In an era where cloud helps you thrive, an upstart is presenting a great argument against it. Los Angeles-headquartered shayreOpens a new window , developer of data sharing software is paving the way for a cloud free shift for businesses with its new file sharing software. The startup is on a mission to phase out the use of cloud for uploading and downloading files.
The ‘no cloud’ required file sharing solution is a direct hit at popular cloud-based file storage systems â — Dropbox, OneDrive, Box and Google DriveOpens a new window that are only now evolving from file storage to ‘collaboration apps’ with document tracking and multi-use collaboration features baked in.
So, what’s the real deal with shayre? “The big differentiating factor is that we do not need or use cloud storage. This provides for a quicker and much more secure data transfer process. In addition, shayre will auto-resume a file transfer should the computer be disconnected from the Internet, so senders don’t have to sit and wait for files to complete transfers like they frequently do with these other players,†shares Chris Monte, CEO and co-founder of shayre.
shayre is up against well-heeled players in the cloud file-sharing space led by Microsoft OneDrive that enjoys 70% adoption amongst users followed by DropboxOpens a new window which notched 46% usage rate. Google Drive is at a distant third with 40% adoption, per essidsolutions Data Storage Trends in 2020 and Beyond study.
The growing footprint of OneDrive and G-Drive is closely tied to the success of Office 365 and G Suite apps with enterprises becoming Google and Microsoft Shops. With businesses going remote, CIOs are veering away from desktop-based software to collaborative web and cloud-based apps to work and meet the demands of Gen Z workers, Adobe’s Garrett Schwartz, Product Marketing Manager notesOpens a new window .
But in a market conditioned with new privacy regulations and compliance, there’s a lot more at stake here. Data security and privacyOpens a new window is no longer a check-the-box activity. Experts argue that features that balance security and user-friendliness will become table stakes in 2020.
shayre, that targets enterprise businesses is pinning its strategy on three most appealing factors — cloud free, end-to-end AES 256-bit encryption (the level of security used by most banks and the largest e-commerce sites) and being HIPAA compliant.
The startup has won a lot of converts with IT leaders from healthcare, finance, legal, and entertainment tapping into the tool for file transferring and synchronization.
In this article, see how shayre stacks up against popular cloud storage provider Dropbox in terms of key features, security, user interface and pricing.
Learn More: Top 10 Content Collaboration Software Systems for 2020Opens a new window
What is shayre?
shayreOpens a new window is a point-to-point and point-to-multipoint file sharing application for file transfers and synchronization that doesn’t use cloud to store files. Built for enterprise businesses, shayre’s application allows unlimited files and file sizes to be transferred between as many devices, without the need to upload or download to the cloud.
“The idea behind founding shayre was that existing solutions had file size limitations and were not effective in securely transferring files from one point to another. Onerous uploading and downloading paradigms constantly failed. With all of the hackings and middleman attacks, storing data in the cloud was not an option from a security perspective,†said Monte.
What is Dropbox?
Founded in 2007, Dropbox is one of the most well-established file storage systems used by 56% of Fortune companies. Thirteen years on, Dropbox has become a popular enterprise software used alongside OneDrive and Google Drive for file management, and cloud file backup and storage.
How does shayre work?
shayre establishes trust between machines by exchanging device id that uses public key infrastructure (PKI) that matches the private key of the user’s machine to ensure transfers are fully secure and encrypted with AES 256-bit encryption, the same encryption used by major banks and e-commerce sites. “Because the data that shayre moves is never “at rest†in a cloud, there is no need for additional encryption, which also adds to the speed of moving your files,†Monte told Toolbox.
Learn More: Why Organizations Need to Shed Cloud Phobia for Gen Z WorkersOpens a new window
shayre vs. Dropbox
As Monte puts it, this is more like comparing apples to oranges because all the other tools require ‘vulnerable uploading and downloading protocol and park files in the cloud, whereas shayre does not.‘
1. File Storage
Free storage
- shayre utilizes any type of storage connected to the host system or network that it is running on.
- Dropbox offers 2GB of free storage under the basic account.
Paid storage
- shayre does not offer or sell storage
- Dropbox storage plans start at $16.58 / month for pros with 3,000 GB of encrypted cloud storage
File size restrictions
- There are no file size limits and no limit to the number of connections for enterprise customersOpens a new window .
- Since Dropbox is cloud-based, it offers unlimited file size with only 2GB of free storage. Other features include file versioning and online editing.
2. OS & App Integrations
- Currently, shayre runs on Mac, Windows and Linux, and works seamlessly between different OS systems. It can run on actual hardware or in virtual environments. In terms of app integrations, shayre has a robust API for custom application and system integrations.
- Dropbox, a heavyweight in cloud-based file storage allows teams to integrate software into core IT processes and offers thousands of integrations to support custom workflows. It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux, and also on iOS and Android apps.
Learn More: Dropbox Plugs Security Gaps with Password Management & File VaultOpens a new window
3. Security
Two-factor authentication to secure data on servers
The account management and notification servers utilize the same two-factor authentication under the Cognito protocols as Dropbox.
