Moving from Dropbox to Encrypted Cloud Storage: Complete Migration Guide

Dropbox remains one of the most reliable and user-friendly cloud storage platforms available. For most businesses, its fast sync, excellent collaboration tools, and broad integrations make it an excellent choice.

However, if your organization handles sensitive client data, operates in a regulated industry, or simply requires zero-knowledge encryption where even the storage provider cannot access your files, alternatives like Tresorit, pCloud, and Proton Drive offer a different security model.

This guide is for businesses that have determined they need zero-knowledge encryption. We'll walk you through evaluating your options, planning the migration, and training your team on new workflows.

Key Takeaways

When Zero-Knowledge Encryption Makes Sense

Dropbox uses a standard encryption model where the company manages encryption keys on your behalf. This approach works well for most businesses and enables features like full-text search, file previews, and seamless third-party integrations.

However, some organizations specifically need zero-knowledge encryption, where files are encrypted on your device before upload and only you hold the keys. This is typically driven by:

Compliance Requirements

How Standard vs Zero-Knowledge Encryption Differs

With Dropbox's standard model:

• Dropbox manages encryption keys, enabling features like search and previews
• The company can comply with valid legal requests for data access
• Integration with third-party services works seamlessly

With zero-knowledge providers like Tresorit:

• Files are encrypted on your device before upload
• The provider cannot access your files, even if legally compelled
• Some convenience features (like server-side search) may be limited

Neither approach is inherently better—it depends on your specific needs. If compliance requirements or organizational policy mandate that no third party can access your data under any circumstances, zero-knowledge encryption is the appropriate choice.

Recent Dropbox Product Changes

Dropbox has consolidated some security features:

• Dropbox Vault (PIN-protected folders) was discontinued in March 2025
• Dropbox Passwords service ended in October 2025

These changes don't affect Dropbox's core security, but organizations that relied on these specific features may find alternatives better suited to their needs.

What Is Zero-Knowledge Encryption?

Zero-knowledge encryption is the technical term for a simple concept: your files are encrypted on your device before they ever leave it, and only you hold the keys.

How It Works

1. You create or edit a file on your computer or phone
2. The app encrypts the file locally using keys stored only on your device
3. Encrypted data uploads to the cloud — completely unreadable without your keys
4. The provider stores scrambled data they cannot decrypt, even if legally compelled
5. You download and decrypt on your authorized devices

The Trade-Off You Accept

With zero-knowledge encryption, if you forget your password and lose your recovery key, your data is permanently gone. The provider cannot help you because they never had access to begin with.

This is a feature, not a bug—it's the price of true privacy. Both Tresorit and Proton Drive provide recovery key options during setup. Store this key securely (a password manager works well).

Dropbox vs Zero-Knowledge Comparison

Evaluating Alternatives: Tresorit vs pCloud vs Proton Drive

Three providers stand out for businesses switching from Dropbox. Each serves different needs and budgets.

Quick Comparison

Tresorit: Best for Compliance-Heavy Industries

Tresorit has built its reputation on enterprise-grade security since 2011. It's the go-to choice for:

• Healthcare organizations needing HIPAA compliance with signed BAAs
• Legal firms requiring detailed audit logs and permission controls
• Financial services with client confidentiality requirements
• Teams using Microsoft 365 wanting native Outlook and Teams integration

Tresorit's granular permissions let you specify exactly who can view, edit, download, or share each file—essential when managing sensitive client documents across multiple parties.

Pricing: Business Standard at $14.50/user/month includes 1TB storage and core compliance features. Business Plus at $19/user/month adds 2TB storage and advanced admin controls.

For a deeper look, read our complete Tresorit review.

pCloud: Best Budget Option (With Caveats)

pCloud offers competitive pricing with zero-knowledge encryption (Crypto) included free in Business plans.

For individual plans, Crypto is a paid add-on, but Business users get client-side encryption at no extra cost.

Best for: Budget-conscious teams wanting full encryption without add-on fees.

Limitations: No HIPAA compliance, less robust permission controls than Tresorit.

Pricing: Business plan at $7.99/user/month includes Crypto.

Proton Drive: Best Value for Privacy Ecosystem

Proton Drive comes from the team behind ProtonMail and ProtonVPN. It's zero-knowledge by default with no add-ons required.

