Cloud-based infrastructures are centralized, easily accessible, and secure. They are ideal platforms for a company to host its databases on. With web-based file systems, authorized employees can access their documents anytime, anywhere. For people working together on projects, the cloud database will ensure that everyone gets the same up-to-date version of a file. Cloud-based platforms can also be configured to make sensitive documents read-only. Employees would still be able to access the important files, but there would be no danger of someone mishandling the company’s financial records (for example) or storing them on a less secure device. Organizations can also maintain comprehensive and precise records (audit trails) of activity in a web-based database due to the centralization of the cloud. In responding to an incident of data loss, it would be easy for an administrator to tell which user had mistakenly or deliberately mishandled the files.
As a result of the advantages of hosting files in the cloud, online storage syncing has become one of the more popular forms of cloud computing among consumers. Despite the limitations of these storage services, casual technology users have flocked to them because of their low cost and easy setup. Also, with the syncing (or synchronizing) feature of some online storage applications, a user can change a file or folder and the service will automatically make the same changes to the same files and folders on all the user’s devices (for example, on a personal laptop, an office desktop, and a smartphone). This saves people the trouble of manual downloading and having to check versions like on a normal web-based file system.
These online storage services were designed and built for individual consumers. They have limited or no backup, management, and data protection features. They cannot be integrated with applications and other file systems. By no means should companies of any size use these online storage services as their central database. Prohibiting public cloud data storage from the enterprise does not mean that users have to say goodbye to syncing, however. Private cloud solutions databases can also be configured to synchronize data across multiple devices:
-Self-hosted file-syncing software. Some file storage and syncing software can be deployed in a private cloud. There are commercial and free versions. With these programs, employees can synchronize their files without dealing with the insecurity, unreliability, and lack of control of the public cloud storage services. In a private cloud deployment, companies can increase their data protections with firewalls, encryption, backups, and other security measures. Customized file synchronization—for example, restricting it for certain files or folders and scheduling it in intervals to reduce bandwidth consumption—would also be easier.
-Sync-enabled applications. Many of the programs that can be hosted on a private cloud have built-in synchronization features. For example, employees can sync their emails across multiple devices with a hosted version of Microsoft Exchange. With the same application, companies also have the ability to synchronize team- or department-level calendars and contact lists. Hosted project management and document management applications and collaboration platforms have similar features that automatically maintain consistent and up-to-date files on all the integrated devices in an organization.
-Virtual desktops. Files don’t exactly sync across multiple devices with a hosted desktop. In fact, many companies set up their virtual desktops to prohibit the end-user from transferring important documents to their local hard drive. But in the end, hosted desktops and syncing file systems have the same effect of making consistent and up-to-date versions of files accessible from multiple devices. Users can access their hosted desktop from any desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Regardless of the device, however, the files of the virtual desktop will always be the same.
IronOrbit can design, build, and customize any cloud-based database, application, or file syncing solution. We have the flexibility to host file systems and web-based software of any size and type. Our talented engineers will customize solutions according to the exact IT requirements and preferences of our customers. And our lightning-fast, Atomic Speed Technology-enabled virtual desktops make files quickly and easily accessible from anywhere. Only with cloud-based solutions from IronOrbit will your files always be in-sync, up-to-date, and always-available.