If your business is one where collaboration and security on all kinds of files is a crucial part of your work, cloud storage may be the ideal solution, explains John Shehata, the Director of Technology for New Jersey REALTORS®. As current file storage systems begin to age and office teams become more dispersed, storing data locally within the office becomes less pragmatic. The ability to back up and automatically sync all your files across multiple devices will radically change the way you use computers, mobile phones, and other Internet-connected devices.
Cloud storage services like Dropbox for Business or Amazon WorkDocs allow you and your entire office to have access to and editing capabilities for files and documents stored on the cloud. These programs also automatically sync files so every party is working on the most updated document.
In the past, one of the largest hesitations businesses had when debating the switch to cloud storage was that files were not stored locally, and if the Internet connection went down, access to those files would be eliminated. The two cloud storage companies that I single out here — Dropbox & Amazon — remedy that scenario by not only storing files in the cloud, but also on your computer.
Both services allow users to share folders and files with other team members. Each user could have a personal folder for their private use and a “common” folder where everyone in the office or organization has access.
Keep in mind one drawback – if you share a large common folder, you will need space on the local computers to store the files. If you don’t want to be selective with the files you sync, be mindful that only Dropbox allows you to pick and choose while Amazon automatically syncs everything.
As cloud storage becomes more effective, our Internet increases in speed at a comparable rate, making the change much more realistic for small businesses to undertake.
Other cloud storage options include Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Box.
This article originally appeared in the April issue of NJ REALTOR® magazine.