The real value emerges with the Proton Business Suite at $12.99/user/month, which bundles:

• Encrypted email (ProtonMail)
• Secure calendar
• VPN for network protection
• Password manager
• Cloud storage (Proton Drive)

Best for: Small teams wanting comprehensive privacy tools, businesses moving away from Google Workspace for privacy reasons.

Limitations: Fewer enterprise features than Tresorit, newer infrastructure.

For ecosystem details, see our Proton Business Suite review.

Planning Your Migration

Successful migration starts before you touch any files. A methodical approach prevents data loss and minimizes team disruption.

Pre-Migration Checklist

Choosing Data Residency

If your business must comply with GDPR or industry regulations requiring data to stay in specific regions, configure this before uploading files:

• Tresorit: Choose from Switzerland, EU, US, UK, Germany, or Canada
• pCloud: Switzerland or Luxembourg (EU)
• Proton Drive: Switzerland only

Step-by-Step Migration to Tresorit

This walkthrough uses Tresorit as the example since it offers the most robust migration path for businesses. The general process applies to all providers.

Step 1: Create Your Tresorit Account

1. Go to Tresorit Business and start the 14-day free trial
2. Choose your plan tier (Business Standard for most teams)
3. Select your data residency region during setup
4. Enable two-factor authentication immediately

Step 2: Design Your Folder Structure

Tresorit uses "tresors" (secure folders) as the basic organizational unit. Plan your structure before migrating:

Company Files (tresor)
├── Client Projects
├── Internal Documents  
├── HR & Legal
└── Finance

Team Shared (tresor)
├── Marketing Assets
├── Templates
└── Reference Materials

Tip: You don't need to replicate your exact Dropbox structure. Migration is a good opportunity to clean up folder organization.

Step 3: Download Your Dropbox Data

1. Log into Dropbox web interface
2. Select folders to migrate (or all files)
3. Click "Download" to get a ZIP file
4. Extract to a local folder on your computer

For large accounts (100GB+), consider using the Dropbox desktop app to sync everything locally first, then moving files to Tresorit.

Step 4: Install Tresorit Desktop App

1. Download Tresorit for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
2. Sign in with your business account
3. Choose which tresors to sync locally
4. The app creates a Tresorit folder on your computer

Step 5: Upload Files to Tresorit

Method A — Drag and Drop (small migrations): Simply drag extracted folders into your Tresorit sync folder

Method B — Create Tresors First (larger migrations):

1. Create tresors in the Tresorit app matching your planned structure
2. Copy files into appropriate tresor folders
3. Wait for sync to complete (check progress in app)

Step 6: Verify Transfer Completion

Before deleting anything from Dropbox:

• Confirm file counts match between source and destination
• Spot-check important documents by opening them
• Verify folder structure is correct
• Test that sync works across multiple devices

Step 7: Update Sharing Links

Old Dropbox sharing links will break. For each external share:

1. Create a new Tresorit sharing link
2. Set appropriate permissions (view-only, download, edit)
3. Add password protection and expiration dates where appropriate
4. Send new links to collaborators

Recreating Shared Folders and External Sharing

Permission management is where Tresorit shines compared to Dropbox's simpler model.

Permission Mapping

Setting Up External Collaboration

For partners and clients who need ongoing access:

1. Create a dedicated tresor for external collaboration
2. Invite collaborators by email — they can create free Tresorit accounts
3. Use "Cooperative Links" if they shouldn't need accounts — allows view/edit in browser
4. Enable "File Request" to receive files from people without sharing your folders

Security Best Practices for Sharing

• Set expiration dates on all external links (30 days maximum for sensitive files)
• Require passwords for confidential documents
• Use download limits for contracts and agreements
• Review access logs monthly to revoke stale permissions

Training Team on New Workflows

Technology adoption fails when teams aren't prepared. Budget time for proper onboarding.

Training Session Outline (30 Minutes)

Part 1: Why We Switched (5 min)

• Brief explanation of zero-knowledge encryption
• What it means for client confidentiality

Part 2: Daily Workflow (15 min)

• Installing desktop and mobile apps
• Syncing files and working offline
• Sharing files internally and externally
• Finding files and using search

Part 3: Security Practices (10 min)

• Creating strong passwords (use a password manager)
• Enabling two-factor authentication
• What to do if you forget your password (recovery key!)
• Reporting suspicious activity

Quick Reference Card

Create a one-page cheat sheet for common tasks:

Compliance Documentation

For businesses in regulated industries, proper documentation is essential.

