Encryption of cloud-based data

A method of enabling collaboration by multiple users on an encrypted document stored in a cloud computing network, the encrypted document associated with a first user having a first user account in the cloud computing network, the method comprising:

• receiving from the cloud computing network at a second user address of a second user, a link to a public network destination associated with the encrypted document;
• accessing the link;
• in response to a request to login to a second user account on the cloud computing network, logging into the second user account;
• authenticating with the cloud computing network as the second user;
• upon authenticating as the second user, receiving access to a decrypted version of the encrypted document stored in the first user account, the access granted to enable the second user to view or edit the decrypted document simultaneously with the first user to whom access to the decrypted document has been granted;
• and
• accessing the decrypted version of the encrypted document simultaneously to the first user.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause a processor to perform the method of enabling collaboration by multiple users on an encrypted document stored in a cloud computing network, the encrypted document associated with a first user having a first user account in the cloud computing network, the method comprising:

• in response to a request from the first user to share the encrypted document, sending a link to a public network destination to the encrypted document to a second user address of a second user;
• receiving a request via the link from an unconfirmed user to access the data in the encrypted document;
• requesting the unconfirmed user to login to a second user account on the cloud computing network;
• authenticating the identity of the unconfirmed user as the second user;
• upon authenticating the identity of the unconfirmed user as the second user, decrypting the encrypted document to generate a decrypted document;
• storing the decrypted document in the first user account;
• granting the second user access to the decrypted document, enabling the second user to view or edit the decrypted document simultaneously with the first user to whom access to the decrypted document has been granted;
• subsequent to the first user or the second user editing the decrypted document, encrypting an edited version of the decrypted document;
• and
• storing the edited version of the encrypted document in the first user account.

A cloud computing system for enabling collaboration by multiple users on an encrypted document associated with a first user, the cloud computing system configured to:

• store the encrypted document in a first user account in the cloud computing system, the first user account associated with the first user;
• in response to a request from the first user to share the encrypted document, sending a link to a public network destination to the encrypted document to a second user address of a second user;
• receiving a request via the link from an unconfirmed user to access the data in the encrypted document;
• requesting the unconfirmed user to login to a second user account on the cloud computing system;
• authenticating the identity of the unconfirmed user as the second user;
• upon authenticating the identity of the unconfirmed user as the second user, decrypting the encrypted document to generate a decrypted document;
• storing the decrypted document in the first user account;
• granting the second user access to the decrypted document, enabling the second user to view or edit the decrypted document simultaneously with the first user to whom access to the decrypted document has been granted;
• subsequent to the first user or the second user editing the decrypted document, encrypting an edited version of the decrypted document;
• and
• storing the edited version of the encrypted document in the first user account.