Cloud Storage Solutions

by Conor Smith | December 19, 2017

Cloud storage is a digital data storage model whereby files and folders are stored on one or more third-party servers, as opposed to on local computers. Using the internet, or intranet, as the connection between your computer and the cloud server, through a login screen, a user can access the server from any location in the world, at any time. Businesses can often reduce costs through using cloud storage as it ordinarily costs less than storing files internally.

Some of the big players in cloud storage include SAP, Oracle and Amazon.

Contents

But why store data in the cloud?
Access and sharing
Cloud Security
Our Solution

But why store data in the cloud?

Cloud storage has been front of mind for at least a decade now with many multinational companies using it as a way of sharing files, storing, collaborating and communicating with their teams across the world.

Access and sharing

For companies that create and update thousands of files (whether they are text, video, image or otherwise) on any given week, cloud storage is an excellent way of keeping track of everything and controlling document access. Allowing users to collaborate on documents through this model means that documents can be proofed and finished quickly and efficiently. Version control is easy to carry out as services don’t upload entire files every time they change. They just upload the changes, saving your connection bandwidth.

Of course, there is a limit to the amount of storage that a company can have, but there is the option of paid or unpaid storage that will suit all types of businesses, from startup to multinational. Paid storage will typically come with support and backups so that if anything goes wrong, someone can help resolve the issue with you.

Cloud Security

Cloud storage brings up a lot of questions with the security of documentation, and this debate is ongoing. But there are many types of security to protect sensitive information when using cloud storage

Rights Management

Are you worried about losing track of documents once you have shared them with people inside or outside your organization? Cloud storage allows you to restrict who can download and share documents that may have confidential information, which protects said information from falling into the wrong hands. This adds a level of security to your documentation so that unrestricted access is kept to an absolute minimum.

Cloud storage

With cloud storage a link to the file is provided so, that through the use of the internet, the recipient can view the document in their browser, eliminating the need to download the file onto their local machine. Editing, signing and other features that are available in document editing on local machines are also possible with cloud storage.

Without cloud storage, if you directly provide a file as an attachment to an email the recipient needs to download that document, save it to their local machine and then open it. Even with password control, the document exists on their computer and in their email now, making it easier to intercept the information.

Collaboration and Version Control

When you like collaborating on documents, version control can be a nightmare. With cloud storage many people can edit at the same time with the document updating in real time, meaning that different people don’t need to save a document onto their local machine just to upload it later and lose track of changes. The best thing about cloud editing is that edit tracking is possible so you can track all changes to the document from the time of its inception.

Encryption

If it happens that a hacker has gotten inside your firewall, all is not lost. This is where encryption comes in. Encryption, simply put, prevents a hacker from reading or editing files, if they get around a firewall. There are many kinds of encryption, but they are common practice now with a lot of information online around which types will suit your business. They also can come with cloud storage packages so be sure to ask the company you choose about what they provide or offer.

Password control

Using passwords to access documents is a great way to ensure that only the right people are viewing your documentation.

Our Solution

WebPDF Viewer is a server-based PDF viewing solution that allows PDF viewing in HTML5 browsers. The product is available for Windows and Linux. As an online solution to organizations, the product is based in a browser meaning that it is a cloud-based solution. Companies who send and receive lots of PDF files but have no way of knowing how people will view the documents can capitalize on products like the WebPDF Viewer as it will ensure the document renders correctly.

Foxit WebPDF Viewer can render documents in two different modes where documents are either stored on a server (Server-side rendering) or locally on the end-users machine (Client-side rendering). Server-side rendering entails rendering and displaying documents server-side without downloading the files to the end-users computer or device. This means that your business has complete control over distributing documents. Client-side rendering is where user’ open files on their local machine, rather than a remote server. PDFs will be downloaded from the server and rendering on the client’s browser. This allows for fast viewing, zooming and offline viewing.

As a cloud-based solution, our product integrates with all the security features mentioned above when implemented, as well as the ability to edit, annotate, digitally sign and fill out forms. The best part is that it does not require any additional software to be installed locally.