Tresorit Compliance Certifications

Obtaining a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

For HIPAA compliance:

1. Subscribe to Tresorit Business or Enterprise plan (3+ users)
2. Contact Tresorit support requesting BAA
3. Provide required business information
4. Receive signed BAA for your records

Tresorit's zero-knowledge encryption provides an additional compliance benefit: even in a breach scenario, encrypted data that cannot be decrypted may not trigger breach notification requirements.

Audit Log Features

Tresorit provides detailed logs for compliance reporting:

• Who accessed which files and when
• Download and sharing activity
• Failed access attempts
• Administrative changes

Export these logs regularly for compliance documentation and security monitoring.

For more on compliance requirements, see our small business security compliance guide.

3-Year Cost Comparison

The right choice depends on your team size and feature requirements. Use the interactive calculator below to compare the total cost of ownership (TCO) over three years, including your current Dropbox costs.

Cost Analysis

Best value for security: Proton Business Suite provides zero-knowledge encryption plus email, VPN, and password manager at prices below Dropbox Standard.

Best for compliance: Tresorit costs slightly more than Dropbox but includes HIPAA-grade security and audit features that Dropbox requires higher-tier plans to match.

Budget option: pCloud Business at $7.99/user/month includes Crypto encryption—no add-on required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Dropbox access my files?

Yes. Dropbox manages the encryption keys for your files, which means they technically have the ability to access your data. They can also comply with government requests and warrants. Zero-knowledge alternatives like Tresorit and Proton Drive encrypt files on your device before upload, so even the provider cannot access your content.

Is pCloud zero-knowledge encrypted?

pCloud Business includes zero-knowledge encryption (pCloud Crypto) at no extra cost. For individual plans, Crypto is a paid add-on. With Crypto enabled, files are encrypted on your device before upload.

What happens if I forget my Tresorit password?

With zero-knowledge encryption, Tresorit cannot reset your password or recover your files. Your data becomes permanently inaccessible. Both Tresorit and Proton Drive strongly recommend storing your recovery key securely when you create your account.

How long does migration from Dropbox take?

Migration time depends on your data volume. Small teams (under 50GB) can typically complete migration in a few hours. Larger organizations (500GB+) should plan for 1-3 days of data transfer, plus additional time for permission mapping and team training.

Can I share files with people who don't have Tresorit?

Yes. Tresorit allows you to create secure, password-protected sharing links. Recipients can view or download files without creating a Tresorit account. You can also set expiration dates and download limits for added security.

Is Tresorit HIPAA compliant?

Yes. Tresorit offers HIPAA compliance and will sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with customers on Business or Enterprise plans. Their zero-knowledge encryption means even compromised servers cannot expose patient data.

Does Tresorit work with Microsoft Teams and Outlook?

Yes. Tresorit integrates with Microsoft Outlook (add-in for secure email attachments) and Microsoft Teams (for secure file sharing within channels). They also support Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) for single sign-on.

Which encrypted cloud storage is cheapest?

Proton Drive offers the lowest starting price at $5.99/user/month for Drive Professional. pCloud Business is $7.99/user/month. Tresorit starts at $14.50/user/month but includes more advanced collaboration and compliance features. For the full Proton ecosystem (email, VPN, storage, password manager), the Business Suite at $12.99/user/month offers excellent value.

Making the Switch

Moving from Dropbox to encrypted cloud storage isn't complicated, but it requires planning. The security benefits are substantial—especially for businesses handling sensitive client information.

Our recommendations:

• For healthcare, legal, and financial services: Tresorit provides the compliance features. Read our Tresorit review for details.

• For small teams prioritizing value: Proton Business Suite delivers zero-knowledge security with a complete privacy ecosystem. See our Proton vs Tresorit comparison.

• For budget-conscious teams: pCloud Business includes zero-knowledge encryption at the lowest per-user cost.

Start with a free trial to test workflows before committing. Both Tresorit (14 days) and Proton (free tier available) let you experience the platforms firsthand.

Related Resources

• Tresorit Review: Secure Cloud Storage — In-depth Tresorit analysis
• Tresorit vs Proton Drive for Business — Detailed comparison
• Secure Cloud Storage for Business — Zero-knowledge overview
• Proton Business Suite Review — Complete Proton ecosystem
• Best Business Password Managers — Secure your credentials
• Small Business Security Compliance Guide — Regulatory requirements