Best Way To Pick Cloud Apps: Cloud apps are essential resources since they let you work from anywhere there is an internet connection and free up space on your computer’s hard drives.
Apps for cloud storage are more than just a way to free up space on your PC at their best. (An external hard disk would work just as well to achieve this.) Therefore, they can also support cooperation, organization, and security.
Naturally, Google Drive and Dropbox were the two well-known platforms via which I first learned about cloud storage. However, they appeared to be included as standard with the distant companies I worked with.
However, I wanted to be sure I was utilizing the finest tool for the job when I started transferring my personal and professional information into the cloud.
I was seeking something secure because I intended to store important data there. Considering that I frequently work with enormous design and video files.
Also, you can guarantee that I was going to conduct thorough price comparisons in order to get the maximum storage for my money.
How to Select the Best Cloud App for your Company
A cloud app for business use is chosen very differently from a cloud app for personal use. The burdens of protecting data have increased substantially, and making a bad decision now has exponentially greater repercussions.
However, there are additional cloud-related factors to consider when choosing a cloud app for your business.
Also, you may assess all your alternatives and pick a system that will help your business develop and prosper by taking functionality, security, support, privacy, and cost into consideration.
Also, don’t forget to include Planio on your list of options when thinking about cloud solutions for your organization.
With teams in mind, Planio was developed to guarantee project success by ensuring that everyone has access to the data they need to finish a project on time.
How to Choose the Best Cloud Storage App
If every solution does everything, how do you choose? Here are some additional characteristics to look for as you compare your selections.
Encryption and Security
How safe are your files once you’ve posted them to the cloud? Your username and password would be the only combination needed to open the “file cabinet” in an ideal scenario.
However, even when the files are encrypted during transfer, it doesn’t function that way, as we’ve seen over the years with several publicly documented concerns with cloud storage privacy.
Server-side encryption is used, for example, by Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. Also, the good news is that they can speed up data transfers when interacting with other apps.
However, the drawback is that because they own the encryption keys; they can decrypt your files without your knowledge.
But if you want to use the cloud to house sensitive data, look into a more secure option.
- Box, for example, can be a great option for enterprise businesses that require a balance of app integrations and specific industry compliance (e.g., HIPAA or FINRA).
- Tresorit goes really deep into security, pairing end-to-end encryption with Swiss data centers.
- Sync also uses end-to-end encryption, and it offers a very attractive free version.
Documents, Photos, and Special file Types
All cloud platforms (Word docs, PDFs, standard image files, and so on can handle the typical file types). But what occurs if you employ larger, more intricate file types?
For instance, the word processing program I use, Scrivener, stores documents in a unique.scriv format. Therefore, only Dropbox can sync this file type between desktop and mobile apps.
iCloud, which enables Apple customers to seamlessly sync images and app data across their devices, and Creative Cloud. Also, which was created especially for users of Adobe products to sync massive, complicated design or video files, are two other unusual use cases.
In all circumstances, test your cloud app’s compatibility with any specific file formats you intend to use before committing fully.
Teams vs. Solo Users
Most cloud storage applications include both individual and team accounts. For simple project management follow-up, team accounts make it simple to grant and revoke access to certain folders (without having to manually update the passwords).
However, they also let you keep track of the modifications that each user makes. Here are some of my testing’s notable results:
1. I truly enjoy the distinct group functionality that Dropbox offers. Assign team members to groups depending on their respective work roles after creating a group (such as “HR” or “Marketing”).
Once your groups are configured, you can make unique team folders that are only accessible to members of the specified groups. (Managers will save a ton of time.
2. Box offers more sophisticated native integrations with other technologies you may already use, like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Also, is made to work for enterprise teams.
Also, instead of having to configure user rights separately for each tool, these integrations make it much simpler to sync them across platforms.
Sharing and Collaboration
There will be instances when you need to share a cloud file with someone else, whether you have a team account. Therefore, all cloud storage applications allow you to do this by building a unique, shareable link that enables others to access the content.
What do you want to happen when the other person opens the shared file is the question?
Look into Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive if you want to collaborate on a project (via comments or real-time modifications), as all three of them come with their own word processing and collaborative tools.
But programs like Tresorit and iCloud let you add passwords. Also, expiration dates to your shared links if you’re looking for a safer, less collaborative sharing alternative. (like emailing tax documents to your accountant).
Related Article: The Best Ways to use Free Cloud Apps in your Life
The Top Cloud Storage Apps
For the record, I didn’t test each of these as thoroughly as I do when reviewing apps for Zapier’s top app roundups.
This list, instead, is based on both my own testing and what I discovered about the market during my investigation.
Here are the leaders in cloud storage as of this point. The most general use cases are at the top, while the most specialized ones are at the bottom of the list.
- Google Drive for collaboration
- Dropbox for easy management of team accounts
- Box for enterprise teams that require stricter privacy compliance
- OneDrive for Microsoft users
- iCloud for Apple users
- Creative Cloud for designers and Adobe users
- pCloud for individual accounts that require security and enhanced privacy
- Sync for free access to zero-knowledge encryption
Cloud App Functionality
Finding a single SaaS platform that covers all the apps you require, like as messaging, project management, time tracking, and other services, can be done by evaluating a service’s capability.
In addition to the costs of maintaining subscriptions to several services, there may be compatibility issues that hinder the integration of different systems.
However, one SaaS provider makes life simpler for businesses since it saves time and money. Consider the adaption of a single, all-encompassing cloud service as hosting a single training for everyone.
Also, watch out not to pick something too complicated that you end up paying for a lot of extra things you won’t utilize.
Test them out for yourself to see which works best for you. And if using over one makes sense for your arrangement, don’t be scared to do so.
Do you have any recommendations for choosing a cloud application for your business? Please share your opinions with us! Send us a tweet, and we’ll respond with our best insights.
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