Moving Away From a Physical Shared Network Drive

With the ever-growing and developing world of technology, making tech a big part of a business’s strategy is vital. To achieve productivity and ensure all employees can work as collaboratively as possible – a shared network drive is a must.

A shared network drive, also known as a network file share, is a shared resource made available from one host to other hosts on a computer network. This is usually used within businesses as a place to save shared documents such as HR resources, databases, project plans and more, in which all employees can access from their own computer.

Benefits of a Shared Network Drive

There are several benefits to SMBs having a shared network drive, some of these include:

  • Multiple file sharing – With a shared network drive, users can easily share data between different users – without the fuss of having to rummage around USBs. Users can easily save, work and amend documents from all around the office – it’s a great way for employees to work collaboratively!
  • Backup – Once your customers lose a hard copy with files on, the work has gone unless they’ve made a backup copy. With a shared network drive, users don’t need to back up the work as this is done automatically on the server every 24 hours. If employees accidentally delete files from the shared network drive, the main user will be able to retrieve these files.

Disadvantages of an On-Prem Shared Network Drive

As beneficial as an on-premise shared network drive is, there is usually no sunshine without rain. In this case, there are various problems that are commonly associated with the physical server side of things. Some of these include:

  • Vulnerability to disasters – If your customers are only storing data on local servers, they may be more susceptible to having data affected by natural disasters such as floods and fires.
  • Long term costs – On premise/physical servers are purchased at a large, one-off cost which is sometimes difficult for businesses to invest in. Not only this, but once a server is purchased, the cost to maintain, patch and repair failed servers can be astronomical to a small business.
  • Inflexible – Unlike cloud computing, on premise servers mean that your customers pay for a certain amount of usage, and to amend this would require upgrading/downgrading their on-premise server.

Shared Network Drive in the Cloud

If you could combine the perks of having a shared network drive with the advantages of virtual cloud servers – why wouldn’t you?

Moving away from a physical shared network drive is possibly one of the smartest moves that your customers could make. Below are just a few reasons why using the cloud for file sharing is beneficial:

  • Reduced costs – Moving to the cloud reduces any costs that are usually associated with on-premise servers (buying the server, maintenance fees and upgrades). The cloud allows your customers to pay only for what they use, saving them a great deal of money in the long run. It also means you can manage the server off-site and still charge a management fee, while reducing time spent on-site. A win-win for both you and your customers.
  • Access files anywhere, anytime – Unlike an on-premise shared network drive, using the cloud means that your customers and their employees can access files from any device, and any location – if that’s what they so require.
  • No fuss management – With on-premise servers, regular maintenance is required. This includes making sure the server is up to date, and noting when the support is not coming to end of life. With the cloud, there’s no need to manage hardware or a server OS, meaning your customers will always have the most up to date security updates, resulting in GDPR compliance.

Introducing Cloud Network Drive

Yes, you’d better believe it. The ability to host a shared network drive in the cloud is now possible to you and your customers with Giacom’s latest product release – Cloud Network Drive.

Coming soon to the Giacom portal, Cloud Network Drive is a secure drive for computer workstations delivered via the cloud. It has the same functionalities as any other computer drive, but with the freedom and accessibility to easily store, share and work with your files in the cloud. It’s a no brainer, right?

For more information on Cloud Network Drive, contact your Account Manager.