Dropbox was launched in 2008 and has remained a cloud storage leader for many years, but unprotected storage, and data breaches have caused users to look for the alternatives. With the diverse set of features, more players have captured the market share and are proving their mettle in the cloud storage space. In this article we will look at the best alternatives to Dropbox for business in 2020 with focus on feature set and overall usability.
FileCloud
FileCloud, by Codelathe is an on-premise as well as a cloud-based file sharing and sync solution offering a much secure environment for sharing and storage with unlimited client accounts allowing for a much greater ROI (return on investment) compared to Dropbox. The client base spans globally with over 3000+ enterprises.
FileCloud has been focusing on security, data leak prevention, content classification, data governance and retention for sometime with an intuitive and easy to use interface and advanced administration controls.
FileCloud Features:
- Access files from anywhere for uninterrupted work on the go. You just need an internet connection to access data in real-time
- Remote file sharing without VPN or FTP
- A collaborative workspace ensures that multiple teams working on same project can collaborate seamlessly
- FileCloud ServerLink provides geographically-distributed multi-site enterprise file sharing solution
- Hybrid storage for fast, low-latency access via LAN and anywhere access from the cloud
- Security and encryption for protection against data breaches
- Regulations and Compliance for HIPAA, FINRA, EU-GDPR, FIPS-140 2
- Unlimited file versioning
- Free unlimited client accounts
- A storage agnostic solution which can be deployed across any scale-out NAS or an object based storage system
FileCloud has two plans FileCloud server (self-hosted/on-premise) and FileCloud online.
pCloud
pCloud is a cloud storage solution launched in 2013. pCloud claims to be designed for security and offers top cloud encryption with data locked crypto service unlocked only by a unique key. Unlike Dropbox, pCloud offers 10 GB of personal storage space for individual users. The business plan has majority of Dropbox similar features like granular control, workflows, activity monitoring and some features like custom branding which Dropbox doesn't provide.
pCloud features
- Easy search and filtering of data files and folders
- TLS/SSL encryption to securely transfer the data in transit and at rest
- Automatic sync of all the files and folders across desktop and mobile clients
- Security practices to make data secure and protected
- Client-side encryption to share files securely
- 30 days of Trash history to ensure data can be retrieved in case
- App available across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android platforms
Google Drive
Google Drive is a cloud storage and synchronization solution developed by Google (Alphabet Inc.) and launched in 2012 to allow users to store and share files across devices. Google Drive's enterprise plan comes with an intuitive UI and offers powerful integration with tools such as Adobe, Autodesk, Salesforce, and Slack, etc.
Apart from this, Google Drive for Business offers unlimited cloud storage, access from any device, offline file access, includes apps like Gmail, Google Keep, Google Sites and more. Google Drive Business also offers enterprise grade access controls, e-discovery for emails, chats and files.
Google Drive features
- Supports all major file format including images, videos, and documents
- Offline access to the files in case of no internet connectivity
- Access to Google suite apps such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides
- Automatic Sync to backup photos, contacts, messages in android devices
- Cloud-native collaboration for teams to work on projects
- Integration with Microsoft Office suite for a better working environment
- Google suite essential to work a collaborative workspace
- Zero-knowledge privacy setting which is already customized for maximum protection
- Fully GDPR, and HIPAA compliant and stores data Google data centers located globally
- Remote wiping facility in case of device loss and theft
- App is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
OneDrive
OneDrive by Microsoft started as file hosting and synchronization service in 2007 and since then have seen an upward growth. Microsoft OneDrive office 365 E3 plan (comparable to Dropbox business advanced) offers a lot, but mainly it has seamless native integration with Microsoft Office app. Comparing it with Dropbox, OneDrive offers a huge list of Integrations that can be incorporated into the cloud which further simplifies work and provides a more powerful workspace. You also get access to sharepoint and Microsoft Teams. Core features include anywhere access using OneDrive mobile apps (offline access as well), differential sync to sync only part files, secure file sharing, data encryption in transit/ at rest, share expiry dates, discovery tools and intelligent search functions.
OneDrive features
- With offline access, you don’t need an active internet connection for accessing your data files
- All data is protected with SSL encryption that protects data in transit and at rest
- You can share your files or folders via a link, email, text, etc
- Use a mobile phone to scan and store paper documents, receipts, business cards, etc and have 24/7 access
- Comes integrated with Office apps and services
- Access files from anywhere using OneDrive app
- Access files on the cloud itself without the need of downloading them
- Differential sync option for saving files
- Automatic sync and backup of data for future use
- Advanced collaboration on the project with co-authoring and editing capabilities
- Multi-page scan of documents, receipts, and data with OneDrive app
- Available on the platforms including Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Xbox One
OneDrive enhances teamwork, collaboration and comes with central work hub with Microsoft Teams, task management with Microsoft planner etc. On the security front, OneDrive protects and backs up data and has data loss prevention features to save data from leakages. File auditing and analytics further provide insights into the data security measures.
Box
Box Inc is based out in California, founded in 2005 and offers cloud content management (CCM) and file sharing solution mainly designed for organizations and enterprises. Box business plus plan offers unlimited data storage, but for single file uploads, only 5 GB limit is provided.
Some useful features include encryption at rest, custom branding, content management, activity tracking and granular file permissions. Apart from this, the security infrastructure is layered with enterprise grade encryption, redundant data management, and private encryption keys are used to make storage more secure and unique user keys can only access the content.
Box features
- Secure sharing of files and confidential documents with the option of private encryption keys.
- Document watermarking to label content
- Access data with Box even if you are offline
- Admin rights to manage user activity, storage permissions, and cloud settings
- Compliant with major security standards including GDPR, HIPAA, and FINRA
- App available for all major devices
- Integrations with Microsoft, IBM, Google Apps, Salesforce
- Share files and folders securely via Encrypted link
- Two-factor authentication and SSL/TLS protocol to ensure your data is safe
- Available on Windows, Linux, macOS, and web browsers
Conclusion:
Dropbox, with its limited storage capability and security woes is no longer a viable option for some of the enterprises with very specific use cases. If you are an enterprise user looking for the best Dropbox alternatives in 2020, your next cloud solution can be anyone of the above.
FileCloud has maximum features to offer with a focus on hyper-security and data leak prevention. FileCloud is perhaps the best choice among the Dropbox alternatives with unlimited client accounts and many features only designed to help enterprises collaborate better.
pCloud also focuses on security, but misses some important features compared to other EFSS solutions on the list. Google Drive is a simple to use solution which is an easier choice if your enterprise teams already use Google Drive's free plans. The interface is fast and Google apps like docs, sheets can make collaboration much easier.
OneDrive is a very powerful enterprise solution with seamless access to Microsoft apps and a great choice if you want your team to keep using all the Microsoft apps, although all other solutions in the list do have integrations with the popular Microsoft apps as well. OneDrive does misses out on important features in the E3 plan, but it is still a great choice for enterprises.
While Box is indeed a top EFSS solution choice with many productivity features, some important features are not available in the business plan and are only available in enterprise plans, which makes Box a costlier choice for enterprises. HIPPA compliance, e-discovery, Box governance, Box keysafe, and DLP are only available in Box enterprise plans.
By Team FileCloud