We store so much of our lives in the cloud, including photos, emails, and vacation plans.
But when it comes to truly important documents like wills, birth certificates, tax returns, or power of attorney forms, it's natural to wonder: Is the cloud safe? This guide answers the most important questions about cloud storage, digital vaults, and how to protect what matters most.
Q: What does it mean to store documents in "the cloud"?
A: Cloud storage means your files are saved on servers owned and operated by another company, which you access online. The security of these servers varies dramatically depending on the provider and service type.
While this setup offers convenience and protection from local disasters like fires or theft, it also means your data's safety depends entirely on the security measures implemented by that company — and how well you protect your own account access.
Q: Why is cloud storage so widely used?
A: It's convenient. You can access your files anytime, anywhere — and they're safe from local disasters like a house fire or hard drive crash.
Q: What are the most important security practices I should follow?
A: Use a unique, complex password for each account — never reuse passwords across services. Consider a password manager to generate and store these safely.
Q: Should I enable multi-factor authentication?
A: Always enable multi-factor authentication when available. This means even if someone steals your password, they still can't access your account without your phone or authentication device. Trustworthy's digital vault requires multi-factor authentication (see our Security page).
Q: How often should I review my account security?
A: Check your account activity monthly. Look for unfamiliar logins, shared files you don't remember creating, or access by people who no longer need it.
Q: How can I protect myself from phishing attacks?
A: Be suspicious of emails asking you to "verify" your account or click links to "update security." Legitimate services rarely request this via email.
Q: What should I do to prepare for account recovery?
A: Set up multiple recovery methods (backup email, phone number) and keep them current. If you lose access to your primary email, you'll still be able to recover your account.
Q: Is a digital vault the same as cloud storage?
A: Not exactly. A digital vault is a type of cloud storage, but it's built specifically for storing and protecting sensitive documents like legal, financial, and identity records.
Q: What makes a digital vault different from regular cloud storage?
A: You can think of it as private cloud storage: Your documents are encrypted, access is tightly controlled, and you decide who can view what. Unlike general-purpose tools like Google Drive, a digital vault adds security features like end-to-end encryption and role-based access — plus helpful organizational tools like document categorization and renewal reminders.
Q: What is Trustworthy?
A: Trustworthy is a secure digital vault designed for families. It helps you store, organize, and share your most important information without having to build your own system, and it provides industry-leading security.
Trustworthy's Family Operating System® is designed for both day-to-day needs and emergency use. Its mobile app (iOS and Android) make it simple to access your family's important information when you're on the go.
Q: How is a digital vault different from Google Drive or Dropbox?
A: Basic cloud storage services are built for convenience, not security. They're great for sharing vacation photos or drafts of documents — but not ideal for storing copies of your Social Security card, will, or financial power of attorney.
Q: Can you give me real examples of what goes wrong with basic cloud storage?
A: Here are scenarios that can happen regularly:
The accidental share: You give your business partner access to a tax documents folder to review your company's financial health. But this folder also contains your personal tax returns with your spouse's Social Security number, your children's dependent information, and your home address — sensitive family data your business partner doesn't need and shouldn't have.
The forgotten link: You email your accountant a link to your tax documents folder. Three years later, that link still works, but your accountant has changed firms and left their old email account accessible to new employees.
The reused password: Your photography forum gets hacked, and your password is stolen. Because you used the same password for your cloud storage, hackers now have access to your Social Security card, passport scans, and bank statements.
The unclear inheritance: Your father stored the family's important documents in his personal Google Drive. When he passes away, the family knows the documents exist but can't access them because Google's account recovery process requires information only he knew.
Q: How does a digital vault prevent these problems?
A: Such scenarios are nearly impossible with a properly configured digital vault, which prevents oversharing, controls link expiration, isolates account security, and includes inheritance planning features.
Q: What are the main risks of using basic cloud storage for sensitive documents?
A: Files may be shared using public links with no expiration, passwords are often reused or weak, there's no clear record of who accessed or downloaded a file, sensitive files may sit unencrypted in your account, and there's no way to control what someone sees if you give access to a whole folder.
Q: Can files stored in the cloud be hacked?
A: The impact of a breach depends heavily on how your data is protected. If your files are encrypted with keys only you control, a breach might expose scrambled, unreadable data. If they're stored in plain text, a breach could expose everything immediately.
Q: What is end-to-end encryption, and why does it matter?
A: End-to-end encryption means your files are encrypted before they leave your device and decrypted only when viewed by someone authorized. No one — not even the service provider — can read them in transit or while stored.
Q: What is multi-factor authentication, and should I use it?
A: Yes. Multi-factor authentication adds an important layer of security by requiring a second code (often sent to your phone) when logging in. Trustworthy supports multi-factor authentication, biometric logins, and physical security keys.
Q: What kind of documents should be stored in a digital vault?
A: Copies of anything sensitive or hard to replace: wills, trusts, and power of attorney forms; passports and Social Security cards; tax returns and mortgage documents; insurance policies; medical directives and immunization records. Trustworthy makes it easy to categorize and store these securely.
Q: Should I avoid storing certain documents in a digital vault?
A: No — as long as you use a secure platform like Trustworthy. What matters isn't the type of document, but how and where it's stored. A digital vault keeps even your most sensitive records protected.
Q: Can I still keep paper copies as a backup?
A: Yes. You can use the digital vault as your primary source of access and keep essential originals (like a signed will or passport) in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box. The digital version is especially useful when you're away from home or need to share a copy quickly.
However, there are many documents that you can shred after uploading digital versions.
Q: What if I lose internet access?
A: Trustworthy lets you export or download key files for offline access. You can also print physical copies of documents you may need in an emergency.
Q: How can I share documents from my vault without compromising security?
A: Avoid email attachments or public links. Use secure sharing features like Trustworthy's SecureLinks™, which let you share view-only access, add password protection, set expiration dates, and revoke access anytime.
Q: In Trustworthy, can I control what someone sees when I share access?
A: Yes. You can share specific documents or categories without exposing your whole vault.
Q: What if I want to change who has access to a document?
A: Trustworthy's Family Operating System® ensures you can update or revoke access instantly. You can also limit someone's access to a specific category (e.g., legal documents) while keeping everything else private.
Q: Can I use cloud storage for estate planning?
A: Absolutely. A digital vault helps you store and update your will, trust, and power of attorney; share those documents with family, lawyers, or executors; and prepare emergency contacts for what to do if something happens to you.
Q: What happens to my documents if I pass away?
A: Trustworthy offers Legacy Access, so trusted individuals can take over your account, without needing your password.
Q: What if I forget to update something important?
A: Trustworthy sends automatic reminders for things like driver's license renewals, insurance expirations, and passport deadlines — helping you stay prepared without needing your own spreadsheet or calendar system.
Q: How can I tell if my current setup has good access control?
A: Ask yourself: Can you see exactly who has access to each document or folder? Can you remove someone's access instantly without changing your password? If you share a folder, can you prevent someone from accessing files you add later?
Q: What makes Trustworthy different from basic cloud storage?
A: Trustworthy is a secure digital vault purpose-built for families. It combines bank-level encryption, role-based permissions, secure document sharing, category-based organization, automated expiration reminders, Legacy Access for estate planning, and multi-factor authentication. And it's easy to use — even for people who don't consider themselves tech-savvy.
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Trustworthy is an online service providing legal forms and information. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.
