Setup, verification, and operational best practices
Trezor Suite’s onboarding guides walk you through initializing a device, setting a PIN, and generating a recovery seed. The recovery seed is the single most critical item — record it offline, use durable backups (steel plates, fireproof storage), and never photograph or store it digitally. When installing or updating the Suite, always download from the official site and compare checksums or signatures if provided. This ensures the binary you run is the authentic build authorized by the project.
When performing transactions, the Suite sends the unsigned transaction to your device for signing. The device displays the destination address and amount for you to verify. Only after you approve on-device is the transaction signed. This separation reduces the attack surface: malware on the host cannot silently extract keys or forge approvals. For advanced security, use passphrase-protected accounts or multisignature schemes where appropriate.
For teams and institutions, combine Trezor devices with governance controls: maintain written approval processes, rotate devices and seeds periodically, and keep multiple recovery backups in geographically separated secure locations. Consider using offline signing stations and hardware isolation for high-value operations. Regularly rehearse recovery procedures to ensure your team can respond quickly and correctly under pressure.
Finally, stay informed. Trezor Suite is open-source — review release notes and community advisories, and subscribe to official channels for update notifications. If you suspect a compromise, move funds using a freshly initialized device with new backups. The recommended practice is to treat your recovery seed as cash: protect it physically and procedurally, and limit the number of people who can access it.