Month: June 2021

Triofox Hybrid Cloud Server Solution: Remote Access VPN Alternative for Creative Businesses & Advertising Agencies

The breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic caught the world by surprise and saw businesses adapting innovative solutions to stay afloat during the worldwide lockdown. Remote work, which was a working perk exclusive to certain positions and job titles, became the only working option for most businesses offering what was considered “non-essential” services. These saw organizations scurrying to adapt the fastest remote working options available to risk sinking in the sudden economic downturn caused by the rapid spread of the flu.

Contrary to the suspicions that remote working would take its toll on businesses because of its perceived lack of structure and solitary nature that contrasted with the connectivity and community that in-office collaboration afforded, remote work has proven to be the future of work.

By now, even with the lockdown ease and rollout of the vaccine, most businesses have realized that remote working is not a passing trend, and they must integrate efficient remote working policies into their business operations. Hence, companies must find and adapt long-term scalable solutions for file sharing and synchronized collaboration between remote teams.

In this article, we will focus on the challenges of working remotely using a VPN in the creative industry and share how organizations can extend remote working long-term for improved performance and security, even without a full cloud migration.

VPN to the Rescue…or Not

VPN was seen as the ultimate quick fix for businesses that wanted their employees to access corporate files without risking security. As a result, its popularity skyrocketed, but the challenges manifested as the months wore on.

Here is a play out of the VPN remote access experience by a previous VPN user:

  • Company designs ads for impulse buy products.
  • The workload was multiplied after COVID hit because they deal with online advertising and sales.
  • An increase in workload led to an increased workforce, doubling data output.
  • The company was fine with the sales team working over VPN connections, but not so for their designers, who had to frequently access the photo library stored on the file server. The directory listing took too long to load over VPN, delaying search and sorting through thumbnails – they used most of the adobe’s creative cloud software.
  • Since their photos were all stored in a single photo library (with pictures dating back to 2003) and had several network shares (each 100GB or more), this made work slow and insufferable.
  • In addition, they could not migrate fully to the cloud because of the heavy media files.

VPN, which provides secure access through its encryption and cloaking features, remains what it is, a temporary fix. Its usage for designers in creative agencies can be off-putting. And slower home network speed, which can be a significant bottleneck for remote teams, is further worsened by the dampening bandwidth effect of a VPN. Using InDesign, remote design teams reported significant slowdowns when connecting to their company’s on-prem file server using VPNs. Still, they had to use it because personal or public networks expose the company to cyber threats and attacks.

Although the needs of businesses vary according to industry and size, irrespective of the differentiating limitations, productivity plunge and employee frustration were shared consequences of VPN usage.

Even though business needs vary by industry and size, VPN use has been linked to decreased productivity and employee dissatisfaction.

Other challenges that could affect operations include:

  • There is a higher risk of data corruption due to reduced bandwidth and high latency fluctuations.
  • VPNs lack the granular level of control needed to monitor and control data access.
  • VPNs are a choice target for hackers, and their successful infiltration affects companies engaging their services, as they have to bear the brunt of data breaches.
  • If a uniform corporate VPN network is not set up, employees risk exposing company data through the use of public Wi-Fi or unscrupulous VPN vendors hiding under the guise of free or cheap VPN providers. Even when companies incorporate this, a data compliance breach is inevitable when the company’s data is replicated on the servers of third parties during VPN tunneling.

Securely Access and Share Files Without a VPN

Some businesses opt out of complete cloud server migration because the process can be hectic and could lead to significant workflow disruption when migrating. Large file size, long path names, windows character limitations, and numbers of files per folder (files have to be reorganized to prevent sync issues) are only a few issues affecting cloud migration and sync. And fixing those limitations is resource-intensive. 

Also, most cloud services do not support essential windows server security features such as file locking and permission control. For instance, Adobe Creative Cloud still doesn’t support control permissions for contributors (the horror of having hours’ worth of work overwritten by a two-second update). As explained by a representative, “Currently shared libraries are always writable by all participants.” 

Since server-side edits aren’t supported, the best bet is for designers to work from their local devices and upload to central storage when done. However, for organizations that rely on PSD and heavy media files, a cloud-based environment is sorely expensive.

Businesses in similar situations (firms who choose to keep their on-premises file servers) can take advantage of Triofox. This hybrid cloud server solution enhances the functionalities of file servers by adding mobility, data sharing, and security capabilities. Triofox server solution allows secure remote file access without a VPN.

