Solve your file server dilemma with SecuriSync and File Server Sync
If you’re using file servers for file storage, your employees are likely struggling to access content when they’re out of the office and to share content with people inside and outside your company. SecuriSync can help solve your file server dilemma with File Server Sync.
The File Server Sync application can be installed on an existing Windows file server and configured to sync all or some files to SecuriSync. It’s a great way to add mobility and collaboration to current file servers.
- Mobile access without VPN: Make it easy for your employees to find file server content without having to set up cumbersome VPN sessions. File Server Sync provides access to critical business information from any device, speeds decision-making, and improves productivity for remote or traveling employees.
- Secure – and easy – file sharing: Eliminate the complexity of sharing file server files via FTP or hoping large email attachments don’t get bounced. File Server Sync makes it a breeze to securely share files between branch offices and with external parties, such as clients or business partners. You can share via web links or with collaborative folder sharing for ongoing projects.
- File server backup and restore: SecuriSync with File Server Sync backs up file server files whenever changes are made and files can be rolled back to any previous point in time, significantly reducing the time to recover from a ransomware attack or other type of data loss.
- For resellers, increased profitability: MSPs and VARs can use File Server Sync to complement and mobilize their customers’ existing file servers and generate recurring revenue and higher margins in the process.
File Server Sync can be used to migrate data from file servers to SecuriSync in preparation for decommissioning file servers. Or, it can be used to synchronize data between file servers and SecuriSync on an ongoing basis to use alongside current file servers.
Frequently Asked Questions about File Server Sync
Which Windows OS versions does SecuriSync File Server Sync support?
SecuriSync File Server Sync is supported on Windows Server 2012 R2 (Windows Server 2012 Standard/Foundation is NOT supported), Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019.
How much file server content can be sustainably synced in real time to the cloud?
There is a theoretical upper limit of 1 million files (~1TB) which can be synced using this app. The app will start to consume a visible amount of RAM for larger file sets. A general rule of thumb is to map the content that needs to be accessible remotely, and leave the old/archive files unmapped.
Are there any other system requirements?
File Server Sync runs under the SYSTEM account. In order to be able to sync the mapped folders, the SYSTEM account has to have Full permissions on those folders and all of their contents.
Do I need to purchase a SecuriSync user to authenticate the File Server Sync app?
Yes, at least one SecuriSync user (ideally, an admin, non-named user account, exclusively used for this purpose) needs to be created. All the data from the File Server will sync to this account. It can then be shared from this account with named users (either internal or external to the business).
When File Server Sync is used in conjunction with the Unlimited storage plan, a five user minimum is enforced and Unlimited storage quota is limited to 1TB/user (pooled at the account level). E.g. five users will get 5TB of pooled storage to use.
How can Administrators ensure that content shared with end-user doesn’t sync to their devices?
When sharing a folder from the admin user account on SecuriSync, Administrators can configure (under Advanced Settings) the outgoing share to default to not syncing to the device. Users can access the content via Web and Mobile apps. If they need to have a subset of their content available on their desktop, they can use the Selective Sync feature on their Windows or Mac desktop client.
How can I recover accidental deletions?
SecuriSync provides several key capabilities that work together to ensure file deletions can be easily remediated:
- Any file or folder deleted on the File Server or from within the SecuriSync apps is placed in the SecuriSync recycle bin.
- End-users cannot ‘empty’ their recycle bin, only Admins can purge deleted items.
- The default retention policy for deleted items is ‘Forever’. It can be changed by the administrator, and as long as it is set to a reasonable amount of time, it will guard against scenarios where files are accidentally deleted and then purged.
- All deletions are logged in the Admin Audit log. The admin can use this log to identify all files/folders that may have been accidentally deleted and need to be restored.
- Both end-users and admins can browse Deleted items and restore them back into SecuriSync (with one click) and onto the File Server.
- Roll-back functionality is available to admins to remediate large accidental deletions that encompass many files and folders.
How can administrators recover from a ransomware attack?
SecuriSync Admins have a roll-back or restore-by-date capability in the Manage & Restore menu, which allows them to roll-back a folder, many folders, or an entire user file space to a previous date and time (i.e. date and time before the attack). This action instantly makes healthy files available to end-users via Web and Mobile apps, while the file server and their desktops (if infected) are being remediated. SecuriSync clients can be installed on remediated hardware to download healthy versions of their files.
This functionality depends on having the retention policies for file versions and deleted items set to a reasonable amount of time (e.g. Forever or six months as opposed to one day).
Can a workstation that is configured to "act" as a file server be used or must it be an actual Windows server OS?
SecuriSync File Server Sync app can be used to mobile-enable content on both standard Windows files servers running a Windows Server OS as well as ‘make-shift’ file servers running on Windows workstations.
What kind of security and encryption does this have when sharing a folder with outside clients?
There are several security controls in place for this scenario:
- All data is encrypted on the client side using AES 256bit encryption. It is sent in encrypted form over the wire during upload and stored encrypted at rest on our platform. We handle all data this way, whether it’s shared internally or externally.
- Admins can set a per-user External sharing policy, allowing some users to share externally while preventing others from doing so.
- External users are ‘managed’ service users in the Admin Control panel. They can be audited, deleted, have the password changed by the admin at any time.
- All devices used by external users are tracked in the Device management menu. Once the project is over, SecuriSync files which are shared externally can be remotely wiped from external collaborators’ devices.
- All actions by external collaborators are audited and available for review in the Admin Control Panel.
Are we notified of SecuriSync updates? Or can SecuriSync update over the air?
We normally notify partners about pending updates a couple of weeks in advance of the actual release. The release notes are also available for viewing at any time in HostPilot and partners in the Partner Portal. The updates are typically delivered over the air, with no manual effort required on the part of the partner or the customer to complete the update, expect possibly enabling the new features available in the release.