---
id: backups.what-encryption-does-data-backup-use
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/what-encryption-does-data-backup-use
category: "Backups & restore points"
subcategory: "Encryption and passphrases"
question: "What encryption does Data Backup use?"
alt_questions:
  - "Which algorithm encrypts my backups?"
  - "How are Storage Studio backups encrypted?"
  - "backup encryption technical details"
  - "Is the backup encryption strong?"
  - "How secure are cloud backups?"
short_answer: "We don't publish the technical details, but your files are encrypted on your Mac before any cloud upload, the provider only stores scrambled data, and your passphrase is the only key. Choose a long one and keep it safe."
tags: ["encryption", "security", "privacy"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/are-my-cloud-backups-encrypted", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/how-do-i-set-a-backup-passphrase"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What encryption does Data Backup use?

We don't publish the details of how backups are encrypted, but here's what it means for you: your files are encrypted on your Mac before a cloud backup uploads anything, the provider only ever stores scrambled data, and the passphrase you choose is the only way to open a cloud backup.

The practical things that matter most are in your hands:
- Choose a long passphrase — a short sentence is easy to remember and hard to guess.
- Store it somewhere safe and away from the Mac.
- Never reuse a password from another account.