Johannesburg, 08 Mar 2016
Enterprise file sync and sharing (EFSS) is fast becoming a method through which organisations are able to meet the growing needs of the modern-day business, to enable a mobile workforce and the increasing demand of access to corporate data by that mobile workforce.
For organisations in South Africa, with other outside influences, including the likes of political unrest and violent protests, as well as legislative changes, this mobility could be the key to the survival of the business during such times.
This article, part one of a two-part series, has been designed by the team at AgileCloud to assist those of you who are faced with this task, and to help you with navigating your way through the 'maze' of available solutions and information out there.
Cloud computing enables speed, agility, mobility and innovation. In order to realise these benefits for your organisation, you will need to move away from planning on "the drawing board" and into the "deployment zone". Is your business ready to adapt?
Open public cloud file sync and share solutions offer ample varieties of file sync and sharing solutions (eg, Dropbox, Box.com, OneDrive, etc), which are often found in corporate environments. This is mainly due to the fact that they are easy for employers/employees to acquire, reasonably easy to use, and ultimately achieve the goal, being able to access corporate data/content from any device and then being able to share it with colleagues or partners (or anyone) from any location, provided they have an Internet-connected device.
When IT departments are tasked with deploying a file sync and sharing platform for their organisation, they are faced with numerous options and service providers that claim to "tick all the appropriate boxes", and at first glance, may appear to be particularly appealing.
There are many questions that can be raised during the planning phase of developing your strategy to enable your workforce with tools like an EFSS solution - AgileCloud has shortlisted some of these to the more frequently asked questions. For your convenience, AgileCloud will address three of the six most frequently asked questions in part one, and part two will cover the remaining three.
FAQ-1: What is EFSS?
A1: Enterprise file sync and share (EFSS), simply put, is a service that allows users to save/store a file in a 'location' and then have the ability to access that same file from another computing device, such as a desktop/laptop/tablet/mobile phone, irrespective of their physical location in relation to the storage location of that same file.
FAQ-2: Is it safe/secure to implement an EFSS solution? Can the implementation of an EFSS solution have a negative legislative/compliancy impact on the business - ie, will the solution be compliant with the likes of the POPI Act in SA?
A2: EFSS is a means to deter employees from sharing corporate data via public cloud storage and file-sharing services, which are outside of the control of an IT department. Suffice it to say, "not all EFSS solutions are created equal" and the answer really is dependent on the EFSS solution considered, and the chosen provider.
SyncVault, an offering from AgileCloud, is safe and secure and provides the required level of "peace of mind", knowing the solution is safe, secure and compliant. With client-side encryption, data-at-rest encryption in the cloud, true multi-tenancy with separation of data, and user-controlled encryption keys, SyncVault provides a secure alternative to non-secure public cloud services. For an additional layer of security, the SyncVault mobile app feature includes a remote wipe functionality to allow for deletion of synchronised data in the event of a stolen or lost mobile device, ensuring your sensitive corporate data remains secure.
FAQ-3: Will EFSS really improve workforce productivity?
A3: The simple answer is yes, the right EFSS solution will improve productivity.
The implementation of the right type of EFSS solution circumvents the problems that could occur through the wrong type of solution, including the typical 'version-control' issues.
Having a platform which allows access to information from any device, anywhere at any time, enables people to work in the way which is most productive to those same individuals. An additional feature that will enhance the productivity boost gained through the correct EFSS solution is the ability for users to collaborate on a single document with "live replication" between separate devices.
AgileCloud's next article will address the risks of consumer public cloud file sync and share solutions, as well as what type of EFSS solution will achieve the best performance and how to choose an EFSS partner that might broaden the view on scope for achieving a successfully implemented EFSS solution. With a legislatively compliant partner - AgileCloud - the silver lining is our way.
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