Benefits of Triofox Hybrid Cloud Server Solution

Businesses can improve the performance and productivity of their staff with corporate data never leaving the server. This is possible as Triofox compliments the security of file servers with the flexibility of cloud storage. Outlined below are other benefits of deploying the Triofox server solution as a VPN alternative:

  • Organizations no longer have to sacrifice security for accessibility or vice versa as Triofox offers the best of both worlds by enhancing the existing file servers with mobile file accessibility and easy file sharing solutions.
  • Organizations can improve the work-from-home experience for their employees by removing VPN bottlenecks.
  • Secure remote access to on-premise file servers eliminates the need for engaging third-party VPN vendors, greatly reducing the risk of a data breach.
  • Triofox secure file sharing solutions make it easy to share large files and collaborate with teams, partners, and clients.
  • Users can easily adapt the Triofox solution because it offers a similar mapped-drive experience, so there’s no disruption to the workflow after deployment.
  • As a VPN alternative, Triofox fixes the scalability, performance, and security issues while providing management features and security tools.

To get started on Triofox, sign up for a free trial or schedule a demo.

How Businesses Can Securely Share Data and Collaborate Between Various Networks

Any organization’s most valuable asset is its information because it is integral to decision-making, forecasting, and resource allocation. And the more accurate, timely, and consistent information is to business operations, the better one can respond to changing customer needs. Hence, constant and effective data sharing is the key to business success. However, for some verticals, sharing files between different networks is a challenge.

Sharing files across multiple networks can present some bottlenecks, and the costs and difficulties involved in setting up the necessary infrastructure can make this process time-consuming, inefficient, and expensive.

The primary goal of this article is to help businesses understand how Triofox can protect their valuable data and share it across distributed networks to work more efficiently.

Data Sharing Between Isolated Networks Made Easy

Users can quickly share data among themselves and external business partners for collaborative work in today’s digital world. As a result, data is a vital aspect in enhancing performance and productivity, regardless of the type of business. As an enterprise, however, ensuring that data is transmitted securely can be difficult.

In an environment where the business data is located on isolated networks, there should be an easy way to share files securely and efficiently across them. But that is not always the case. Here is a real-life scenario:

An agency operating in different locations needed an easy way to move exported data to other networks. They accumulated several GB per day of emails with their workflow and required a solution accessible to 100-200 users. However, they used the manual approach to data sharing. Employees from other networks had to upload data from the virtual machines in their lab environments to cloud applications to make them accessible to other employees. Currently, they use Accellion to copy the files between networks manually. Both processes proved challenging as they have about 5 TB of information, and on some occasions, large files failed to transfer. Matter-of-fact, they had several situations where the files did fail (smaller than 100GB).

Gladinet’s Triofox solution makes data sharing straightforward. Unlike the existing means of file sharing, it eliminates those extra steps where users have to copy data into an external cloud solution. Instead, users can quickly turn a folder into a web-facing folder, accessible to users on other networks via a mapped drive.

The way out is to deploy Triofox on one network, and have other networks connected to the desired folders using its mapped drive.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Datto BCDR Appliance for Small Business Customers

Businesses can also benefit from Triofox’s scalable cloud backup and disaster recovery solution, which has a lower total cost of ownership, more flexibility, and, of course, security. For many firms, integrating disaster recovery and backup services is essential. In addition, customizing services to meet your company’s demands fosters trust and can help decide its profitability.

Because cost might deter using cloud services, consolidating different cloud services products for efficiency could be a game-changer. Many firms fail to establish an adequate backup plan for business continuity and disasters because the cost is a decisive issue for them when picking a backup solution.

Our BCDR strategy combines on-premises capabilities with cloud-based storage to preserve data for clients’ business needs and make it accessible whenever and wherever they are needed. Triofox accomplished this using version control to the files, and it keeps snapshots and full logs of file modifications.

Triofox’s sync and share feature turn on-premises file servers into private file sharing servers and a centralized data repository as files are stored at multiple locations on different devices. Hence, they act as backups, and previous versions can easily be restored.

Simplified Access & Management

Businesses need a simple product to deploy and manage while providing a simplified data-sharing experience across networks or geographies to increase productivity and improve efficiency.

Dispersed teams have created a demand for a more efficient data-sharing solution that utilizes existing infrastructure to efficiently distribute information among a broad set of data partners. Some solutions are so complex that users have to reach out to the IT department to share large files or specific file formats, increasing employee frustration and reducing productivity.

Secure File Sharing for External Collaboration

Compliance problems arise when businesses entrust their data to third-party cloud services during file sharing. Not only do they open themselves up to lawsuits, but they also risk leaking vital information to big players. However, with Triofox, businesses gain the flexibility of a public consumer cloud service without compromising control over corporate data. Its key features are mobility, ease of access, and security.

Triofox provides advanced drive mapping technology in its solution. It is the perfect option for businesses with security concerns about using external cloud storage for sensitive information. The mapped drive provides:

  • Endpoint encryption.
  • On-demand synchronization.
  • Local file caching.
  • Binary differential uploads.
  • Other optimizations for files and folders to be accessed over the Internet.

Triofox offers centralized control over data permissions and updates, missing when end-users engage external cloud storage services like Dropbox. 

In all, Triofox offers a holistic solution to corporate data sharing and proactive backup services for disaster recovery.

