Top 5 cloud storage apps for business

What is cloud storage?

Even if it wasn’t the first use case of cloud computing, storage should be regarded as the original cloud solution, because what could be simpler than storing your data on a remote server? However, beyond the simple storage, cloud storage has become linked with productivity apps from the big internet players,

Cloud storage services provide the capability of maintaining your data is remotely, where it is managed, and backed up. The service lets users store files online, so that they can access them from any location via the Internet.

According to a survey conducted across more than 800 business decision makers and users worldwide, the number of organizations gaining competitive advantage through migration to cloud services has almost doubled in the last few years. By 2018 the public cloud services market was predicted to exceed $244 billion.

The main benefits of cloud storage

When it comes to features and benefits that produce this extraordinary amount of market value for what is perhaps the most elementary of cloud service offerings, it’s pretty simple.

As usability features go, drag, drop and file system replication are pretty much a standard, allowing local file and folder structures to be replicated, mirroring your data elsewhere.

Of course, cloud storage eliminates the need to send large attachments through email and provides a centralized point or a hub around which you can share files with team workers or 3rd parties and your clients. This solves issues such as certainty about the latest version.

Issues about the accessibility of files is reduced to the simple process of connecting to the storage service with the correct credentials and downloading, making it a silver bullet for accessing files on multiple devices in different locations and from devices which may limit your ability to manage files at a system level, such as on iOS.

Disaster recovery and backup have long been challenging to businesses using on-premise servers. Backup devices, software and media add considerable complexity. Letting a cloud storage service host your files in the cloud and providing backup through replication and other technical live server methodologies is a huge benefit for companies of all sizes.

Finally, the cost savings are considerable, especially if we take into account the cost of a storage and backup solution with offsite media services. This reduces routine and ‘menial’ IT management tasks and increases the value of IT to your business.

Which cloud storage solution is best for business?

Many businesses are faced with the problem of ‘shadow IT’, where employees – unauthorized by the IT team - are using undocumented software and external services to enable them to get their jobs done. Cloud storage can be an easy way for workers to circumvent IT policies on sharing files.

However, this is dangerous because many policies are in place for IT security reasons. IT teams may wish to consider bringing cloud storage under official policy control as a storage and sharing platform. By selecting an appropriate service and documenting its use, the business gets a formalized understanding Service level Agreements (SLAs) and security measures. Here’s a quick look at 5 of the top project management apps.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud-based file sharing software system with service offers to suit the needs of individuals and businesses. This solution allows users to share files and send file requests to people even if they don’t have a Dropbox account.

Multiple users can comment on files and collaborate using the integration with Microsoft Office. Integration with Breeze enables users to add files and comments to tasks.

Dropbox Business is a central workspace that helps teams stay organized and helps to keep their work flowing. All content is in one place, making it easy for teams to collaborate and focus on works that needs to be treated as a priority. Dropbox Business is used by over 300,000 teams and over 50% of the Fortune 500.

Pros

• Tight integration with the Mac Finder makes it really easy for Mac users
• 2TB of storage means you don’t worry about running out of space

Cons

• Two people cannot work on the same file
• Difficult to find older versions of files

Price from $FREE

Google Drive

Google Drive enables users to store their company’s business data in one place. Users can access files from desktop and mobile devices and control how team members share these files. The platform provides a central admin panel, data-loss prevention and a vault for the drive to ensure compliance and file sharing between users.

Google Drive integrates with third-party applications including DocuSign for e-signatures, CloudLock for additional security layers and LucidCharts for mockups. Breeze supports Google Drive integration, allowing users to add files and comments to tasks.

Pros

• Makes sharing and collaborating on documents easy and simple for groups and teams
• Simultaneous editing with multiple users, and per-document messaging functions

Cons

• iOS apps are sometimes buggy
• Some users have reported syncing issues

Price from $FREE up to 15GB

One Drive

OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud-based content management solution that provides organizations with a platform to collaborate, share and store documents.

OneDrive lets users collaborate and share documents in real-time with workgroup members and clients. Managers and admins can access, review and edit. It provides permission-based file management, restricting file access within teams and organizations. The system pushes out real-time notifications when files are viewed or edited.

OneDrive automatically tags photos by detecting visual files when they are saved to the cloud. This makes them easier to search and organize. Breeze integration lets users add files and comments to tasks.

Pros

Native integration with Windows 10 and Windows 10 Mobile

Does a good job of syncing and backing up smartphone and computer data

Cons

• Some users report a few unresolved customer support issues
• User interface seem scaled down and simplistic

Price from $FREE for up to 5GB

Box

Box is a cloud content management platform and it’s been designed to be suitable for a wide range of companies - sizes and industries.

The Box platform is compliance-ready with support for HIPAA, FINRA and FedRAMP standards. It offers granular permissions and advanced security capabilities, including data governance and device trust.

Box allows users to work together on all types of files and on any device. Users can choose where to store data, manage encryption keys and set metadata-driven workflows to automate content-based processes. Box integrates with Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps for Work, Salesforce, Adobe, among others. When you integrate it with Breeze, your users can add files and comments to tasks.

Pros

• Strong security and data ownership model
• Flexibility of collaboration and sharing options

Cons

• Some management features could be improved
• Cannot share individual documents to non-registered users for editing

Price from $5.00/month/user

pCloud

pCloud is a cloud-based digital asset management tool that provides an integrated file sharing platform. Users can upload files and documents and manage access to this business data through role-based access permissions. It lets uses restore previous versions of files and track downloads.

Setting up data storage and file sharing tools lets you enable collaboration between your collaborators. Users can be organized into teams, and administrators are able to set up group permissions or give specific access to accounts.

Shared folders provide the capability for users to manage team workflows and they can comment on files and folders with permission-controlled chat and comments. The platform also provides an activity-monitoring module that records account activity in logs. pCloud works with Breeze with integration letting users add files and comments to tasks.

Pros

• Pay once lifetime deals available
• Very intuitive with the ability to operationalize lots of project management

Cons

• Limited support options
• iPad app is buggy

Price from $4.99/month/user