--- title: "What is OSS: the Offline Secure Storage | Firevault" description: "Not an accident. Not a fallback. Built to keep your most sensitive data physically physically disconnected. The physics of true data protection." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/offline-secure-storage/what-is-oss#webpage", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/offline-secure-storage/what-is-oss", "name": "What is OSS: the Offline Secure Storage", "description": "Not an accident. Not a fallback. Built to keep your most sensitive data physically physically disconnected. 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A managed platform built on physical hardware, in physical locations, physically stored and physically disconnected. Designed to put you and your data first. Book a demo ![Corridor of offline storage racks inside a Firevault bunker](/assets/hero-square-bunker-BC9Flanh.jpg) 03 With OSS ## Secure by Design, Offline by Default Offline secure storage is not another software layer. It is a fundamental architectural change that removes the attack surface entirely. 01 User or Time-based Access ### Physical Control Offline secure storage puts control back in human hands, not software schedules or permanent network connections. You decide when your data can be accessed, by whom, and for what purpose. - Human-driven decisions - Time-limited access windows - Intentional connection only 02 Layer 1 Physical Air Gap ### Physical Disconnect The storage is physically separated from networks. No internet connection. No IP address waiting to be scanned. No remote attack surface. When disconnected, it is disconnected in the truest sense. - No IP address - No network interface - Layer 1 physical air gap 03 RAID One Hard Drives ### Physical Storage Your data sits on real, dedicated hardware. Actual drives, not abstract cloud volumes or shared infrastructure. This removes the risks that come with multi-tenant platforms and virtualised environments. - Dedicated hardware - No shared infrastructure - Hardware-level encryption 04 Secure Colocation Facilities ### Firevault Bunkers Those drives live in Firevault Bunkers, carefully selected colocation facilities with defined entry rules, identity checks, and audit trails. You know where your data is and how it is protected. - Firevault Bunkers - Identity-verified access - Complete audit trail Secure by Design. Offline by Default. See how offline secure storage compares to cloud, NAS, and immutable backup solutions, or explore what types of data should be secured offline. [Compare five storage architectures](/compare/oss-vs-everything)[What should be secured offline?](/what-oss-stores) Questions ## Understanding Offline Security Straight answers on how Offline Secure Storage® behaves in practice. ### How is this different from air-gapped systems? ### How do I access my data if it is disconnected? ### Can offline storage be hacked remotely? ### What happens during a ransomware attack? ### Is this suitable for frequently accessed data? Keep reading ## Explore why Offline Secure Storage® is different The physical foundations, and what physical disconnection means for you. [ The four foundations Why OSS ](/why-oss) [ Physical ownership What OSS stores ](/what-oss-stores) [ Physical control Complete control ](/why-oss#foundations) [ Physical location Built for security ](/why-oss#foundations) [ The technical read Layer 1 disconnection ](/how-oss-works#physical) [ How you reach it Remote access on your terms ](/how-oss-works#session) [ ![The Leaders' Playbook cover](/__l5e/assets-v1/e8c2b388-0083-4aa9-a143-f8c4b11d2db3/leaders-cover.jpg)](/playbook/leaders) Free playbook · Boards & leaders ### The Leaders' Playbook A board-level briefing on sovereign data, succession resilience and physical protection. 28 pages 18 min read Email-gated [Get the playbook](/playbook/leaders) [ ![Close the File. Protect the Record. cover](/__l5e/assets-v1/a563c7e7-cdd3-47c3-8557-57a4d04b97b7/legal-cover.jpg)](/playbook/legal) Free playbook · Legal & records ### Close the File. Protect the Record. File closure, retained records and offline custody for UK law firms. 