NordLocker has rebuilt its encrypted cloud storage, abandoning a traditional locker-based file tree for a modern “journaling” approach in an overhaul codenamed “Project Renaissance.” The service now treats every file change as a small, individually encrypted event appended to a log, promising sustained speed regardless of data volume, a critical improvement as user libraries grow. Previously, updating any encrypted file necessitated reloading the metadata of an entire locker, causing slowdowns; the new engine bypasses this limitation entirely. “Project Renaissance is a major technological leap for NordLocker,” says Aivaras Vencevičius, head of product at NordLocker, “from the new core engine and reworked surrounding services to a new generation of apps.” This comprehensive upgrade impacts every NordLocker application, from Web Access, the Windows app, and the iOS and Android apps, directly delivering performance gains to users across all platforms.
Journaling Engine Replaces Locker-Based System for Scalable Encryption
A fundamental shift in encrypted cloud storage architecture promises sustained performance regardless of data volume. NordLocker has completed a comprehensive rebuild of its platform, moving away from a traditional locker-based file tree to a modern “journaling” approach, a change designed to overcome limitations inherent in older systems. This overhaul, codenamed “Project Renaissance,” impacts every NordLocker application, Web Access, the Windows app, and the iOS and Android apps, indicating a complete restructuring rather than incremental improvements. This approach draws inspiration from the durability of established filesystems and databases, but crucially designates the journal as the permanent source of truth, rather than a temporary backup. Each entry is cryptographically linked to its predecessor, preventing unauthorized alteration of the locker’s history. The company reports upload and download speeds are now more than ten times faster, and complex operations are over one hundred times faster, particularly when managing numerous files simultaneously.
This improvement is particularly noticeable for users with large libraries, where operations previously slowed considerably. Vencevičius stated, “The biggest gains are in performance, speed, file management, and sharing.” Beyond speed, the new system eliminates the requirement for mandatory first-level “lockers,” allowing users to upload files directly to the root directory and organize them with greater flexibility. Sharing capabilities have also been expanded, enabling file and folder access at any level, with granular control over permissions for collaborators. The upgrade also includes a redesigned mobile experience with Dark Mode and an improved transfers list, bringing the mobile apps in line with the performance of the desktop and web versions. This architectural shift also lays the groundwork for future features, such as a cloud trash bin and photo sync, all while maintaining the service’s zero-knowledge encryption standard.
The biggest gains are in performance, speed, file management, and sharing. By removing the old locker-based limitations, we made NordLocker significantly faster, more flexible, and much better equipped for future development.
Aivaras Vencevičius, head of product at NordLocker
