NordLocker
Private storage and backup
A good fit when the main job is encrypting, backing up, sharing, and accessing files you already control.
Encrypting your files is only half the workflow.
NordLocker focuses on legacy private cloud storage, local encryption, backup, and file access. PhotonFile adds the missing operational layer: live Relay for delivery, Secure Inbox for client uploads, Vaults for retained encrypted storage, and owner-powered teams for collaboration without a per-seat tax.
PhotonFile
Bi-directional zero-knowledge workflow
Handles the file coming in, going out, and staying encrypted afterward through Secure Inbox, Relay, and Photon Vault.
Secure client upload
Outsiders stay outside
Secure Inbox gives clients an upload surface, not a locker key or workspace view.
Bi-directional workflow
Secure intake matters as much as secure storage.
Many encrypted storage tools start with files you already have. PhotonFile handles both directions: send sensitive files out with Relay, keep files in Vault when persistence matters, and collect confidential payloads from clients through Secure Inbox without giving them a workspace view.
Intake without exposure
Secure Inbox is not a shared-folder workaround.
Secure Inbox gives clients, vendors, partners, and contractors a focused upload page. They can submit files and notes into the right Vault workflow without browsing Vault contents, seeing unrelated projects, managing workspace settings, or turning an upload link into team access.
From locker to operations platform
Give clients an upload surface, not a locker key.
NordLocker-style legacy storage
- Legacy private cloud storage.
- Local encryption before legacy cloud sync.
- Backup and access across devices.
- Secure sharing positioned around stored files.
PhotonFile
- Secure Inbox for inbound files.
- Relay for live outbound handoff.
- Vault for persistent encrypted storage.
- Per-Vault boundaries and per-Vault sync.
- Completion-gated File Passes.
- Owner-powered team collaboration.
Compare by operational pain
| Operational pain | NordLocker-style legacy encrypted storage | PhotonFile |
|---|---|---|
| Protect files you already have | Core strength. | Vault covers this. |
| Send a huge file once | Storage and share workflow. | Relay or File Pass. |
| Receive confidential files from clients | Depends on current sharing and intake capabilities. | Secure Inbox ingress. |
| Keep senders outside workspace | Not the primary product story. | Sender gets upload page, not Vault view. |
| Team collaboration | Plan details vary. | Eligible teams run under owner plan. |
| Sync boundaries | Legacy cloud storage and sync model. | Vault Sync maps each work domain to its own local folder. |
Where PhotonFile wins
- Secure Inbox: dedicated ingress for secure client upload without workspace exposure.
- Relay: live secure file transfer when both sides are ready now.
- Photon Vault: encrypted Vault storage for files that should remain available.
- No per-seat team tax: eligible team workspaces run under the owner plan.
- File Passes: completion-gated large file transfer for occasional oversized sends.
When NordLocker may still fit better
NordLocker is a good fit when the main job is encrypting, backing up, and accessing files you already control.
PhotonFile is the better fit when secure intake, live transfer, team boundaries, and workflow separation are the bigger problem.
Choose the PhotonFile workflow
Need a NordLocker alternative with real intake?
PhotonFile handles the file coming in, going out, and staying encrypted afterward.