You might think that your small-business file-storage needs have to span several companies: remote backup plus local backup, employee and client file-server access, and collaboration tools. But you might save money by choosing a single host that can provide all of those functions. Behold: Egnyte.
Egnyte combines these elements into one service. Client software enables Macs and PCs to access storage directly through those respective, familiar OS-enabled network interfaces. Or you can tap in through a browser or FTP application.
Beyond those storage options, Egnyte handles backups. The service constantly transfers new versions of files between your network and its servers, letting you recover from major crashes or just retrieve an old copy of a document.
An optional local-drive tool speeds up the process and adds another layer of protection from data loss. A utility turns a local PC into an intermediate step between your office and the Egnyte servers, buffering data and keeping redundant versions synced on each end.
That extra hop can drastically speed up your local file access, plus you can keep working even if your Internet connection fails. In those cases, the local drive will sync changes to the Egnyte servers when the connection is restored. Even better, Egnyte plans to allow certain network storage boxes to serve this function in about a month.
Collaboration tools automatically track version numbers and revisions to documents. You won't be working together in the same file, live, such as in Google Docs, but you can set Egnyte to send alerts when a colleague makes an update. And you can backtrack to old versions if needed.
The service fees depend on the number of "Power Users" needed; those accounts allow backup and desktop access without a web browser. You'll pay $15/month for each basic account, with access to a total of 1TB storage. Once you exceed 10 accounts, per-user costs decrease, and you get unlimited storage. You'll have to add $10/month for the 1TB bring-your-own-network-drive local storage service. (For unlimited storage accounts, Egnyte raises that fee to $20/month.)
Egnyte scrambles transmissions as you'd expect, with 128-bit AES over SSL. More surprising, its browser-based search tool can quickly wrangle certain files, plus there's even an iPhone client to forward files remotely.
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Comments
Adrian said: There is another serious bug that has been plaguing usersI just got hit with this problem on 21st Dec 2012 I lost 2 folders containing hundreds of business-critical files just simply because I renamed the folders on my local Mac For details please refer to these threadshttpshelpdeskegnytecomenAs if that were not bad enough the support officers I have been talking to are claiming ignorance about this bug which apparently has been in existence for at least 2 years Not constructive help has been given for 1 week other than saying they are waiting for engineering to replyThe activity log they had sent includes everything everybody else had done on the domain except for me which is ridiculous given I was the person who had renamed the files A new request for a log that includes my activities had been ignored for the past 4 days which all seems highly suspiciousAppears Egnyte is trying to disclaim responsibility for such cases and trying to simply sweep everything under the carpetI am currently documenting all instances of users who have experienced this problem and making a case that this cannot go on and that Egnyte has to be made accountableFor that I would like to invite all users who have suffered from this problem to please contact me atadrianmindstretcherbizThanks
DO NOT USE EGNYTE. TRUST ME. said: DO NOT USE EGNYTE Useless connection -even with the most expensive account offered you will constantlybe thwarted by Egnyte generated errors Useless customer support - spent 3 hours on hold engineer couldnt explain what the problem was or how when it would be fixed promised to call back that was over a week ago now I had over 50 people being paid handsomely by the hour from remote locations -HUGE losses caused entirely by Egnytes lack of functionality not even so much as an apology The customer relations officer is also on a promise to call me re compensation that was 5 days agoUtterly hopeless service It will be a huge faff for me to change my business ftp solution and re-setup use accounts for over 100 people re upload almost 1TB of data but itll be worth it to be rid of EgnyteAVOID THEMLIKE THE PLAGUE