A countless amount of data is being processed through the internet every single day (and every hour, minute, second, millisecond) of that day. And, given our current climate, sharing files over the internet is more important than ever. You're probably sharing jpegs, pdfs, .pngs, Excels, word docs, and other essential files every day between partners, customers, users, and systems. But are free file transfer services the right move for you?
A quick search indicates dozens of free file sharing tools, one of the most popular platforms being Dropbox. And, you've probably used it before personally to share pictures from your family trips or to communicate with external vendors quickly (and for free). But what if I told you other Dropbox alternatives, specifically built for businesses to support their security between person-to-person, person-to-system, or system-to-system transfers?
Popularity of Free Tools
It's hard to resist free tools available from cloud services, especially when you find out how popular they are. Some of the leading free choices for file sharing besides Dropbox are OneDrive and Google Drive. Not only do free tools help to cut expenses, but they also allow you to experiment with new ideas and remote partners. They reduce barriers to product and service research and development.
File-Sharing Concerns
One of the most significant drawbacks to free file-sharing tools is opening the door to sharing links to digital assets with cybercriminals. Did you know, 95% of cybersecurity breaches are a result of human error? That's right - hackers prey upon proprietary information that they can sell to other criminals on the dark web.
Free file sharing platforms allow you to store your folders and files in the cloud, which raises questions about privacy and storage reliability. How secure and reliable are these public cloud environments? The answer is somewhat hazy. Enter stage left, a private cloud solution. With a private cloud solution, you're able to ensure compliance, security, and scalability. However, private clouds present upfront cost barriers for development and deployment.
Dropbox has a documented history of "accidentally" deleting user files. The company now makes backups for the past 120 days; however, older files are still possible to get deleted beyond the user's control. As far as providing a strong security layer, a Dropbox business account (which costs around $20 per month) provides 256-bit AES encryption. But at this time, the system cannot tell the difference between ransomware-encrypted files and regular files.
Another problem with free file transfer services is that their offerings are limited. You only have limited tools and functions with a free account. Which means the functionality for auditing and tracking is minimal. This limitation prevents you from using online collaboration to its fullest potential.
MOVEit provides a Dropbox alternative called MOVEit Transfer. MOVEit Transfer consolidates all file transfer activities to one system. That way, businesses can ensure better management control over core business processes. It provides security, centralized access controls, file encryption, and activity tracking needed to ensure operational reliability and compliance with SLA, internal governance, and regulatory requirements.
What is Managed File Transfer?
A Managed File Transfer (MFT) service allows businesses to consolidate all file transfer activity to one system. That consolidation ensures better management control over core business processes. An MFT solution like MOVEit Transfer helps businesses achieve security, centralized access controls, file encryption, activity tracking. That way, it's possible to ensure operational reliability and compliance, internal governance, and regulatory requirements like PCI, HIPAA, and GDPR.
Why MFT is a Superior Choice
A managed file transfer (MFT) solution is ideal for businesses that regularly work with third-party entities. Its user-friendly and security allow you to streamline the collaborative process with remote partners. MOVEit Managed File Transfer is a tool that allows you to consolidate all your file transfer activities into one system while providing complete visibility and control over all transfers. MOVEit gives you visibility and security of all your transactions and with easy management from a centralized location.
MFT is the more robust enterprise file transfer solution for medium to large organizations. In comparison, DropBox's free services might work better for companies that only need to share non-critical files occasionally, where an MFT is a necessity for sharing valuable intellectual property and trade secrets.
File Transfer Options
MOVEit Managed File Transfer is the favorable Dropbox alternative. With MOVEit, your files remain secure both in transit and at rest with a tamper-evident audit log, which allows you to prove compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, and others. MOVEit also allows for complete visibility and control over file transfer activities between partners, customers, users, and systems. Plus, it's easy to use, which managers and end-users find beneficial.
The MOVEit file transfer system is available as a managed service, in the cloud, or as an on-premises solution, all of which are easy to deploy. With an MFT solution like MOVEit, you can consolidate all your file transfer activities to one scalable system, which can save you time and money.
Conclusion
The best file transfer service depends on your company's needs. If you do minimal file-sharing that isn't confidential, free services are worth using. However, it's best to invest in an MFT solution for more secure and elaborate long-term business use. Some businesses can benefit from a hybrid approach, using free services for minor projects and MFT for regulatory, compliance, scalability, and security.
Assure the reliability, security, and compliance of sensitive data with MOVEit Managed File Transfer - try now (or you can click here to learn more!)