Share Files from Your File Server over the Internet Made Easy!

A story - The museum needs a solution for native access to file servers

Museum A employees sometimes need to work from home or remotely and need access to files when they are not in the office. They have a laptop provided by the museum. The administration offers a Citrix virtual desktop workspace for the staff when they are not in the building, which is nothing like their normal desktop. They use Active Directory and NTFS file permissions. They have been looking for a solution that allows employees to access the file servers they are working on natively or nearly natively, as they would on their regular desktop, via HTTPS. But they do not want to use a VPN because of the security risks involved. Like many state institutions, they do not want to put their file server content in the cloud because that's just another place they have to manage and store things. They want to have a letter-mapped drive experience, similar to access from the desktop.

It's easy for my users. I can tell clients, go to your "M" folder; all your files are there. They get it. They can also download the app on any mobile device - it's just straightforward to set up and use. It's also easy to manage.

LORI HARDTKE

- PRESIDENT, BYTEWIZE INC.

Share Files from Your File Server Over the Internet

This white paper describes Gladinet Triofox, which enables businesses to quickly provide secure remote access and secure file sharing to local file servers without using a VPN. It also does not require the lengthy copying or synchronization to external storage services such as Office 365, Dropbox, or Box.

With more and more businesses practicing social distancing guidelines during a global pandemic, there is an increased interest in faster ways to facilitate work from home without compromising data privacy, security, or compliance.

Whether employees are collaborating from home or the marketing team is sharing creative work with the sales team, Triofox will quickly enable your mobile workforce to share files efficiently and securely over the Internet.

Triofox mobilizes your local file server and turns it into a company-wide "web file server" or a corporate-wide "share server."

Wait, I already have a VPN. Why do I need this?

VPN can be costly in efficiency and productivity.

How many times has your support team been overwhelmed by VPN tickets? For most non-technical people, VPN is too complicated. First, you need to establish a connection, which is different from PC and Mac devices. Then a user needs to understand file server, network share, and how to map a drive to a network share. Finally, this process would have to be repeated every time the Internet connection fails, costing the company time and money.

When there is no solution, employees often opt for an unauthorized third-party solution to increase productivity and efficiency. However, copying company documents and files to personal storage drives creates data sprawl and compliance issues.

Turn Local File Server into Internet File Share Server

Your mobile workforce is typically actively engaged in both internal and external company functions. The sales team may need to visit customers and show them the white paper, solution brief, and datasheets while also collecting customer requirements to save onto central file servers. The marketing department may create sales collateral and marketing materials in the office to save on-premise local file servers. In both cases, your sales team and marketing team need a file-sharing solution based on your on-premise file server.

Your employees' current workflow may depend on collaboration on local file servers. Some applications, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, AutoCAD, or other line-of-business applications, need to work on the file servers. Since you rely on your file servers for day-to-day work, it's more efficient and effective to turn those file servers into file-sharing servers for mobile and on-premise workers.

Secure File Sharing

Triofox Solution

A solution that extends Windows File Server with iPhone application, web browser interface, Windows mapped drive, and Mac Finder volume, turning Windows File Server into a corporate cloud file server solution.

Try Triofox Free

Drive Mapping

Creates a mapped drive on the user's desktop without the need to use a VPN.

Mobile Sharing

Triofox includes mobile applications for accessing files and folders from mobile devices such as iPhone or Android phones.

File Locking

Lock files-in-use or check out files for offline access. In either case, file locking is a necessary feature for team collaboration.

Web Interface

The web browser-based file manager is an integral part of the solution. It is responsive, interactive, and straightforward to use.

Cloud Share + Web Simplicity + File Server Security

Triofox is a web server that accepts file requests from client agents over the HTTPS/SSL protocol. These requests are translated to Active Directory and File Server network share access protected by NTFS permissions. The file is sent back to the client agents via HTTPS/SSL when all permission checks have passed. Triofox uses this approach to combine the power of cloud file sharing with the simplicity of web browsing and the security of a local file server!

1. Triofox Web Server

Triofox creates a web server front-end that accepts client agent requests from remote Windows, Mac, web browser, iOS, and Android devices. The client agents provide drive mapping functionality.

2. Agents Send File Requests

Client agents send HTTPS/SSL requests to the Triofox server. The Triofox server can log the requests for auditing purposes and also coordinate file access and sharing demands.

3. Active Directory Integration

Triofox checks the Active Directory and NTFS permissions to see if the file requests are allowed. After that, the file requests are satisfied and returned to the client agents via HTTPS/SSL.

Easy-to-use is the key. It means productivity

Simple User Interface

Triofox integrates with Office 365 and enables web-based co-editing and co-authoring for files in the shared folder.

Reduce Costs

It reduces the costs of VPN (virtual private network) support.

Best of Both Worlds

Triofox combines the security and control of Windows file servers with the ease of use and productivity of the cloud.

Easy Setup

The strategy for migrating and configuring permissions is more straightforward than SharePoint, Dropbox, or Google Drive - inherit it directly from the file server.

Inherit Permissions

Combines NTFS permissions, Active Directory users, and drive mappings with remote access from any device.

On-Premise Solution

Maintains data privacy by providing the option to keep data on-premises in traditional file server shares.

10+

Years Experience
Providing These
Core Values

Privacy

The folder sharing solution extends the reach of the current internal Windows file server to remote locations via HTTPS and web protocols. It is set to privacy by default.

Seamless

The internal Windows file server is the data repository for the newly added private folder sharing service. For employees, the files at work are the same files that are available remotely on mobile devices.

Ownership

The same corporation owns the internal Windows file server and existing IT infrastructure, including the new Triofox server. The files and folders on the file server are also privately owned.

Compliance

Since files never leave the current on-premise file servers, it is much easier to pass compliance auditing. The new private file sharing service is the only component that needs additional work.

Permission Control

The same NTFS permissions that were in place to protect the internal Windows file server files will be the same permission control in place to protect the private file sharing service.

8 Benefits of Triofox as a Share Server

Share Large Folder

Turn existing file server folders into web links for online sharing.

Mobile Access to File Servers

Full support for file locking from the cloud. Encrypt remote agent caches or revoke agent access privileges from a central management console.

Web and Mobile Sharing

Access files and folders from web browsers and via mobile devices.

Centralized Control

Combines NTFS permissions, Active Directory users, and drive mappings. Advanced reporting and usage audits of file sharing activity from a central management console.

Simple Remote Access

Simplified remote access from iOS/Android/PC/Mac/ mobile devices. Any location, any device.

Maintain Data Ownership

Files and folders remain on existing file servers and stay within the protection of the existing IT infrastructure.

Seamless Integration

Integrates seamlessly with existing file-based enterprise networks and work-flow environments.

Reduce Data Sprawl

Existing file servers continue to serve as a central data repository and avoid splitting data into internal-facing and external-facing silos.

File Server Over the Internet

A story - The museum needs a solution for native access to file servers

It's easy for my users. I can tell clients, go to your "M" folder; all your files are there. They get it. They can also download the app on any mobile device - it's just straightforward to set up and use. It's also easy to manage.