August MyWorkDrive Newsletter 2022

With Summer shifting into August vacations, it’s a great time to review Software and Server upgrades and take a look at some of the training videos that we have may have been putting off. We assembled resources that we hope you find valuable as you prepare for the busy fall season and that you can share with your users to empower them during their summer travels.

Have members of the IT Admin team that could use a walk through of MyWorkDrive? Been a while since you’ve set it up and want a refresher or personal demo of new features? Book a time & we’ll be happy to answer questions or provide an overview with one of our engineers.

Kind Regards,

MyWorkDrive Team

Server Setup & Optimization

A complete Server Setup guide and latest Video is here: Server Configuration Guide.

Quickly update your MyWorkDrive server to the latest version at any time (Upgrades are free!), our guide steps you through the process.

Deploying and Upgrading installed clients is easy with our scripted deployment options.

Most Popular Features

Edit and Collaborate in Office Online while keeping files local article and video clip.

Device Approval (newest feature since version 6.2)

Native Single Sign On. Setup and learn about Single Sign On options with ADFS or SAML providers.

User Video Resources to Share

Web File Manager: short demo video on how to use MyWorkDrive in the browser

Client Demo: watch here how to access MyWorkDrive from the Windows Client

Mac OS: how to use the native Client for MyWorkDrive on Mac systems

Mobile: Short presentation of the mobile app User Interface

July MyWorkDrive Newsletter 2022

Cloud File Storage

With the shift to hybrid work schedules, we are seeing a lot of customers looking to migrate file shares to cloud based storage. Unfortunately cloud storage providers have one goal in mind – to lock the customer into proprietary file systems – you can check files in but checking them out is a complex and costly endeavor. Unlike standards-based internet protocols; Cloud File Storage is proprietary and has no open database standard.

MyWorkDrive was founded around the core value that organizations should have the option to retain ownership and control of their files, whether they are stored online or locally, in standard NTFS file formats. We believe organizations should not be forced to migrate, convert or store them in proprietary cloud storage file formats requiring vendor lock-in just to experience the benefits of secure online collaboration and file sharing.

While Small Business might be just fine with Cloud Storage/Sync N Share vendors, Larger Enterprises, Governments, Education and Health Care providers are rightfully concerned about security, data sovereignty and vendor lock-in.

MyWorkDrive’s secure remote access to cloud file storage utilizes standards-based SMB file shares for its storage. This is made possible by our server software, which provides a secure tunnel for access to local and cloud storage remotely and in Office Online while continuously saving any changes back to the customers own new or existing file shares. Customers can store files on any SMB File Share including our vendor partners – Azure File Shares, AWS FSX, MorroData, NetApp or Nasuni – while retaining control and flexibility.

Coming soon in version 6.3

The team at MyWorkDrive is working hard to complete our latest new features and updates. We expect version 6.3 to be release to preview by mid-July. Features include:

Native file system driver for the macOS Client

We are working on comprehensive rewrite of the macOS mapped drive client that utilizes macOS file provider instead of the 3rd party Fuse file system driver. File provider installation will remove the requirement for Fuse and the need to use recovery mode during setup on Apple Silicon (M1/M2) based macs.

Health Dashboard

Our new health dashboard will provide feedback on critical services, memory and server readiness with repair recommendations and automated fix tools.

Delegated Guest User Sharing

With this enhancement we will provide the ability to delegate management and creation of external guest user invitations on guest shares from the Web Browser Client to non-it staff.

Publishing Logs to Syslog servers

Our log files have always been published to be machine readable, and many clients have used log aggregators to pull the logfiles into their SEIM, but with 6.3 we’re making it easier by publishing the logs using standard protocols via TCP or UDP.

Clustering of Office Locks

Enterprises running MyWorkDrive in clusters will have the option of allowing coediting of Office files across multiple MyWorkDrive Servers.

Sessions Management

Enhanced management of user sessions with reporting and termination options.