28 pages 20 min read Email-gated [Get the playbook](/playbook/legal) ![Mark Fermor](/assets/mark-fermor-C-vy1NeN.jpg) ![David Bailey](/assets/david-bailey-CnLw95Ao.jpg) ![Kenny Phipps](/assets/kenny-phipps-DxIqwaIL.jpg) Online Now Concierge ## Experience true offline security See how physically disconnected storage keeps your data safe from every network-based threat. Takes about 2 minutes. No account needed. Find Out Free 2 mins No sign-up Secured by Design Offline by Default [![Firevault - offline secure storage](/assets/logo-white-official-BKfZ19hm.png)](/) The world's first offline secure storage platform for data. Dedicated hardware. Physically disconnected. Online when you need it, offline when you do not. Not Cloud Not HSM Not SaaS Offline by Design Secure by design [ hello@fire-vault.com](mailto:hello@fire-vault.com) United Kingdom Independently certified by [ ![Cyber Essentials Certified](https://fire-vault.com/__l5e/assets-v1/6f8f42a2-89e1-4c20-938f-3f34d30bc90c/cyber-essentials-2026.png) ![Cyber Essentials Plus Certified](https://fire-vault.com/__l5e/assets-v1/8a77bf2c-6711-4762-b093-c4d650153bc9/cyber-essentials-plus-2026.png) ](https://registry.blockmarktech.com/certificates/) ### Stay Updated Security insights, product updates, and threat intelligence delivered to your inbox. Subscribe I agree to receive emails from Firevault. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Products Data Protection & Storage [ ![Offline Secure Storage product icon](/assets/vault-icon-BhL4-R9F.svg) Offline Secure Storage® (#OSS) A Digital Safe Deposit Box ](/offline-secure-storage) Network Evolution & Rapid Protection (#NEARP) [ ![Control product icon](/assets/control-icon-B9EWHzCT.png) Control Data Path Governance ](/control)[ ![Firebreak product icon](/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) Firebreak Physical Network Segmentation ](/firebreak) ### Firevault - [Offline Secure Storage® (#OSS)](/offline-secure-storage) - [LUV](/luv) - [Vault](/vault) - [Why OSS](/why-oss) - [Meet Firevault](/about) ### Solutions - [Keep Personal Data Secure](/oss-for-personal-records) - [Keep Customer Data Secure](/oss-for-customer-data) - [Keep Critical Data Beyond Ransomware](/oss-for-ransomware-recovery) - [Protect Director Data from Fines & Liability](/oss-for-directors-and-boards) - [Secure the Data Your Business Depends On](/oss-for-business) - [Keep Intellectual Property Secure](/oss-for-intellectual-property) - [OSS Use Cases](/oss-for-use-cases) - [Compliance & Risk](/compliance) - [Network Evolution & Rapid Protection (#NEARP)](/solutions/control) ### Resources - [Firevault Playbooks](/playbooks) - [The Leaders' Playbook](/playbook/leaders) - [Firebreak for Water Playbook](/playbook/firebreak-water) - [A Control Blueprint for AI](/playbook/ai-control-blueprints) - [Knowledge Vault](/learn/knowledge) - [White papers](/learn/whitepapers) - [How OSS Works](/how-oss-works) - [How OSS Physical Disconnection Works](/offline-secure-storage/what-is-oss) ### Company - [Press and Media](/press-media) - [Knowledge Vault](/learn/knowledge) - [FAQs](/learn/faq) - [Help Centre](/help) - [Careers](/careers) - [Invest in Firevault](/investors) [](https://www.linkedin.com/company/firevault-limited)[](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581962517246)[](https://twitter.com/firevaultuk)[](/rss.xml) Firevault - Disconnect to Protect® [Site Map](/sitemap)● [Privacy Charter](/privacy-charter)● [Terms of Service](/terms)● [Planet Pledge](/planet-pledge)● [Vault User Commitment](/vault-commitment)● [LUV User Commitment](/luv-commitment)● [Cookie Policy](/cookies) © 2026 Firevault Limited Company No. 16320803 · VAT No. 490 8551 64 · Registered in England and Wales Get started ![Firevault](/favicon.svg) Tell us what you need to protect. 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