In our age of information, most modern enterprises have started to move towards the digitization of data. The recent shift towards remote work due to the COVID pandemic has done nothing but encourage this move even more. Never have there been quite so many enterprise file-synchronization and sharing (EFSS) solutions available on the market — […]
In our age of information, most modern enterprises have started to move towards the digitization of data. The recent shift towards remote work due to the COVID pandemic has done nothing but encourage this move even more. Never have there been quite so many enterprise file-synchronization and sharing (EFSS) solutions available on the market — and while a wide range of choice is always good, it also makes it much more difficult to choose the perfect solution for your organization.
After all, investing in a solution that offers either too little or too much functionality can cost you valuable time, money and resources. And no one wants that! As such, we’ve put together a list (in no particular order) of great EFSS solutions for your consideration, so that you can pick the one that offers all the features your enterprise might need.
Naturally, being one ourselves, we have compelling opinions about what makes a fantastic EFSS solution. Here are the factors that we're taking into account when choosing our list of Top 10 Enterprise File Sync and Sharing solutions on the market:
Now that we're on the same page about what the perfect EFSS solution looks like, without further ado, let's move on to what you're here for: the list!
✓ Storage: FileCloud Online: 1TB out-of-the-box, +100GB/user (Standard), +200GB/user (Enterprise) || FileCloud Server: Unlimited
✓ Security: FileCloud is compliant with all the most stringent data governance policies, such as HIPAA and GDPR. Encryption at rest and in transit, 256-bit AES encryption, granular file-sharing, password-protected, public and private shares.
✓ Features: From deployment models to unlimited client accounts, branding capabilities and more, FileCloud is filled with incredible enterprise-level features.
Naturally, we're proud of our own product and firmly believe FileCloud to be one of the most powerful and unique EFSS solutions on the market. FileCloud offers on-premise, public and a unique hybrid cloud deployment model. This deployment flexibility separates FileCloud from its competitors, and ensures that your team can enjoy the benefits of both on-premise and cloud storage systems -- read more on our hybrid infrastructure here.
Feature-wise, we consider seamless, remote access to your data as the bare minimum that a good file-solution should offer. Collaborative and content management tools, a comprehensive admin panel, plus infinite customization options are all features that ensure not just your team, but also your clients and sysadmins get in on the enhanced EFSS experience.
Last but certainly not least, FileCloud is compliant with most data security governance policies, meaning that you'll never see your organization's good name tainted in headlines labelled with "Security Breach" or "Data Leaks". Plus. it'll save you tons on the fines and fees that'll rack up if you go with a less-secure option.
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✓ Storage: Free Plan: 15GB | Basic Plan: 30GB | Business & Enterprise Plan: Unlimited, or 1TB / user if less than 5 users
✓ Security: Encryption in transit; no option to encrypt individual documents. Multi-factor authentication.
✓ Features: Google Drive comes with powerful, recognized collaborative tools, such as Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
Having quickly risen in popularity over the past couple of years, Google Drive is now a powerful file-sharing solution on the market. A file storage and synchronization program created by Google, it's best known for its collaborative capabilities via Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, which offer real-time collaborative editing of documents, spreadsheets and slides respectively.
The solution's enterprise plan, GSuite, comes with a similarly clean and intuitive UI, as well as integration with popular enterprise softwares such as Autodesk, Salesforce, and more. Apart from this, Google Drive for Business offers unlimited cloud storage, access from any device, offline file access, includes apps like Gmail, Google Keep, Google Sites, as well as enterprise-grade access controls, e-discovery for emails, chats and files.
However, reportedly, users have encountered frequent connectivity and syncing issues while using Google Drive. Plus, while Google Drive has fairly beefy data security with encryption in-transit and at-rest, human error on part of the developers has led to security issues, such as when Google Photos started sending private videos to strangers.
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✓ Storage: Basic Plan: 2GB | Plus Plan: 2TB | Professional Plan: 3TB
✓ Security: AES 256-bit encryption for data at rest and AES 128-bit encryption for data in transit; however, known past security issues
✓ Features: Unique "Paper" and "Showcase" features: basic "Notes" and "Portfolio" app respectively
Of course, we'd be remiss to not mention Dropbox in a file-sharing solution comparison post. With its clean, intuitive UI and easy-to-use features, Dropbox has become a well-known, household name in terms of file storage. Dropbox also offers password-protected links, integration for Office 365 and Google Drive, and strong administrative tools. However, while it certainly has its pros, we feel strongly that there are better enterprise-level file-sharing solutions -- and here's why.
Due to the system's popularity, it's always been a popular target for hackers. Even now, it doesn't offer local encryption. Their customer service certainly leaves more to be desired, as seen from their lack of 24/7 customer support.
And above all that, despite having fewer features than many enterprise-level solutions out there, Dropbox is far from the most affordable on the market, especially with their 5-user minimum. Plus, with their measly 2GB- free storage and paywalls for unlimited storage, it certainly feels like the solution is out to milk their users dry.
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✓ Storage: Box Starter: 100GB | Box Business: Unlimited | Box Business Plus: Unlimited | Box Enterprise: Unlimited
✓ Security: A regulatory-compliant Zero-Knowledge Provider. Tools to manage user perms and customer-managed encryption keys.
