Data Backup Digest

Dropbox is one of the best and most popular cloud storage solutions. The service will automatically sync your files across your computers and mobiles – it’s great for convenience and backup. Dropbox doesn’t just have home use, though. For a few years there has been Dropbox for Teams which offers features that will specifically benefit enterprise use. Here’s an overview on what exactly the service provides and how it could help in the workplace.
Firstly, for those not in the know, Dropbox’s basic service is free and it comes handy in a whole host of situations. Say you’re working on a document in the office and need to take it home – with Dropbox, the most current version of that file will be automatically available on any computer running the Dropbox client. No need to email yourself files or transport a memory stick around. You can even share your files with other people, meaning that if you’re working on a team project then everyone will have instant access to the latest file version. It also works as a backup solution, since if your hard drive goes haywire you’ll be safe in the comfort knowing that Dropbox has everything backed up online.
If you’re considering using Dropbox, then the aforementioned features are what you’re there for, but Dropbox for Teams has benefits when it comes to being applied to a business environment. In terms of cost, Teams supports five to fifty users and starts at $795 a year for 1000 GB of storage (although their website says you can contact them to increase your quota), with each additional user costing $125. This is cheaper than just buying lots of Pro accounts, since that’ll cost you $995 a year for 200 GB per user.
There are more benefits than just the price, though. You get unlimited version history, which means that you’ll always be able to backtrack on any changes that are made to files. The standard accounts do offer this feature, but the amount of history that is kept is limited. Dropbox for Teams will also integrate into a lot of IT solutions thanks to the Active Directory support, which means that managers can control accounts within their existing infrastructure.
Dropbox for Teams also gives the option of phone support, which is a step up from the online-only forum and ticket support that standard users get. Obviously you’ll hopefully never have to use it thanks to Dropbox’s simplicity, but it’s good to have the support in place to keep downtime to a minimum.
In terms of security, Dropbox for Teams secures files using the AES-256 standard, which they claim is also used by banks to secure customer data. This is something that you get whether you’ve got a free account or paid. Ultimately, however, you are still storing all your files online and you have to consider just how protected it all is. It’s best to be weary when it comes to putting confidential stuff online though, whatever the security.
If you’re already using Dropbox for your business and you need more storage space, better integration and phone support then it makes sense to upgrade to Dropbox for Teams. It can also work as a great backup solution; and if you haven’t got one of those in place then Dropbox for Teams only adds value. If you’ve never tried Dropbox before, give the free account a whirl and see if it comes in useful – it could be the solution you’re looking for.