Best cloud file-sharing services

Are you sure you're using the best cloud file-sharing service for your business?

- Dave Mitchell assesses four of the market leaders

The shift to distributed workforces and hybrid working is gathering pace and driving a global boom in file sharing. Cloud-based platforms are perfectly poised to take advantage of this demand as they allow teams and clients to work together and collaborate on important projects regardless of their location.

The argument? That the days of on-premises file sharing are numbered: cloud services can be far more cost-effective than physical onsite servers, and you'll never have to worry about ongoing maintenance costs or server operating systems reaching end of support. Cloud services are designed to scale much more easily with demand and there's no need for complex virtual private networks (VPNs), since they allow workers to use their choice of device and remotely access, share and edit documents at any time and from anywhere.

As you'd expect, there’s a huge range of cloud file-sharing services on the market, all offering a wealth of features and flexible price plans to suit every pocket. In this month's guide, we review business-focused cloud services from Box, Ionos, Progress Software and Tresorit, and put them through their paces in the lab to help you make the right buying decision.

Planning permission

Businesses should avoid free, consumer-based cloud file-sharing services in the workplace for two very sound reasons. First, such services are aimed at personal use, with significant capacity restrictions on cloud storage along with strict limits on the size of files you can upload and share. Any support that is provided is usually limited to online FAQs and communities.