Password Protect Files & Folders in Google Drive

Read time 6 minutes

Google Drive offers a secure cloud-based platform for storing and sharing user content, including photos, files, and folders. Maintaining the confidentiality of essential data is a top priority for any user, particularly when frequent sharing with multiple individuals is necessary. While Google Drive provides easy accessibility to all documents from any location, it lacks a feature to password-protect individual files, which may raise concerns. This prompts the question: How can one safeguard files within Google Drive?

Measures to ensure the protection of files in Google Drive data

Here are several methods that can enhance the security of your confidential files and folders stored on the drive:

• Set a strong password
  The crux of maintaining privacy for any tool hinges on the strength of its password. Crafting a robust password serves as the foremost precautionary step. Here are key considerations when establishing a potent password for your account:
  1. The password’s length should not be overly brief.
  2. Create a distinctive password and refrain from using it across multiple websites or applications.
  3. Avoid usage of personal information as passwords.
  4. Workaround with alphabets, numbers, symbols, uppercases, and lowercases.
• Allow two-factor authentication
  Enabling two-factor authentication enhances security by adding an additional layer of protection. With this feature enabled, every user must supply both a password and a verification code to gain access to their Google account. Furthermore, this security measure extends to all of your Google applications. To bolster the strength of your account, follow these steps:
  1. Open your existing Google Account.
  2. From the left panel, select “Security.”
  3. Scroll down to the “Signing in to Google” section and click on “2-step verification”.
     
  4. Click on “Get Started” to further secure your account.
• Decide actions for individuals who have the document link
  Google Drive’s primary functionality lies in document sharing, streamlining tasks for professionals and fostering organizational collaboration. However, this very attribute can also pose security risks when unauthorized parties gain access to document links. Before sharing links, it is crucial to take precautions regarding the permissions granted to those who can access them. The safest approach is to share file links exclusively with trusted colleagues. Follow these steps to define user actions:
  1. Open the file and click on the “Share” options.
  2. Under the “Get link” box, select “Change.”
  3. You now have the option to select the available roles for the individual: Viewer, Commenter, or Editor.
• Use more of Google groups
  When collaborating with colleagues, Google Groups is the ideal choice. It offers dedicated groups for individuals with shared interests or projects, enhancing organization by restricting access to Google Drive data to only those included in the group.
• Regular checks
  Cultivating a beneficial practice involves routinely auditing your device. You can oversee the individuals with access to specific documents and eliminate outdated ones that serve no current purpose. This practice will help you maintain and streamline your Google Drive more effectively and effortlessly.
• Take Google Drive backup
  Another prudent strategy involves consistently backing up all your Google Drive files. Given the sensitive nature of the data, relying on a professional solution such as the Kernel G Suite/Google Workspace Backup Tool ensures a secure environment for safeguarding all your documents and folders. It provides methods to fix Some Common G Suite Problems and Solutions necessary for them. These are a few features that make it an ideal choice among the users-
  1. Offers easy way to backup of Google Drive data.
  2. You can save specific content by applying filters such as folders, dates, item types, and more.
  3. The integrated CSV file feature enables users to simultaneously back up multiple accounts.
  4. The trial edition of the software backs up up to five documents per Google Drive account.
  5. Because of its uncomplicated interface, the procedure is easy to follow and user-friendly.
  6. It can also provide a solution to Google account storage limitation for photos, videos, and emails.
  7. The Kernel G Suite Backup Software is highly compatible with all versions of the Windows operating system, including the latest Windows 11.

Conclusion

Because Google Drive houses crucial professional data, safeguarding these files becomes imperative. The question then arises: how can one secure files within Google Drive? There isn’t a direct method to achieve this, but you can take steps to enhance security. Firstly, establish a robust password and activate two-factor authentication. When sharing file links, exercise caution. Another prudent strategy is to create backups of your Google Drive files and folders using the provided tool.