Dropbox vs Windows File Server Alternative Solutions

Story #1 - Consolidate storage and avoid data sprawl

An image mapping company has large amounts of data of various types, such as video recordings, footage, images, internal memos, other media files, etc. The data is stored in various locations: 40 TB distributed on two QNAP servers; 60 TB on tape drives; 2 TB in Dropbox; 2 TB in Workplace by OS33. So their main goal is to stop depending on Dropbox and Workplace and consolidate the data as much as possible. They have decided to use Triofox as the front-end for the on-premise file sharing solution to overcome the data sprawl.

Story #2 - Triofox helps solve Dropbox file syncing problem

An electrical construction company with two offices in the U.S. and a total of nearly 300 employees. The company has a local file server with about 4 TB of data that is replicated between the two offices using VMware. The company also has a large number of field technicians and employees who perform solar and electrical installations for oil and gas companies. The field workers previously relied on a VPN connection to the local file server to access files and Dropbox to share files. They also need to share documents with business partners. They use AccuBid Enterprise, an important estimating software for their business, because it helps contractors quickly and accurately create estimates. However, this software does not integrate well with Dropbox file syncing. They found Triofox, a solution that helps them solve this problem.

What do you like about your Dropbox?

Files are available at my fingertip

Files you place in a Dropbox folder are instantly synced to all other devices, so you have the file right at your fingertips when you need it.

Simplicity at its best

Dropbox is easy to use and the moment you drop a file into the Dropbox folder, it's ready.

Mobile first and multi-device support

From mobile device, web browser to laptop and desktop, Dropbox is designed to be mobile first and supports many different devices.

Access, backup, sharing all combined

From file backup to mobile access to online file sharing, Dropbox is an all-in-one solution.

Dropbox vs. File Server?

Dropbox is great, and people are still looking for an answer to the 'Dropbox vs. File Server' question. Why actually?

Coming from the business world, mobile workers, especially CIOs, are looking at the question from a different angle. Almost all organizations use a Windows Server IT infrastructure with Active Directory and Windows File Server network sharing by default. Because of their training and professional responsibilities, CIOs have concerns about security, data ownership, permission control, data privacy, and data leakage.

Should you abandon your Windows file server and adopt Dropbox in the workplace? Or should we add Dropbox-style modern cloud services to Windows file servers and bring file servers back to the future!

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There are so many Windows file server features we love too!

Active Directory

With Active Directory, employees can log in to corporate machines with one single set of credentials.

Drive Mapping

Drive mapping is probably the most frequently used feature from end-users when then login to their Windows workstation.

Storage Space Direct

With Windows storage space direct, Windows file servers can be pooled together to increase the storage capacity and grow on demand.

NTFS Permission

The NTFS file system brings the permission structure to folders and files with well-understood security control.

File Locking

File locking is another frequently used feature from NTFS and the CIFS/SMB protocol to lock files while they are being edited.

Virtual Machine

With the virtual machine technology, Windows file servers can be available from AWS, Windows Azure and various other data center locations.

Conflicts between Dropbox and File Servers

Big Data

File server has more data than a laptop with a small SSD can store. Business has more data stored on file servers than a personal 'Documents' folder.

Data Privacy

File server has every file stored in one place under business control, while Dropbox synchronizing every file to every device exposes every file.

Data Ownership

File server has files sitting in hard disks owned by businesses, while files in Dropbox folder are stored on Dropbox sites.

Data Scattering

When file server network shares and Dropbox are both used in business, some files are on the file server, but some revisions are in Dropbox.

Permissions

File servers have NTFS permissions to protect access to folders and files, while Dropbox syncs them all.

Regulations

When it's time for a compliance audit, file servers can easily pass the audit, while files in Dropbox require further action.

Triofox deployment is easy and solves above problems!

Simple Installation

Install the solution on a Windows Server in 20 minutes.

Scalable

Each Triofox server supports thousands or can be clustered to create massive scale.

Storage Agnostic

In addition to Windows file server, Amazon S3, Windows Azure Blob, and Azure Files are all good storage services for creating a cloud file server.

Inherits NTFS

The Triofox server inherits the NTFS file system and the files and folders stored there, as well as the NTFS permissions.

Cloud Style

For end users, there is cloud-style or Dropbox-style access to files and folders, with drive mapping, file locking, Active Directory integration, mobile app and so on.

Additional Benefits of Triofox

Beyond combining Dropbox-style mobility features with the security of a Windows file server, Triofox has numerous features to meet the needs of your enterprise.

Online Backup

Cloud backup and data protection with version control. On-demand synchronization minimizes storage and bandwidth consumption.

Security

Full support for file locking from the cloud. Encrypt remote agent caches or revoke remote agent access privileges from a central management console.

VPN Replacements

An alternative for one or more of the following: VPN, DFS, FTP, Dropbox, Box, SharePoint, ShareFile, Anchor, Egnyte, etc.

Centralized Control

Combines NTFS permissions, Active Directory users and drive mappings. Advanced reporting and usage auditing of file sharing activity from a centralized management console.

Simple Remote Access

Simplified remote access from iOS/AndroidPC/Mac/Windows Phone/Windows RT mobile devices. From any location, using any device.

Reduce Cost

Eliminate the management costs of servers and VPNs. Avoid the cost of manually replicating files and folders or restoring NTFS permissions.

Seamless Integration

Integrates seamlessly with current file-based enterprise networks and work-flow environments.

Flexible and Easy Setup

Choose different implementations according to your own needs. Simple process for setup.

Dropbox vs. File Server