HIPAA Compliant file sharing solution
- shayre maintains HIPAA compliance from end-to-end. Monte revealed many healthcare clients transport PHI daily. “Our clients move data in the onboarding of physicians, the tracking of patient data, payor and provider compliance, large genomics data files as well as many other data workflows,†he added.
- HIPAA compliant organizations like healthcare providers, healthcare clearinghouses can use Dropbox since it is a Business Associate (BA)Opens a new window of HIPAA-covered entities. But before you start dropping files in Dropbox, you need to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), a contractual assurance to ensure PHI is shared in a secure manner.
Data security
- Since shayre doesn’t reside in the cloud, user data cannot be compromised. If your sites are secure, shayre keeps it encrypted from start to finish, Monte observed.
- Meanwhile, Comparitech’s Opens a new window David Gilbert notes user data is a tricky issue in Dropbox. Though Dropbox says it doesn’t sell personal data, it shares user info with Amazon since it uses Amazon’s S3 service for storage. When it comes to data deletion, if a user deletes an account, Dropbox does initiate deletion Opens a new window after 30 days but can’t guarantee whether info will be deleted from their servers and back-up storage or information could be retained for meeting legal obligations.
End-to-end encryption
- shayre is a transport and synchronization application and utilizes end-to-end AES 256-bit encryption, the same level of security used in financial services and e-commerce. “It makes sure that all of the files in every location are all up to date, all of the time. Think of it like creating your own private network of connections. All completely secure and encrypted while getting where they need to go,†the co-founder noted.
- Dropbox claims it provides multiple layers of protection and end-to-end encryption which means it secures data in transit with SSL and TLS between the apps and servers. But, as one avid user pointed out in the forumOpens a new window , ‘the keys used at the destination are available to Dropbox.‘ His solution: what could possibly make Dropbox unique is if it would offer Zero Knowledge encryption, making it a market-leading solution.
4. User Interface
- Once installed, shayre offers an intuitive drag-and-drop user interface and provides robust notification and reporting features.
- Last year, Dropbox debuted the desktop app that allows users the ability to access and share cloud content like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides and Microsoft Office files within Dropbox. Another key highlight is Slack integration, enabling Dropbox users to start Slack conversations and share content to Slack channels directly from Dropbox. Meanwhile, users rated the mobile version isn’t as smooth as the desktop app for downloading large files and prefer Google Drive layout over Dropbox.
5. Enterprise Users
- For IT professionals, shayre offers robust license portability to manage mobile users, and provides notification and reporting features to meet compliance and reporting requirements. Enterprises can also benefit from shayre’s comprehensive API capabilities designed to augment existing IT systems and automate and streamline workflows.
Dropbox is a heavyweight in the enterprise world with big names like Expedia, HPE, Spotify, National Geographic using the cloud-based service. Dropbox has pushed the envelope for content collaboration and its DBX platform packed with APIs allow teams to streamline their workflows with popular enterprise apps like Adobe, DocuSign, Salesforce, Okta, Splunk, Zendesk, AsanaOpens a new window among others.
Learn More: Dropbox Releases New Integrated Workspace Bringing Files, Tools, and Teams TogetherOpens a new window
6. Pricing
- For individual and small business, shayre Opens a new window has a plan at $5 per month or $49 per year, with a free 30-day trial period. For enterprise users, shayre scopes enterprise workflows and use cases for a competitive quote. To learn how shayre works, click hereOpens a new window .
- DropboxOpens a new window plans start at $12.50 per user per month (pupm) with advanced plans starting at $20 pupm with a 30-day free trial. Like shayre, Dropbox offers customizable plans for enterprise users and is available on request.
Verdict
Cloud means speed and scale but it’s no surprise that cloud adoptionOpens a new window and BYOD have also exponentially increased the enterprise’s attack surface. Though a lot of organizations are prioritizing cloud security, ITDMs still need to re-evaluate their approach to protecting enterprise data in the cloud.
With compromised user accounts and misconfigurations leading to data leakages, and cloud storage and file sharing services pushing up their pricing for unlimited storage (Box asks 1000% more Opens a new window for unlimited storage), cloud free file-sharing applications like shayre are well-positioned to corner the market.
The global crisis is forcing IT leaders to take a closer look at their security practices, an area that shayre claims to excel. As companies follow the best of breed approach to enterprise software selection, startups like shayre offer a key value proposition — avoiding cloud weakness. Privacy-focused businesses would like to test the application further.
On the other hand, DropboxOpens a new window , now a darling tech company, is making a strong push to evolve beyond its core business and compete with the likes of SlackOpens a new window and Microsoft Teams.Opens a new window Dropbox’s solutions are well-suited for a mobile workforce and the company has strengthened its product line with new rollouts such as eSignatureOpens a new window , Passwords app and more. The company’s focus on enterprise-grade features like activity monitoring has helped drive business and enterprise user adoption that tap Dropbox for its continuous product development and cross-platform ease.
Do you think cloud free solutions can upend file storage players like Dropbox and Box? Let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!