More Americans Are Turning to Digital Vaults to Protect Themselves and Their Legacy

Payroll | July 30, 2025

More Americans Are Turning to Digital Vaults to Protect Themselves and Their Legacy

A fast-growing solution is the digital vault: a secure, cloud-based platform for storing and sharing everything from wills and health directives to insurance documents and passwords.

Isaac M. O'Bannon

With online scams and data security incidents on the rise, more Americans – especially older adults – are taking proactive steps to store and share their most sensitive information using secure methods. A fast-growing solution is the digital vault: a secure, cloud-based platform for storing and sharing everything from wills and health directives to insurance documents and passwords.

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network found that 4 in 10 Americans have lost money to scams or had personal data compromised. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report confirmed the trend, reporting $16.6 billion in total losses, with adults over 60 suffering the highest number of complaints and financial harm.

To help address these growing risks, AARP is making available a new product subscription which members can add-on to their membership. Prisidio, an AARP AgeTech Collaborative™ participant, created a digital vault for AARP members that provides a centralized and secure solution for individuals and families to collect and share their most vital documents and information in a more secure way, something that becomes increasingly important as we age. The AARP Digital Vault – powered by Prisidio – can store financial information, legal agreements, mortgage deeds, medical records, plus pictures and videos to ensure loved ones know where to find them when they need to. 

“A digital vault isn’t just about convenience—it’s about peace of mind and preparedness,” said Sami Hassenyeh, Executive Vice President of Digital Strategy, at AARP. “Today, we offer the digital vault created by Prisidio as a solution that helps members protect what matters most in today’s increasingly digital world.”

AARP’s Digital Vault platform goes beyond simple cloud storage. It uses bank-level encryption, smart categorization, and allows users to designate trusted contacts who can access their vault. Whether it’s for estate planning, caregiving coordination, or natural disaster preparedness and daily peace of mind, digital vaults offer a modern way to manage life’s essential information.

Why Use a Digital Vault?

  • Be Prepared: Store vital documents like wills, powers of attorney, insurance records in addition to keepsakes like family photographs and videos.
  • Stay Organized: Keep everything in one place, categorized with reminders that can be accessed by computer, tablet or smartphone.
  • Disaster Preparedness: Quickly access critical documents in the event of a natural disaster, emergency evacuation, or extreme weather—from anywhere.
  • Empower Trusted Contacts: Grant access to family members and trusted advisors while designating the level of permission for each.
  • Protect Your Legacy: Ensure clarity and continuity for loved ones in nostalgic moments or emergency situations.

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Isaac M. O'Bannon

Isaac M. O'Bannon

Managing Editor

Isaac M. O'Bannon is the managing editor and digital content manager for CPA Practice Advisor (www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com), drawing on two decades of experience covering the areas of professional accounting, taxation, business productivity and consumer technologies. . Prior to CPA Practice Advisor, O'Bannon was a consultant at firms in San Francisco, Denver and Tulsa, serving clients that included Logitech, Polycom, Hilti, Microsoft, the Stanford Research Institute, the University of Oklahoma's College of Engineering and other technology leaders. He is a U.S. Navy groundforces veteran (never a SEAL). Email: isaac.obannon - @ - cpapracticeadvisor.com . Isaac OBannon 2019 Cropped Small Headshot