Since telecommuting became a reality for millions of workers across North America, many challenges have arisen. There’s the ubiquity of video conferencing platforms. The difficulties of managing virtual school and online meetings. And the trials and tribulations of time management when personal time and work time overlap.
But one topic doesn’t get as much attention: the ordeal of online file sharing. Some employees use one tool with one set of collaborative controls. Other employees use a different tool with a different suite of editing functions. At best, this can be confusing, jamming up everyday workflows. At worst, it can pose significant security risks to your business.
With remote work more prevalent than ever, cloud-based file sync and share options are critical. Employees at thousands of businesses, big and small, need to be able to access, edit, and collaborate on documents in an efficient way. But just because a document is available on the cloud doesn’t mean it’s safe, shareable, or even up to date.
According to McAfee’s 2019 Cloud Adoption & Risk Report, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, these issues presented problems. Nearly 80% of workers said they relied on regular access to cloud-based file sync and share services—but the average person had to navigate at least three different options.
Meanwhile, more than 10% of all cloud-based business documents were stored with contacts outside a company—and of those, another 10% contained sensitive or confidential business data, putting entire networks and companies at risk.
What Are the Most Common File Collaboration Needs for the Average Business?
It all starts with how files are exchanged. While free sync and share options might work OK for the average computer user, businesses need enhanced functionality. The best solutions should work on every device in every location, regardless of platform or operating system. Anything less can increase redundancies—think multiple emails just to get one file link right—and negatively impact efficiency.
Some free file-sharing tools require users to download a file, edit it on a computer or phone, and then re-upload the updated version. But more robust enterprise-grade solutions may allow for live editing and simultaneous saving within the application itself. This can increase version and synchronization control, all while reducing frustration and duplicated work from everyday employees. Depending on your company’s industry and place of business, certain compliance regulations may dictate how and where you share documents. At CMIT Solutions, we understand and anticipate these needs, tailoring the right file sync and share solution to your unique situation with comprehensive reporting on file downloads, strong user provisioning and access rights, and other security features that protect your company—and your information.
Accessibility and flexibility are hallmarks of any good file collaboration service. But CMIT Solutions understands that there’s more to data protection than just hundreds of files whizzing in and out of the cloud each day to users around the country (or the globe). We pair robust sync and share capabilities with our reliable data backup services, which store your important information in multiple locations, both cloud-based and on secure physical servers. That way you can have peace of mind that your data is updated regularly, encrypted from end to end, and accessible when and where your employees need it.
Whether you’re focused on working remotely from the home office or planning for a post-pandemic world when business travel returns, reliable file collaboration is a must for every business. At CMIT Solutions, we go beyond the consumer sync and share market to offer bulletproof document security, flexible file collaboration, and elevated compliance that works for your company.
Want to know more about the best way to share documents, empower your employees, and streamline everyday workflows? Contact CMIT Solutions today