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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Risk and Compliance Officer Buyer's Guide

A governance leader's guide to offline secure storage for regulatory assurance. Learn how physical disconnection provides demonstrable evidence for auditors and regulators.

14 min read

Executive Summary

Who this guide is for: Risk Officers, Compliance Managers, and GRC professionals responsible for regulatory adherence and control assurance.

What you will learn: How offline secure storage provides demonstrable evidence of data protection controls, supporting compliance with GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and sector-specific regulations.

Key takeaway: Regulators increasingly expect demonstrable data protection, not just policies. Physical disconnection provides evidence that auditors can verify.

The Regulatory Landscape

Regulations are evolving from 'prove you have controls' to 'prove your data cannot be reached':

GDPR Article 32: Appropriate technical measures
NIS2: Resilience for essential and important entities
DORA: Operational resilience for financial services
FCA: Operational resilience and third-party risk

The Compliance Challenge

Traditional controls are difficult to evidence:

Encryption exists but keys can be compromised
Access controls exist but credentials can be stolen
Backups exist but can be ransomed alongside production

Physical disconnection is binary and verifiable: the data is either connected or it is not.

How Firevault Supports Compliance

Firevault provides:

Physical evidence: Disconnection status is verifiable
Audit trails: All access requests and sessions logged
Access controls: Identity verification and time-boxed sessions
Data ownership: Clear legal ownership of hardware and data

GDPR Alignment

Firevault supports GDPR compliance:

Article 5: Integrity and confidentiality principle
Article 32: Appropriate technical measures
Article 33: Breach notification (reduced scope when offline)
Article 35: DPIA evidence of risk mitigation

NIS2 and DORA Alignment

For essential and important entities:

Resilience requirements: Offline backup ensures recovery
Supply chain risk: No third-party access when offline
Incident response: Preserved evidence for investigation
Business continuity: Assured data availability

Audit Evidence

Firevault provides auditors with:

Physical disconnection verification
Access logs with identity verification
Session duration and activity records
Hardware ownership documentation

Risk Reduction

Firevault reduces exposure to:

Regulatory fines: Up to €20 million or 4% of turnover (GDPR)
Director liability: Up to £500,000 personal liability (ICO)
Reputational damage: Demonstrable controls reduce impact
Insurance claims: Evidence of reasonable measures

Implementation Approach

Data classification: Identify data requiring offline protection
Regulatory mapping: Map requirements to Firevault controls
Policy integration: Update policies to include offline storage
Audit preparation: Document evidence collection process

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we evidence disconnection to auditors? Physical verification and access logs demonstrate status at any point in time.

Does offline storage satisfy backup requirements? Yes, as part of a comprehensive backup strategy (the '0' in 3-2-1-0).

What about right of access requests? Data can be accessed during authorised sessions for subject access requests.

Next Steps

If you need demonstrable evidence of data protection controls for regulators and auditors, book a consultation to discuss how Firevault supports your compliance programme.