In our blog last week we went over the difference between FileCloud and Egnyte and what you might want to look for when selecting a top-notch CCP (content collaboration platform). This week, we’re continuing our competitor series and reviewing FileCloud vs. CTERA. FileCloud vs. CTERA Like FileCloud Server, CTERA is an on-prem solution, which means […]
In our blog last week we went over the difference between FileCloud and Egnyte and what you might want to look for when selecting a top-notch CCP (content collaboration platform). This week, we’re continuing our competitor series and reviewing FileCloud vs. CTERA.
Like FileCloud Server, CTERA is an on-prem solution, which means files and data are kept on your servers, behind your own firewalls. CTERA was founded in 2008 and is a solid CCP solution.
Of course, one of the valuable aspects of FileCloud is that while we provide a hyper-secure, on-prem solution with FileCloud Server, we also have options for hybrid and cloud-based solutions such as FileCloud Online. This gives your organization flexibility no matter how your needs change over the years.
Another aspect of FileCloud Server that we consider vital for enterprises? Top-of-the-line compliance features.
Compliance is like a keeping an emergency kit in your car—you hope you don’t have to use it, but you’re sure glad you have it when it’s needed.
Data privacy laws are only getting stronger since one of the biggest ones—The General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR—went into effect in 2018. In fact, the large majority of countries have enacted or are enacting privacy laws. If you collect or keep data, you are required to comply with these laws, whether you want to or not.
Of course, these ever-changing laws raise challenging questions on how to sort, protect, and control the data your enterprise uses.
That’s where FileCloud’s compliance features come into play.
FileCloud’s Compliance Center is a hugely popular tool that allows enterprises to connect complicated compliance regulations with FileCloud’s powerful security and DRM options. Current compliance configurations include ITAR, GDPR, and HIPAA.
On top of FileCloud’s Compliance Center, users can configure FileCloud to comply with a host of other regulations and guidelines including:
CTERA does offer compliance support options, like a FIPS-140-2 Compliant Encryption Model and some compliance dashboards, but it doesn’t have the plethora of compliance support options available with FileCloud.
Another important aspect of any CCP comes down to collaboration and productivity tools. After all, what would a content collaboration platform be without features to support organized file sharing?
It’s easy to lose or forget about files during a busy day (week/month/year). This is why FileCloud strives to make collaboration easy through features like file sharing requests, commenting, tagging and notifications.
CTERA does not have these options available, which can pose a significant barrier to streamlined collaboration.
Enterprises must be able to control who can make changes to a file. This is necessary for both compliance (in the case of files not being able to be changed) and collaboration. With FileCloud, files can be locked to ensure only one person can make changes to a file. In addition, admins can manage locked files directly to ensure no files are permanently locked.While CTERA does have collaboration tools such as Team Folders and unlimited file versioning, it does not have the more advanced features that FileCloud provides.
Enterprises often start looking for CCPs because they want to protect their data, but also because simple file sharing and storage can save enormous amounts of time.
Enter Workflow Automation. Workflow automation helps automate tedious yet important administrative tasks like document review, signoffs, and reminders.
Any good CCP now has the option for Workflow Automation, and CTERA is no different, with approval workflows and workflow automation.
The problem? It’s hard enough to get users to adapt to new technology, including CCPs. Ask them to create complicated workflows and they’ll dig in their heels.
That’s why at FileCloud we’ve created a simple, no-code, drag-and-drop workflow builder that anyone can use to create workflows in minutes. In addition, FileCloud also has a convenient dashboard for running workflows, which give managers and users a bird’s eye view on work as it’s being completed. Workflows can also be updated, edited, and shared from this dashboard.
When it comes to your organization, there’s almost nothing more important than maintaining your brand. Your brand is what creates trust between you, your customers, and your employees. Wouldn’t you rather buy from a company you’ve used before and like, rather than a generic brand who could be selling you “who-knows-what?”
The same is true when it comes to the tech tools you use, like your CCP. If you need to share or accept files from clients, partners, or customers, you want submission forms and web portals to be recognizable as an extension of your brand. This is especially true with rising cyberattacks that include sophisticated phishing efforts. A discerning customer who doesn’t recognize your submission form may choose to send their business elsewhere.
We understand the value of branding at FileCloud, which is why, in addition to the custom domains and communication that CTERA provides, FileCloud also allows you to use your own logo, colors, and background images. This branding helps ensure that your enterprise is visible in all aspects of your business and that customers and partners feel comfortable engaging with you.
One big problem that enterprises face is the cost of external users. With almost all CCPs, you have to buy licenses for your users. That is, the people who’ll be using the product every day.
But there’s always going to be more people needing to use the software. What about when your team lead shares something with a customer? Sure, they can use email or an FTP – but let’s face it, the increased risks of these unsecured methods can end up costing a company thousands or even millions of dollars in regulatory fines or remediation costs from a breach.
Alternatively, CCPs offer sharing through a centralized platform that includes basic features like identification authorization and other security tools to protect data. But these shares must be between users.
Imagine Joe from Sales wants to share some information about a contract with a client; but to do so securely, that client needs to be added to the platform as a user. They don’t need access to the full platform though; they just need simple file access.
The downside? Most CCPs like CTERA require that you pay for those users as part of your license, even though they’re not using the platform every day or leveraging the full suite of platform tools. Those user costs add up fast and can be an enormous drain on your resources.
At FileCloud, we think you’ve spent enough. That’s why we offer unlimited, external user accounts with simplified dashboards for file sharing and review.
That means if Joe in Sales wants to share something with a new customer, he doesn’t have to wonder if it’s worth the cost or take a gamble with unsecured methods. Instead, he can share it, all the while knowing that any files shared are secure and compliant within FileCloud’s top-notch CCP solution.
One Software Development Manager who also looked at CTERA as a solution had this to say about FileCloud,
I have been using FileCloud for a long time and I must admit, this is a super secure platform as well that provides an end to end security. FileCloud user interface is simple, seamless, and easy to use, this is one of the best user interfaces I have ever used. […] The file sharing option in this platform is effective and I can send files in just a second to others. I can send the files with security like the view only file, edit the only file and comment only files. The file recovery and the file backup feature are simply great, this provides me full flexibility, and even if I lose the files by mistake, I can recover those files easily […] the technical support function of this platform is really good and effective and I can say they are customer-centric.
There’s no doubt that CTERA is a solid CCP solution. However, when it comes to an all-in-one CCP, we think FileCloud has it beat. We offer in-depth compliance options, content collaboration tools, and easy workflow automation, as well as the ability to maintain your brand and enable sharing with unlimited external users.
Of course, you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out our detailed competitive matrix and decide for yourself how FileCloud stacks up against the competition.
Want to see these features in real-time? Just sign up for a quick product demo and learn how FileCloud can work for you.
Written by Megan Barnard, Digital Content Specialist at FileCloud
