorney documentation
Trust deeds and beneficiary designations
Property deeds and mortgage documentation

Business Continuity

Company formation documents and shareholder agreements
Key supplier and client contracts
Intellectual property registrations and evidence
Business system credentials for continuity of operations

Personal Legacy

Digital photograph archives and family records
Personal correspondence and memoir materials
Social media account access for memorialisation or deletion
Instructions for digital asset distribution

Why Connected Storage Fails for Succession

Cloud storage services have terms of service that complicate posthumous access. Password managers require a master password that may be lost. Email-based recovery assumes the email account is accessible. Every connected solution introduces dependencies that may not be satisfiable during a succession event.

Physical disconnection through OSS eliminates these dependencies. Assets stored offline do not require cloud service cooperation, password recovery flows, or email access. They require physical presence and identity verification, which can be governed through legal mechanisms such as powers of attorney and executor appointments.

Governed Access for Succession

OSS provides controlled access mechanisms appropriate for succession scenarios:

Executor access: Pre-authorised individuals can access the vault upon presentation of appropriate legal documentation (grant of probate, letters of administration)
Power of attorney access: Attorneys appointed under a lasting power of attorney can access specified assets during the owner's incapacity
Shared access: Business partners can be granted access to business-critical credentials while personal assets remain restricted

Implementation

Inventory your digital estate. Document every significant digital asset, account, and credential.
Classify by succession scenario. Determine which assets need immediate access (business continuity) versus eventual access (personal legacy).
Store offline. Place credentials, documents, and instructions in physically disconnected storage with appropriate access governance.
Instruct your solicitor. Ensure your will references the existence and location of your digital estate vault, and that your executor knows how to access it.
Review annually. Digital estates change frequently. Establish an annual review to update credentials and asset inventories.

Conclusion

Digital estate planning is no longer optional for anyone with significant digital assets. Offline secure storage provides the combination of security during lifetime and accessibility during succession that no connected solution can match.