Enterprise file synchronization and sharing: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 08:52, 13 February 2021

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'''Enterprise file synchronization and sharing''' (also known as '''EFSS''' and '''enterprise file sync and share''') refers to software services that enable organizations to securely synchronize and share documents, photos, videos and files from multiple devices with employees, and external customers and partners. Organizations often adopt these technologies to prevent employees from using consumer-based file sharing apps to store, access and manage corporate data that is outside of the IT department’s control and visibility.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Robb|first1=Drew|title=Ten Things You Need to Know about Enterprise File Sync and Share|url=http://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/storage-management/ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-enterprise-file-sync-and-share.html|website=www.enterprisestorageforum.com/|publisher=IT Business Edge|accessdateaccess-date=21 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rouse|first1=Margaret|title=Definition of EFSS (Enterprise file sync-and-share)|url=http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/EFSS-Enterprise-file-sync-and-share|website=searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/|publisher=TechTarget|accessdateaccess-date=21 July 2016}}</ref>

==Key characteristics==

EFSS applications are often characterized by having most or all of the following features and capabilities:<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rodriguez|first1=Andres|title=File Sync & Share: When Worlds Collide|url=http://www.informationweek.com/software/information-management/file-sync-and-share-when-worlds-collide/a/d-id/1323369|website=www.informationweek.com/|publisher=UBM Tech|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Backaitis|first1=Virginia|title=Enterprise File Sync & Share Solutions: What's the Difference?|url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/information-management/enterprise-file-sync-share-solutions-whats-the-difference-026343.php|website=www.cmswire.com/|publisher=Simpler Media Group|accessdateaccess-date=21 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ladi|first1=Ananda Rao|title=Enterprise File Sync and Share (EFSS) in the cloud|url=http://www.itproportal.com/2016/07/11/enterprise-file-sync-and-share-efss-in-the-cloud/|website=www.itproportal.com/|publisher=IT Pro Portal|accessdateaccess-date=21 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Zurier|first1=Steve|title=Businesses Embrace Enterprise File-Sharing Tools for Security, Flexibility|url=http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article/2016/03/businesses-embrace-enterprise-file-sharing-tools-security-flexibility|website=www.biztechmagazine.com/|publisher=CDW|accessdateaccess-date=21 July 2016}}</ref>

* Sync files stored in corporate storage to user desktops and devices

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* Audit and report file activities and system actions

Depending on what an EFSS provider offers, services can be deployed using [[cloud computing]], on-premises, or hybrid. According to Forrester Research, some EFSS providers can provide the ability to lockdown data in certain geographies for companies that have requirements to store content/metadata in specific jurisdictions.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McKinnon|first1=Cheryl|title=Navigate The Crowded Enterprise File Sync And Share Market By Asking These 3 Questions|url=http://blogs.forrester.com/cheryl_mckinnon/16-05-19-navigate_the_crowded_enterprise_file_sync_and_share_market_by_asking_these_3_questions|website=www.forrester.com|publisher=Forrester Research, Inc.|accessdateaccess-date=21 July 2016}}</ref>

==History==

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In 2007 [[Dropbox (service)|Dropbox]] was founded, and officially launched at 2008's [[TechCrunch Disrupt]] conference. The same year, [[Microsoft]] began beta testing of Windows Live Folders, a predecessor of [[OneDrive]]. <ref>[https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2007/05/windows-live-folders-make-brief-appearance/ Windows Live Folders]</ref>

Around 2010, the EFSS market emerged with over 100 vendors from a variety technology backgrounds including backup and cloud storage ([[ShareFile|Citrix ShareFile]], [[Syncplicity]]), [[managed file transfer]] ([[Accellion]], [[Biscom]], [[Box (company)|Box]], [[Hightail]], Thru), enterprise content management and more. Many were developed as alternatives to consumer file sync and sharing services that did not have security features in place to protect company information nor the flexibility to integrate with existing content repositories and business applications.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dubash|first1=Manek|title=Cloud file-sharing for enterprise users|url=http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Buyers-Guide-Cloud-file-sharing-for-enterprise-users|website=www.computerweekly.com/|publisher=TechTarget|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Darrow|first1=Barb|title=Who will be the 'Dropbox of the enterprise?' The race is on|url=https://gigaom.com/2012/03/19/who-will-be-the-dropbox-of-the-enterprise-the-race-is-on/|website=www.gigaom.com|publisher=Gigaom|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Wexler|first1=Steve|title=Significant Churn Forecast For EFSS Market|url=http://it-tna.com/2015/09/10/significant-churn-forecast-for-efss-market/|website=it-tna.com|publisher=IT-TNA|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Sliwa|first1=Carol|title=Enterprise file sync and share expands in 2014|url=http://searchcloudstorage.techtarget.com/news/2240237177/Enterprise-file-sync-and-share-expands-in-2014|website=searchcloudstorage.techtarget.com/|publisher=TechTarget|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref>

In October 2011, software company, [[Citrix Systems]], announced that it had acquired private enterprise file sync and share service, [[ShareFile]], to add to the Citrix product line. ShareFile was a competitor of [[Box (company)|Box]] and [[Dropbox (service)|Dropbox]] but focused on selling its product to IT departments of large organizations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wauters|first1=Robin|title=Citrix Acquires ShareFile, The "Dropbox For Enterprises"|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/13/citrix-acquires-sharefile-the-dropbox-for-enterprises/|website=www.techcrunch.com|publisher=TechCrunch|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Savitz|first1=Eric|title=Citrix Buys ShareFile|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2011/10/13/citrix-buys-sharefile/|website=www.forbes.com/|publisher=Forbes|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref>

