Sphere 3D launches SnapSync

The SnapSync integrated offering for private and hybrid Cloud Storage deployments enables users to synchronize, share and access files and folders of any size from anywhere on any device—regardless of the storage limit of the target client device. The newly released and advanced service offerings are delivered at a fraction of the cost of typical public Cloud-based ‘box’ storage products. More important, SnapSync provides superior security features and sophisticated centralized IT control of client data while providing immediate disaster recovery and backup.

“At San Jos? State University’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, we had specific criteria for the security of our data as well as a need for a robust backup and disaster recovery infrastructure. Our faculty and staff store large amounts of research data and protected student data on their office machines,” said Malu Roldan, the associate dean of Undergraduate Programs in the College of Business. “By having a secure and redundant node in the peer-to-peer network, our users have been able to selectively and automatically sync key sensitive data while being assured that it is well protected and can be quickly replicated should there be a glitch anywhere in our network. I am pleased to say that we have been able to use SnapSync to address these stringent requirements.”

“We have designed SnapSync to not only make it available for new customers, but to also extend its capabilities to the large number of Snap storage units that have been shipped to companies across the globe,” said Eric Kelly, CEO of Sphere3D. “Our go-to-market strategy and tactics will continue to leverage our increasingly large installed base, which will accelerate adoption of our integrative offering. Additionally, we will continue targeting new vertical markets, like education, that demand a high level of security, flexibility and world-class service.”

According to a market study from Osterman Research, 75 percent of IT decision makers and influencers are concerned about the level of use of consumer file sync and share tools within their organizations, and consider their lack of security and IT management control to be a major problem. For example, popular Cloud file storage products allow the user to send an email link to share their files, which enables the recipient to access data that can be forwarded again and again, and allows that data to easily be captured by non-approved parties. 

“IT decision makers are frustrated with the lack of centralized control for corporate data landing in the Cloud, which continues to increase with mobile workforces that use their personal devices for work tasks.  With SnapSync, the originator of the file share authorizes access to other parties enabling improved data control and a content IT manager,” said Mark Bowker, ESG analyst. “SnapSync’s security and control features like encrypted keys, provide the document originator the ability to remove access for a particular user if the access is no longer required. This ensures the data remains secure within the enterprise.”

Most competing storage systems only back up on a periodic basis – daily, weekly, etc. – and information can take days or weeks to be retrieved by the equipment provider following a system meltdown. Organizations leveraging SnapSync private Cloud benefit from fast disaster recovery and business continuity with almost complete recovery of that data if they are synchronized with the company’s central Snap storage-based infrastructure. This is made possible by the Snap storage site-to-site continuous replication features that help ensure the latest data is always backed up, recoverable and available.   

“In today’s agile business world, enterprise users are looking for always-on, Cloud-integrated, mobile-ready and secured access of corporate information without always requiring a VPN connection. SnapSync, along with our Snap storage products, provides enterprises and SMBs with a value proposition that features the lowest total cost of ownership, most secure and most scalable configuration to share and store data, with the knowledge that if there’s a critical system failure they can be up and running within minutes with a close to zero recovery point objective (RPO),” noted Nilesh Patel, VP product management and marketing at Sphere 3D. He concluded, “We believe this is a game changer for companies that are looking for the most versatile and secure environment while still meeting the mobility requirements of their workforces.”

Specific benefits of SnapSync include:

·        Centralized IT control and management

o   Time-based access: expiration deadlines

o   Owner approval for re-shared links and folders. Can limit access to read-only

o   Control and own your data

·        Keep data on your own secure and private Cloud

o   Leverage on-premise Snap storage to build a private Cloud for unlimited data access on any device from anywhere

o   There is no limit to capacity other than the amount of storage purchased

·        Optimized for “on the go” data access and collaboration

o   Intelligent sync: 100s of TBs accessible on >16GB phone memory but synchronize only the files you need. Save expensive mobile data bandwidth

o   Continuous mobile device backup. Preserve storage space on mobile devices

·        Data Protection

o   Data encrypted and protected without requiring a VPN connection

o   Data wipe capabilities for lost or stolen devices

·        Enterprise class technical support Included

o   Global Phone, email and web support

o   Software updates and patches