To learn more about how Triofox can better suit your organization’s needs, request a demo

Enterprise File Sync and Share Solutions: Why Triofox Is the Perfect Replacement for DatAnywhere

The most pressing issue facing businesses today can be summed up in a single word: data. A major issue is the lack of control over where data is stored and how it is used. Data sharing must be done in a transparent and barrier-free manner. For some businesses, this means entrusting third-party providers with the management and security of their cloud files. However, it is common knowledge that using public cloud services to share company data is a high-risk activity due to GDPR violations, data loss, and cyber-criminal vulnerability.

Varonis DatAnywhere was popular enterprise sync and share solution for a long time since it offered a simple, cost-effective alternative to public cloud-based file-sharing services. However, since it has reached its end of life (EOL), you are putting your business at risk if you are still using their service. “New updates and upgrades will not be published, and new platforms (such as new versions of IOS, Android, Windows, and so on) will not be supported,” according to them. After February 28, 2020, DatAnywhere support services will be discontinued.” Triofox offers the same secure private file sharing experience with support guaranteed to give you a good run for your money.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common data-sharing concerns and why the Triofox server solution is the best way to turn your corporate infrastructure into a secure private cloud-like platform for secure remote access and collaboration.

The Need for Secure File Sharing

Dropbox has become a popular cloud storage platform in recent years. Its most notable advantage is the ease with which you may share files with your team and external business partners. However, the way Dropbox is used in corporate situations poses some security concerns. For example, data can be very sensitive for a construction company. The remote collaboration will sometimes require sharing vital organizational information such as contracts, blueprints, field photos, videos, etc. Hackers or unscrupulous competitors can intercept the right tools. This is why it is essential to make sure your data is safe.

Businesses have reported millions of dollars in lost revenue and productivity because of the recent data breaches, and the material damage continues. This can be devastating for an organization. Though the commercial impact of a data breach varies greatly depending on the size of the company and the industry in question, the effect that can range from a decline in revenue, decreased productivity, and financial ruin can significantly impact a business.

Why Triofox Is a Better Alternative to DatAnywhere

As they most often operate in different locations, construction companies can’t run their operations optimally without a system that provides employees with the proper flow of information and allows them to share and store documents in real-time. Also, the need to share documents with clients or partners requires the share functionalities of cloud storage. Triofox solves the challenges of transferring data securely across geographies while minimizing costs, complexity, and errors – whether human error or hardware.

Triofox addresses these problems by providing a safe and collaborative working environment to store files in one place. It is a cross-platform team collaboration solution that offers efficient and secure enterprise file sync and share services without the risk of data exposure. Its solution makes it easy for people to work wherever and whenever they need to, and without the fear that their sensitive data will wind up in the wrong hands. Beyond the safety and ease of use factors, Triofox provides real-time backup and recovery in case of disaster.

A real-life examination of a construction company whose needs are aligned with the Triofox solution is outlined below. If your firm can relate to the majority of the pain areas, Triofox could be the ideal solution for you.

  • Construction Company with over 30TB data and a distributed team spread across four (4) branches.
  • Due to the sensitive nature of the business, prefers to keep data on private file servers
  • Wants more control than Dropbox offers; wants to keep control of data even after it has been copied to Dropbox for sharing.
  • The constant fear of data falling into the wrong hands, plus the fact that engaging Dropbox violates data compliance policies.
  • Considering cloud migration but doesn’t have time or resources to deal with migration complexities.
  • Needs a solution that users can quickly implement and manage; file-sharing shouldn’t require the specialty of a tech person.
  • Needs a partner that will help with initial setup and configuration and ongoing support.

Benefits of Triofox Server Solution

Similar to Datanywhere, Triofox extends the file-sharing functionality of existing windows file shares, making them accessible over the web. Matter-of-fact, file sharing can be as easy as sending a link. It provides a mapped drive, where users can quickly access file shares.

By deploying a self-hosted version of Triofox, you can ensure data security and control while improving the performance and productivity of the users. Listed below are the benefits of deploying the Triofox server solution:

  • Triofox eradicates the issues that come with employing external cloud services for collaboration as its solution is built on existing file server infrastructure to extend its functionalities.
  • Its AD & NTFS Integration features ensure seamless technology adaptation to prevent lost productivity, which can cost your business a lot of money.
  • It is cost-effective as the solution requires little to minimal training; Users can easily adapt since it provides a familiar working experience.
  • Allow businesses to maintain data governance and control for policy compliance and privacy of client’s information.
  • It offers more control than Dropbox. Triofox provides centralized access controls, audit tracking, and report features, giving you autonomous control over your data.
  • It offers simplified management and user experience
  • The solution keeps data on private file shares
  • It has remote device wipes and encryption to reduce device vulnerabilities.

To learn more about how Triofox can better suit your organization’s needs, request a demo