Data Backup Digest

Box is a cloud storage service that is apparently used by over 180,000 businesses. It’s also available for the average consumer, both in free and paid offerings. Box allows you to upload all of your files online, which allows you to access it from your devices wherever you are. Box claims to have pioneered a new level of security, with role-based access controls, high grade SSL encryption and 256-bit AES encryption at rest.

One aspect of Box that is marketed towards business users is Box OneCloud. This is a collection of “enterprise-ready” applications that integrate with Box. OneCloud users can access their work using these apps and then easily sync the content back to Box.

The service is available on iOS and Android. There are currently over 500 apps that have compatibility with Box and integration built in. Box offer their own app marketplace from where you can check out the suitable apps and download them to your device.
Enterprise admins are able to deploy all of the Box apps in bulk on iOS using the Apple Volume Purchasing Programme or the Apple Configurator. This is a great time saver for those admins having to set up a load of devices at once.

Box has a document on their website which tells developers how they can integrate Box into their apps. There is even a chance to make money through a scheme called Box $rev, which offers developers money if they drive new customers to Box.

Let’s take a look at some of the apps that are available in Box OneCloud.

iAnnotate
Despite the name, this isn’t an app that is exclusive to iOS devices. This app allows you to add annotations to documents, making it great for passing notes and changes between colleagues. You can draw, highlight and even leave voice messages. All of this can then be synced straight back to your Box account, making your annotations instantly available to everyone else.

DocuSign
No longer do you have to print off documents and send them off in order for them to be signed. Instead, this app lets you digitally sign documents easily to speed everything up. You can send a file to someone, get them to sign it and then have the changes synced to Box, ready for you to download and view.

CloudOn
This is an app that makes some Office files available on your Android or iOS devices. With CloudOn, you can create and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files with ease. Need to make last minute changes to a presentation before a meeting? No problem! Got a tight deadline and have to edit your Office document while on the move? Easy!

These are just three of the apps available with Box OneCloud, but there are hundreds more out there that are great for using in an office environment. The ability to use all these apps and have your changes synced straight to the cloud makes for a much easier and productive process. Be sure to check out the service if it sounds like something your organisation might benefit from.