✓ Features: Secure collaborative and project-management tools, as well as rule sets for work-flow automation
While perhaps less of a household name than Dropbox, Box, founded in 2005 and based in California, is also an incredibly strong contender on the EFSS market. With tools that integrate with other services, like Google Docs, Box also goes above and beyond in offering custom branding capabilities and letting users create a professional appearance for their organization.
Plus, Box's security is nothing to scoff about, being a uniquely zero-knowledge provider and offering tons of options for encryption and user management.
Unfortunately, with their heavy local encryption, Box transfers tend to get slow -- something that could impede or even cripple the seamless remote workflows that have become the norm today. Box also does not offer any options for on-premise or self-hosting, nor local storage, and does not perform end-point backups. Plus, while it certainly provides tons of enterprise-level features, it's also significantly pricier than almost any solution on the market.
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✓ Storage: Office Plan: 5TB | Business Plan: 10TB | Enterprise Plan: Scales with your needs
✓ Security: Standard encryption, includes user and group access permissions
✓ Features: What stands out most with Egnyte is their great auditing system which timestamps user activities, plus a robust access permission system.
Egnyte has recently become one of the leading choices for enterprises, claiming to have been designed with businesses in mind. Egnyte provides the branding capabilities to customize logos, URLs and message headers, providing a more professional look. In addition to useful sharing and collaborative features, Egnyte also provides great security features, such as intuitive access permissions and encryption. It also integrates with most operating systems and devices.
Unfortunately, there have reportedly been frequent sync/network problems with the solution. While robust in features, Egnyte provides little documentation for these features -- combined with poor customer service, creating a steep learning curve for their product. There are also paywalls for features such as audit reports and storage sync, for an already-relatively-high price tag.
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✓ Storage: All Plans: 1TB - extra storage space can be purchased separately for up to 1TB/$9.99/month
✓ Security: Standard encryption, file-locking, paywalls for SSO/SAML Authentication
✓ Features: Advanced sharing, mobility and security. Heavy integration with Office software.
Microsoft OneDrive is a file hosting service and synchronization service operated by Microsoft as part of its web version of Office. Naturally, this Microsoft-based solution heavily integrates with Office 365 programs that most teams use, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, as well as Outlook, which is a huge plus. Certain plans even grant access to said software. It also provides encryption at rest and in transit. Overall, it has robust features that make it a strong solution, as expected from Microsoft.
Unfortunately, data privacy issues have surfaced time and time again with large corporations, and OneDrive is no exception. When using this solution, Microsoft can scan your files for "objectionable content", stating that file security cannot be guaranteed for said content.
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✓ Storage: Unlimited Self-Storage Space
✓ Security: Standard Encryption, Multi-Factor Authentication, NTFS Support
✓ Features: Custom branding, open-source customizability, local storage options
ownCloud is a reliable file sharing infrastructure with a client-server architecture, allowing users to setup a complete private file-sharing service with data encryption server side while avoiding popular public ones like Google drive or Dropbox. An open source solution, it offers rich features and the ability to use on-premise / self-hosting.
However, most potential users balk at the large price tag especially compared to available file solutions that have impressive features. Due to being open source, there's also a lack of a strong support system, and poor documentation. It also doesn't offer endpoint backup, nor granular subfolders.
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✓ Storage: Unlimited Storage Space
✓ Security: Standard encryption and SSL/TLS. Recovery sites in both the US and EU.
✓ Features: Collaborative and productivity-enhancing tools, custom electronic signature tool. File-versioning features.
Sharefile is Citrix’s enterprise-class cloud storage solution, and they’re well-known in the commercial software and service industry. Notable features of Sharefile include an auditing system that generates activity reports, integration with Single Sign-On, download alerts, and two-factor authentication. This cuts down on the amount of time it would take to print out a document, sign it, and scan it to the cloud.
Unfortunately, despite their generous offer of unlimited storage, they do have a file size limit. The solution itself doesn't support Linux. Plus, with a standard plan starting at $55, paywalls for features and their enforced 5-user pricing plan, it's safe to say that Sharefile isn't the most affordable solution for smaller organizations. Reportedly, Sharefile's licensing plans are also misleading.
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✓ Storage: Unlimited Self-Storage
✓ Security: Standard Encryption, SSO, SAML Authentication, 2FA, File-Locking
✓ Features: On-Premise and Cloud file-hosting, large file support, local storage support, OS compatibility
While Nextcloud is a free, open-source software, Nextcloud Enterprise comes as a powerful, pre-configured EFSS solution that takes some of the guesswork out of configuring their free, alternative solution. It certainly totes the basics expected of any EFSS solution, such as audit logs, a desktop sync client and user management, and has great security with end-to-end encryption.
Unfortunately, similar to ownCloud, which Nextcloud was a spinoff of, the open-source software can come with a lack of support and documentation. As such, many deployments, updates and bug fixes fall to you and your team -- wasting precious time that could have been used on other productive activities.
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✓ Storage: Personal: 100 GB | Business+: 300GB
✓ Security: Standard encryption in-transit and at-rest, SSO, 2FA
✓ Features: Hybrid solution, remote access and mobility
For a solution that's much less popular and well-known, Syncplicity offers a surprising punch with their rich features, hybrid hosting options, great security, file restorations and backup. In addition, good things have been said about their customer support, with online chat and a 24/7 phoneline.
Syncplicity also doesn't support customer-managed keys. Plus, Syncplicity uses a traditional interface -- great for the early 2010's, but perhaps not the most modern for today's standards.
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