Best Dropbox Alternative for Secure File Sharing

Best Dropbox Alternative for Secure File Sharing

What is Cloud computing? It is the concept in which you can store all your regularly used data on different servers and accessing them through the means of internet. No doubt it is great but is it really safe when it comes to secure file share? Is Dropbox the perfect solution? Are Dropbox and similar free file sharing solutions available really good enough to ensure corporate success? Let’s try to figure out.

Cloud computing associates itself with a lot advantages like, cost efficiency, almost unlimited storage, back up, recovery, easy access to information, quick deployment and automatic software integration. It becomes very expensive for companies to buy desktops and licensing fees for the employees whereas cloud computing on the other hand saves money since it is available on cheaper rates. There also pay as you go and one-time payment options which makes this concept quite reasonable for a company. Cloud also provides you with a way in which you will not have to keep your back stored in your hard disk. Hence, you will not looking to add extra space to your hardware but your data will be stored in the cloud. The other advantage with cloud is that you can customize your options easily. Therefore you can handpick the softwares and services that will suit your organization. Also, as long as you have an internet connection, you can access your information from anywhere.

Cloud Computing Security: Cloud is Good – But Is It Really Safe?

The use of the cloud is increasing rapidly. This is because of the increased use of smart phones and tablets which are basically like little portable computers you can carry with yourself everywhere. Mostly all your accounts such as those on Dropbox are signed in via all the gadgets that belong to you. Now, Dropbox works on a bi-directional synchronization path, which means that while using solutions such as Dropbox, there always is a chance that the pre-existing files can be accidently overwritten and changed by employees in an organization. Errors can also occur when there is parallel access of documents by various employees.

This very easily increases the risks of the data being compromised. It also comes with a possibility of being resulted into a spam if the users receive push messages every time a change takes place. Moving one step ahead, bandwidth requirements increase multi-fold when there is constant reloading and updating of folders taking place. Almost every time employees only have to deal with a single file or a folder in order to complete their tasks so the constant synchronization of all devices and users is not ideal.

The Perks of Unidirectional Synchronization for Secure File Share

The most appropriate solution to these issues which get created due to bi-directional synchronization is unidirectional synchronization. In this, users can decide which folders need to be synchronized and in what direction. They do not have to worry about the changes automatically getting saved back to the corporate server. This is an effective solution which prevents chaos. With unidirectional synchronization, users can handpick the folders they want to save in selected places and not locally on the server. For example, a songs’ folder can very easily uploaded to a central folder, it need not be saved locally on the device. It is a beneficial technique saving a lot of phone space and is systematic. Since it is clearly a better technique, it has various advantages over bi-directional synchronization. These advantages are:

• Users have the freedom to determine which folders need to be synchronized. Also, in which direction too.
• It reduces chaos and the users have a proper overview.
• There will not be any surprises, meaning, accidental overwriting of files will definitely not be there.
• It gives you an option for a true back-up.
• The changes that are made to the local files are not going to be saved automatically.
• The version of a file that will be available on any device will be its latest.
• Local storage that is needed on a device is very less.
• It helps in reducing data volume on mobile.

Tips to Select the Best Dropbox Alternative for Secure File Sharing

For corporate success, it is very important to have fully secure and integrated features. And even though Dropbox and others have been able to offer consumer-level file sharing features, they still lacked this premise.

So, when you select an alternative to the Dropbox for secure file transfer and sharing, here are some key features of an ideal file sharing solution that you must look for –

• Does not use any external cloud service and offers complete active directory integration.
• Excels in offering extensive management possibilities user rights along with certificates, profiles and guidelines.
• Should be fully installed in the company network and be 100% on-premise to easily use the existing IT infrastructure. And all this should be done with the guarantee that the company data remains secure.
• Should be able to secure data on the mobile device, during transmissions and within a corporate network.
• Should enable full or selective remote wipe of any local corporate data on your tablets or your smart phones and at the same time should not delete any private data that is available.
• While enabling access to data to employees almost anywhere and at any time, it should be able to do it without being dependent on any specific synchronization directory.
• Should be able to provide (and this is imperative) cross-platform support like iOS, android, blackberry, Mac and PC.
• Should be capable enough to perform a variety of functions on the server and should use an intelligent algorithm to reduce mobile data volume.
• To find files faster, it should have an integrated search feature and should be able to minimize locally stored data.
• Should definitely be able to support unidirectional synchronization. This will help in protecting the files from being accidentally overwritten and will also help in reducing the amount of transmitted data.
• Should be able to provide various editing functions like a data optimized preview before printing. Also, be able to create and print PDF documents.
• Should be able to (and this very necessary too) block people and devices or apps. In addition it should be able to support sharing of files via email attachments.
• Should request for a password even for offline access so that the data is well protected. It should offer the user the monitoring and reporting of functions.
• Administrators should be able to manage from anywhere and at anytime through the means of a web management console and it should also give the administrators the liberty to be able to automatize and manage all the processes with the aid of Windows PowerShell.

Stay tuned in as we bring to you more updated information in this regard!