Proton, the Swiss-based pro-privacy productivity app maker, has recently introduced Docs in Proton Drive, a new feature that allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on documents within its secure cloud storage service. This addition comes after Proton’s acquisition of secure note-taking app Standard Notes in April, demonstrating the company’s commitment to expanding its suite of privacy-focused products.
Proton Drive, launched in September 2022, is an end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) cloud storage service that initially offered web support and later expanded to mobile. With the introduction of Docs in Proton Drive, Proton aims to provide a secure and privacy-focused alternative to popular services like Google Drive and Docs, which lack Proton’s flagship zero-knowledge architecture.
The key differentiator of Proton’s E2EE architecture is that the company does not hold encryption keys, ensuring that user content remains inaccessible to Proton. This trustless pledge of privacy sets Proton apart from data-dependent business models like Google’s. The company confirmed that Docs in Proton Drive offers the same level of encryption as Proton Drive itself, ensuring that all contents, changes, keystrokes, file names, and file paths are encrypted.
Developing collaborative document features with E2EE posed significant challenges for Proton. However, the company successfully implemented key exchange, synchronized key information, invitation and revocation of collaboration permissions, and private document sharing. In the coming weeks, Proton plans to provide more detailed information about how Docs works behind the scenes on its website.
Docs in Proton Drive includes essential features such as markdown and rich text support, code blocks, checklists, compatibility with Microsoft .docx, and the ability to embed images in documents. Collaboration features enable users to add and reply to comments, view who else is accessing a document in real-time with collaborative cursors, and invite others to collaborate on docs. Non-Proton users will be prompted to create a free account to gain access, potentially driving additional registrations for Proton.
Proton follows a freemium model, offering free access to Docs in Proton Drive up to 5GB of storage. Beyond this limit, users will need to upgrade to a paid tier of Drive to access the document capabilities. Proton’s roadmap includes plans for more powerful collaboration tools for teams, catering to businesses with high data protection compliance requirements in industries such as healthcare, media, finance, and legal. However, individual users can also benefit from the new features.
To ensure transparency and independent verification of its security claims, Proton plans to open-source the code for docs soon, allowing for auditing by external experts. The company’s recent transition to a nonprofit foundation structure further reinforces its commitment to its pro-privacy mission. The foundation will become the main shareholder in the for-profit business, enabling Proton to sustain its independence and protect user privacy in the long term.
Proton, which started as an E2EE webmail service called ProtonMail a decade ago, has now expanded its offerings to include a suite of pro-privacy freemium productivity apps, including cloud storage, a calendar app, VPN, and password manager tool. With over 100 million user accounts and 500 employees, Proton continues to prioritize privacy and security while providing essential productivity tools for both individuals and businesses.