In 2012, [[CTERA Networks]] entered the EFSS market.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cloudcomputing-news.net/news/2015/jul/27/gartners-enterprise-file-sync-and-share-magic-quadrant-offers-surprises-and-opportunities/| title=Gartner's enterprise file sync and share Magic Quadrant offers surprises and opportunities| date=July 27, 2015| author=James Bourne| publisher=CloudTech}}</ref>

In July 2013, [[Forrester Research]] released the first “Forrester Wave” report on the EFSS market where they identified and scored products from the most significant providers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schadler|first1=Ted|title=Who are the leaders in the file sync and share market?|url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/who-are-the-leaders-in-the-file-sync-and-share-market/|website=zdnet.com|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdateaccess-date=20 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Backaitis|first1=Virginia|title=Forrester Names 6 Top Cloud File Sharing Vendors|url=http://www.cmswire.com/information-management/forrester-names-6-top-cloud-file-sharing-vendors/|website=www.cmswire.com|publisher=Simpler Media Group, Inc|accessdateaccess-date=20 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Schadler|first1=Ted|last2=Koplowitz|first2=Rob|last3=Keitt|first3=TJ|last4=Kark|first4=Khalid|last5=Smith|first5=Andrew|title=The Forrester Wave™: File Sync And Share Platforms, Q3 2013|url=https://www.forrester.com/report/The+Forrester+Wave+File+Sync+And+Share+Platforms+Q3+2013/-/E-RES98201|website=www.forrester.com|publisher=Forrester Research|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref>

On June 25, 2014, [[Google]] announced at its [[Google I/O|I/O Conference]] that it was entering the enterprise file sharing market with the release of “[[Google Drive]] for Work.”<ref>{{cite web|last1=King|first1=Rachel|title=Google intros Drive for Work as new premium option for Apps users|url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/google-intros-drive-for-work-as-new-premium-option-for-apps-users/|website=www.zdnet.com/|publisher=ZDNet|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=KOKALITCHEVA|first1=KIA|title=Google Drive now has 190M users & a brand new tablet app for presentations|url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/06/25/google-drive-now-has-190m-users-a-brand-new-tablet-app-for-presentations/|website=venturebeat.com/|publisher=VentureBeat|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref>

In July 2014, [[Gartner Research]] released its first “[[Magic Quadrant]]” report on the EFSS market. The study evaluates the strengths and cautions of the most notable vendors in the industry.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Backaitis|first1=Virginia|title=Gartner Rates Enterprise File Sync and Share Vendors|url=http://www.cmswire.com/cms/information-management/gartner-rates-enterprise-file-sync-and-share-vendors-025799.php|website=www.cmswire.com/|publisher=Simpler Media Group|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Arlotta|first1=CJ|title=Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise File Synchronization and Sharing|url=http://talkincloud.com/cloud-computing-research/070814/gartner-magic-quadrant-enterprise-file-synchronization-and-sharing|website=talkincloud.com|publisher=Penton|access-date=2016-07-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714022356/http://talkincloud.com/cloud-computing-research/070814/gartner-magic-quadrant-enterprise-file-synchronization-and-sharing|archive-date=2016-07-14|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October, 2014, encrypted vendor [[Tresorit]] entered the EFSS market with Tresorit for Business.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Tresorit Brings DRM To Cloud Data|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/benkepes/2014/08/19/tresorit-brings-drm-to-cloud-data/|website = Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Tresorit Launches Its Secure Sync And Share Product For Business|url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/benkepes/2014/10/08/tresorit-launches-its-secure-sync-and-share-product-for-business/|website = Forbes}}</ref> Tresorit is a competitor of Dropbox and Box, promising businesses more security and privacy compliance with [[End-to-end encryption]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Cloud Storage Startup Tresorit Raises $3M To Put Security Spotlight On Dropbox, Box And Others|url = https://techcrunch.com/2014/05/01/tresorit/|website = TechCrunch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Updated UI and expanded data control features come to Tresorit's Business plan|url = https://www.neowin.net/news/updated-ui-and-expanded-data-control-features-come-to-tresorits-business-plan/|website = Neowin}}</ref>

In April 2015, [[BlackBerry Limited]] paid between $100 million and $150 million to buy WatchDox Ltd. for its enterprise file sync and sharing capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lopez|first1=Maribel|title=BlackBerry Snaps Up WatchDox For Content Security|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maribellopez/2015/04/21/blackberry-acquires-watchdox-boosting-content-security/#3cd5bbe45f38|website=www.forbes.com/|publisher=Forbes|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref>

In July 2015, one EFSS vendor, [[Syncplicity]], was sold to private equity firm, Skyview Capital, by previous owner, [[EMC Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Konrad|first1=Alex|title=EMC Sells Box Competitor Syncplicity To Private Equity Shop Skyview|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2015/07/07/emc-sells-syncplicity-to-private-equity-shop-skyview/|website=www.forbes.com/|publisher=Forbes|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Don|title=EMC to Sell Dropbox Rival Syncplicity|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/emc-to-sell-dropbox-rival-syncplicity-1436288979|website=www.wsj.com/|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdateaccess-date=22 July 2016}}</ref>

==References==