The Swiss company Proton known for the development of privacy applications, has added new features: the ability to create, edit and collaborate on documents through its secure storage service. cloud.
The launch of Proton Docs built into Proton Drive follows the acquisition of secure note-taking app Standard Notes in April.
Proton Drive, the end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service (E2EE), launched in September 2022 with web support and expanded to mobile devices later that year. New collaborative document processing features increase strong company security, making it a critical productivity tool for professionals and individuals.
Proton presents Docs as a secure and privacy-oriented alternative Google Drive and Google Docs, highlighting the absence of zero-knowledge architecture from competing products. “This important addition to our enhanced privacy product suite offers a powerful alternative to existing document processors, ensuring privacy and security without sacrificing key features,” the company wrote in a blog post.
U encryption E2E ensures that Proton does not have access to user content because it does not have the encryption keys. This allows Proton to offer a clear differentiation from data-driven business models like Google. “Docs provides the same level of encryption as Proton Drive, meaning that all content is protected by E2EE,” a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. “Even changes, such as file names and paths, are encrypted.”
Creating collaborative documents with E2EE is a technically challenging process, something that no other company in the market has achieved. It includes key exchange and synchronized key information, as well as the ability to invite people to collaborate and revoke those permissions, as well as share private documents.
Proton says it will update its website in the coming weeks to provide more details on how Docs works behind the scenes. The company notes that it had already launched improved sharing features on Proton Drive a few weeks ago in anticipation of this launch.
According to Proton, Documents in Proton Drive includes popular and “essential” features, such as full support for markup and redaction of rich text, code blocks and checklists. It is also confirmed compatibility for many types of files, including Microsoft .docx, and the ability to embed images in documents.
Collaboration features include the ability to add and respond to (and resolve) comments and see who else is viewing a document in real time with “collaborative cursors.” Invitations to collaborate on documents are also supported. Participants without a Proton account will be invited to create a free account to gain access, which could help increase registrations and boost their growth.
In keeping with Proton’s freemium, the new document features are accessible for free through Proton Drive, which offers up to 5GB of free storage. After this limit, users who want to take advantage of the document functions must upgrade to a paid level of Drive.
More features are in development. Proton said its roadmap aims to improve user experience and productivity, starting with more powerful collaboration tools for groups. Given Proton’s security promise, it promotes Drive Documents to companies subject to high compliance requirements for protection data, such as those in industries such as health, media, finance and law.
The company has confirmed that the code for the documents will be open “soon”, allowing for an independent review and verification of its security claims.
In a more reassuring step for users, last month Proton announced a move to a non-profit foundation structure model, with the new foundation becoming the main shareholder in the business (for profit). He said this governance change is designed to preserve its long-term pro-privacy mission, allowing it to be self-sustaining and independent of other commercial agendas.
The app maker, which was founded a decade ago as an E2EE email service (ProtonMail), has grown its use over the years, expanding to offer a range of pro-privacy apps that focus on productivity, including a cloud storage service with a calendar application, VPN and instrument password management.
Proton now reports over 100 million user accounts in total, with 500 employees maintaining all of its technology.