Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Cairn Zero and succession certainty

What is a "Cairn"?

A cairn is a man-made pile of stones used as a marker in the wilderness. We are your digital marker, guiding your successors when the path is no longer clear.

What does "Zero" mean?

It refers to our "Zero-Knowledge" architecture. We provide the infrastructure for continuity, but we have zero access to your private data.

What is the "Succession Gap"?

The dangerous period after a founder's departure where critical knowledge is locked away and inaccessible to heirs or partners.

How is this different from a password manager?

Password managers are for daily use; Cairn Zero is for certainty. We provide the automated triggers and physical hardware bridges that ensure those passwords actually reach your successor when they need to.

What is Zero-Knowledge Sovereignty?

It means you retain 100% control (Sovereignty) over your encryption keys. We cannot see, share, or recover your data.

Can Cairn Zero see my data?

No. All data is encrypted client-side before it ever touches our system.

What happens if I lose my physical key?

Because of our Zero-Knowledge architecture, we cannot recover your data. We recommend secondary backups (included in Founder Guard).

How do "Continuity Pings" work?

The system sends regular "heartbeat" checks. If you fail to respond within your designated timeframe, the succession protocol initiates.

What is a "False Positive" or "Retreat Mode"?

If a trigger is tripped accidentally, you have a "Retreat" window to cancel the succession before keys are released to your successor.

How do I designate a successor?

Through your Founder Dashboard, where you assign specific digital vaults to designated "Cairn IDs."

What hardware is included?

Lite users receive a YubiKey/FIDO2 anchor. Founder Guard users receive an Apricorn Aegis Secure Key 3NX.

Why is there a monthly "Vigilance Fee"?

This covers the continuous monitoring of your heartbeats, automated trigger hosting, and secure data sharding.

Is my data stored in the cloud?

We use the Sarcophagus protocol to shard your data across decentralized storage. It only reassembles when triggers are met.

What is the "Founder Immortality Trap"?

The mistaken belief that "I'll always be here to handle it," leading to a lack of indexed succession data.

How do I test my succession plan?

The dashboard allows for "Dry Run" simulations to ensure your successor receives the necessary alerts.

Can I have multiple successors?

Yes, Enterprise and Founder Guard tiers support complex multi-party succession.

What if my successor isn't tech-savvy?

Every kit comes with a physical "Succession Playbook" that provides simple, step-by-step instructions.

Do you have a mobile app?

Our platform is a web-based dashboard optimized for secure desktop and mobile browser access.

How long does onboarding take?

Typically less than 30 minutes to set up your primary heartbeats and first digital vault.

What is "Physical Sovereignty"?

The principle that the most important keys should exist on hardware you physically own, not just in a cloud account.

Still have questions?

Our team is here to help you understand how Cairn Zero can provide certainty for your digital legacy.