Guide — Private storage

1 The three storage modes

In Polyodos, every project is stored in a storage volume selected when it is created. Three options are available:

🌐

Browser

Data in the browser (IndexedDB). Fast, with no installation. Tied to that browser and workstation; no sharing.

Local, 0 config

🔒

Private server

Data on your workstation or internal server through polyodos-server (port 5985). On-premise, offline possible.

This guide

☁️

Polyodos Server

Data hosted in the Polyodos cloud. Real-time collaboration, automatic backup, and access from multiple workstations.

Cloud, multi-user

Criterion	Browser	Private server	Polyodos Server
Installation requise	None	polyodos-server	Compte Polyodos Server
Data on your infrastructure	Oui (navigateur)	Yes (your workstation/server)	Non (cloud)
Partage entre utilisateurs	No	Yes (local network)	Yes (internet)
Travail hors-ligne	Oui	Oui	No
Sauvegarde automatique	No	Non (manuel)	Oui

2 When should you use private storage?

Private-server mode is suitable in any of these cases:

Sensitive or regulated data —you cannot send risk analyses to an external cloud, for example in ANSSI, defence, healthcare, or energy contexts.
Utilisation hors-ligne —fieldwork without internet access, isolated industrial sites, or on-site audits.
Local-network sharing —several analysts share the same internal server without using the cloud.
Trial without a Polyodos Server account —you want to test Polyodos without creating an account.

En mode Plus (see section 7), the server listens on the local network and manages several users through code-based invitations. For internet collaboration or email alerts, use Polyodos Server.

3 Install and start the server

The server polyodos-server is a small PouchDB server running on your workstation or a dedicated internal server and listening on port 5985. It stores data in ~/.easyrisk-local/data/.

No account and no cloud. Data never leaves the workstation running the server.

Option A — Serveur local seul (Mac / Windows / Linux)

A single executable with no Node.js or dependencies to install. Download it from the Downloads page, then run it (double-click, or right-click → Open on Mac if the system blocks the first launch; see the warning on the download page). The server displays:

Polyodos Local Database — port 5985 Data: /Users/your-name/.easyrisk-local/data/ Server ready.

Option B — Electron desktop application (all in one)

The desktop application includes the server and starts it automatically. No separate installation is required. Also available on the Downloads page. See the dedicated section →

The server must remain open in the terminal or application throughout your work session. Close it when finished.

4 Check the connection in Polyodos

Make sure the server is running (terminal open with the message Server ready).
Open Polyodos in your browser and sign in.
Go to My Account (icon at the top right).
In the Private server, check that the badge is green ✓ Private server connected.
If the badge is red, click Test connection again.

Detection is automatic when the page loads. If the server starts later, click Test again to refresh the status.

5 Create and manage projects in private mode

Create a project in private mode

From the Project Management, click New project.
In the storage selector, choose Private server (shown only when the server is detected).
Enter the project name and type, then confirm.

The selector Private server is disabled when the server is inactive. Start it first, then test the connection again in My Account.

Identify a project's storage volume

In the project list, projects are grouped by volume (Browser / Private server / Polyodos Server) with a coloured badge. Groups can be reordered and collapsed.

Open a private project

Simply click the project. Polyodos connects to the private server automatically to load the data. The server must be running.

6 Copy a project between storage volumes

You can copy or move a project from one storage volume to another—for example from the browser to the private server, or from the private server to Polyodos Server for sharing.

In the project list, right-click the project (or click the …).
Choose Copy to or Move to, then select the destination volume.
A progress bar shows the transfer. When complete, the project appears in the target volume.

Copy creates a second project with the same name in a new volume. Move deletes the source project after copying.

Moving is irreversible. If something goes wrong, the source project may have been deleted before copying finishes. Back up critical data first.

7 Desktop application (all in one)

The desktop application Polyodos Desktop includes the private server. On launch, it starts the server automatically on port 5985 and opens Polyodos in a dedicated window. No terminal or configuration is required.

⬇ Download for Mac (.dmg) ⬇ Download for Windows (.exe)

🍎 Mac

Open the .dmg and drag Polyodos into Applications.
Launch Polyodos from Launchpad.
If macOS blocks the launch (unidentified developer): System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway.

🪟 Windows

Run the installer Polyodos-win-setup.exe.
Follow the steps in the installation wizard.
If Windows SmartScreen blocks it, click More info → Run anyway.

Two operating modes

At first launch, a dialog asks you to choose a mode:

👤

Personal mode

Server accessible only from your workstation (127.0.0.1). Single-user operation with 100% local data. Recommended by default.

Localhost only

🏢

Plus mode (local network)

Server accessible from your local network (0.0.0.0). Several users can connect and access shared projects.

Multi-user LAN

You can change mode at any time from the system-tray icon. The server must restart.

Share a project (Plus mode)

Enable Plus mode from the system tray.
In Polyodos, open the project list and right-click a project in Private server mode.
Click Invite to this project, enter the recipient's email address and role.
A code such as WORD-1234 is generated—send it to the recipient.
The recipient clicks Join in the Private server volume and enters your machine's URL and the code.

The application loads the Polyodos interface from app.polyodos.com. An internet connection is required for the first load. In offline mode, private projects remain accessible without internet.

8 Limitations and points to consider

Point	Details
Fixed port 5985	The server always listens on `127.0.0.1:5985`. Check that no other service uses this port.
One server per workstation	Several instances cannot run simultaneously on the same port.
No automatic backup	Regularly back up the folder `~/.easyrisk-local/data/` (Mac/Linux) or `%USERPROFILE%\.easyrisk-local\data\` (Windows).
Local-network sharing	By default in Personal mode, the server listens on `127.0.0.1`. Plus mode switches to `0.0.0.0` and enables per-user access control. Use only on trusted networks.
No HTTPS	Communication between the browser and local server uses unencrypted HTTP. This is acceptable locally; do not expose it to the internet without a TLS reverse proxy.
MOCUS minimal cut sets (Bow-Tie)	Calculated in memory in the interface and not stored in the database. They cannot be exported to the Word report from the private server.

For deployment on a dedicated server in your network—several workstations in a controlled area such as an industrial DMZ—the server must listen on the network, as in Plus mode, before a TLS reverse proxy such as nginx or Caddy is placed in front of it—never the reverse. A reverse proxy in front of a server still listening only on localhost can disable per-user access control without a visible warning. This deployment is currently assisted : contact us rather than attempting it without support.