Security and authentication

Nextcloud is designed to protect user data through multiple layers of protection.

Nextcloud understands the necessity to provide core principle baseline security requirements, as such Nextcloud 11 is built on these security principles to ultimately deliver a secure solution to their customers

NCC GROUP

Verified Enterprise Class Security

Our customers care deeply about security and so do we. Nextcloud aligns with industry standards such as Clause 14 of ISO/IEC27001-2013 and related standards, guidance and security principles. Our solution is built around combined assurance layers consisting of rich security features, applied best practices governed by policy and the design itself validated by industry standard testing processes.

NCC Group security review

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Logging and monitoring

Nextcloud has built in monitoring and logging tools, compatible with industry standard tools like Splunk, Nagios and OpenNMS. It also offers a full, compliance-ready activity log for reporting and auditing purposes.

Monitoring

Permissions

Administrators can set permissions on sharing and access to files using groups. Permissions of underlying storage, like Windows Network Drive access rights, are respected by Nextcloud

Sharing can be protected by passwords, expiration dates, hiding of existing files, blocking downloads and the enforcing of a video call before access is granted (Video Verification). There is also support for ACLs on team folders.

Sharing permissions

Data retention

Define rules for data retention, allowing regular cleanup of files or ensurances that data stays put for a set amount of time.

Tagging and retention

File access control

The powerful workflow tools in Nextcloud enable administrators to limit access to data in accordance to business and legal requirements and perform automatic actions like file conversion. Describe restrictions like “XLSX files from the HR department are not to be accessible outside company IP ranges” or “employees in the US shouldn’t access customer data from European data centers” for Nextcloud to enforce.

File access control

Multi-layered encryption

Nextcloud uses industry-standard SSL/TLS encryption for data in transfer. Additionally, data at rest in storage can be encrypted using a default military grade AES-256 encryption with server-based or custom key management. Also optionally and on a per-folder base data can be end-to-end encrypted on the client with the server assisting in sharing and key management using a Zero-Knowledge model.

Encryption

Compliance

Nextcloud puts all the pieces for compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDRP at your fingertips. This goes from extensive documentation on our customer portal to specific apps for data requests as well as encryption and security capabilities in Nextcloud itself.

Compliance

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Integration

Nextcloud supports your existing storage solution, keeping data under control of trusted IT administrators and managed with established policies. Nextcloud works with industry standard SQL databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL and MariaDB for user and metadata storage.

Storage integration

Nextcloud offers built in monitoring tools and integrates with existing MDM, DLP, event logging and backup tools, enabling existing tool chains to be used to monitor, backup and restore systems

Monitoring

Nextcloud leverages existing data storage and database technologies so current security policies and governance processes can continue to be used to manage, control and secure operations with Nextcloud. Your IT department is fully in control.

Nextcloud code audit by Swiss Kyos

The second largest city in Switzerland, Geneva, contracted Swiss IT Security firm Kyos to audit the Nextcloud code base they use.

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Authentication

LDAP / Active Directory and more

Nextcloud has extensive LDAP/Active Directory support with an easy installation wizard.

Nextcloud can also work with Kerberos and other authentication mechanisms like OAuth2, OpenID Connect, JWT, CAS or Any SQL database mediated by Apache modules.

User management

SSO/SAML 2.0

Nextcloud supports Single Sign On (SSO) and provides native SAML 2.0 (and Shibboleth) authentication in its web front end.

The native SAML integration negates the need for external software like Apache modules. Native SAML is compatible with all web servers and supports group memberships, flexible session management and app specific passwords. It can handle multiple Identity Providers and can authenticate to Samba servers with Kerberos.

SSO/SAML

Two-factor authentication

Nextcloud includes a variety of second factors like TOTP, U2F and SMS gateways. 2-factor authentication can be enforced and user sessions and devices can be managed.

Nextcloud is also among the first in the industry to provide support for the WebAuthn standard, enabling password-less authentication and support for Windows Hello, various FIDO2 keys and other standards-compliant authentication devices.

2FA documentation

Automated or manual provisioning

Nextcloud offers an easy to use, REST based provisioning API to create and configure user accounts.

REST API documentation

Active and passive protection

Nextcloud offers a series of advanced security features:

  • Server side, client side and in-transit encryption
  • Security hardenings like brute-force detection, CSP and SCC
  • Machine learning based suspicious login detection
  • Automated security checks and warnings

Protected sharing

For Nextcloud customers, securely exchanging data is key. Nextcloud offers industry standard protection mechanisms and adds innovative and unique capabilities like Video Verification.

Securing shared links

Nextcloud features industry-leading protection for file shares.

  • Share password
  • Expiration date
  • Access rights (Read/Write, re-sharing)
  • Hide Download (Secure View)
  • Hide file listing (File Drop)
  • File Access Control
  • Video Verification
  • Administrators can set defaults or enforce these options.

Video verification

In situations where extreme security is warranted and the identity of a recipient has to be verified with absolute certainty before they are granted access, Nextcloud includes the industry-first implementation of Video Verification.

Video Verification enforces a Nextcloud Talk video call before access is given to a share, making sure the identity of the recipient is properly checked. The call can be picked up through the Nextcloud Talk Mobile apps as well as the web interface.

Remote wipe

While Nextcloud supports Mobile Device Management solutions, thanks to build-in support, remote wipe will work on systems not under management of the company. This is useful for home users but also large universities and of course in a scenario where guest accounts were handed to a third party. If you permit downloading of documents by the third party, you can wipe the documents from their devices when the the collaboration has ended.

Remote wipe can be used on a per-device basis by users and on a per-user base by the administrator.

More about user management

Virtual data room

In settings where a firewall is needed between departments or organizations without impeding smooth and efficient collaboration, a separate Virtual Data Room can be set up. Nextcloud offers a wide range of unique features for VDR use and its on-premises nature offers unparalleled confidentiality and control.

Virtual data rooms