June MyWorkDrive Newsletter 2022

Secure File Share Remote Access

With the shift to full time “Work from home” strategies leading employees to work from home, public coffee shops and insecure tourist destinations, the need for secure mapped network drive access to Windows File Shares has increased ten fold.

Where IT used to provide remote access as a convenience to a few executives while traveling, or key staff while on vacation – its now become a huge burden for staff to manage corporate PC’s remotely, secure internal networks and train users on how to use VPN.

MyWorkDrive alleviates these security and support concerns with our flexible client options that mean options like no remote installs, allowing users to Map Network Drives, and even working from their phone.

The MyWorkDrive map network drive client allows employees to have the same user experience that they previously only had when working in the office or connecting from to VPN from a Corporate PC. With local drive letters that natively present files and folders in Windows explorer and operate as if the data was all on the workstation, users can drag and drop, double click to open, or save as to a MyWorkDrive share. Files are securely stored on company file share, without the worry about files being out of sync or orphaned on remote machines.

In addition to alleviating the IT help desk from supporting VPN and end user PC’s, the MyWorkDrive map network drive client improves security – Only port 443/HTTPS is opened to your MyWorkDrive Server with no direct VPN or lateral access to your internal network or file shares. Additionally, you can layer on additional security features and compliance enhancements including:

Device Approval

In MyWorkDrive 6.2, we introduced device approval where administrators can control what devices are allowed to connect to MyWorkDrive Servers. Features include the ability to monitor usage, last login, and operating system details for all connecting clients.

Data Leak Prevention

Prevent data theft, loss of company data and ensure compliance – while still allowing viewing and editing of files and shares online. Now with added support in mapped drive clients and mobile clients.

All user file sharing access is secure, logged and searchable with watermarking and time stamps. File shares can also be locked down to prevent clipboard copying or printing within our encrypted viewer.

Alerting

Administrators can configure MyWorkDrive to provide alerts on suspicious activity. Get alerts on questionable activity like users uploading or downloading large numbers of files unnecessarily, malware acting on shares, or misconfigured backup/sync products.

Coming soon in version 6.3

The team at MyWorkDrive is looking forward to our latest new features to be released to 6.3 preview soon including:

Native file system driver for the macOS Client

We are working on comprehensive rewrite of the macOS mapped drive client that utilizes macOS file provider instead of the 3rd party Fuse file system driver. File provider installation will remove the requirement for Fuse and the need to use recovery mode during setup on Apple Silicon (M1/M2) based macs.

Health Dashboard

Our new health dashboard will provide feedback on critical services, memory and server readiness with repair recommendations and automated fix tools.

Delegated Guest User Sharing

With this enhancement we will provide the ability to delegate management and creation of external guest user invitations on guest shares from the Web Browser Client to non-it staff.

Publishing Logs to Syslog servers

Our log files have always been published to be machine readable, and many clients have used log aggregators to pull the logfiles into their SEIM, but with 6.3 we’re making it easier by publishing the logs using standard protocols via TCP or UDP.

Clustering of Office Locks

Enhanced management of user sessions and file locks will permit Enterprises running MyWorkDrive in clusters to enable coediting of Office files across multiple MyWorkDrive Servers.

MyWorkDrive & Morro Data – NAS In-Cloud and On-Prem

MyWorkDrive and Morro Data announce that they will collaborate to provide businesses with the most complete Cloud NAS solutions for the hybrid workplace. Users anywhere can now securely access the complete file system at up to Gigabit speed.

With MyWorkDrive & Morro Data, it’s easy to Migrate File Servers to the Cloud without managing complex file share migrations, retraining users, or giving up local access.

With a typical “cloud only” type file service, file shares must be converted and locked-in to the cloud storage vendor requiring a complex migration, retraining of users, sync client deployment, and hefty monthly per user fees. These services also do not allow for fast local access when needed to support power users or designers who need local network speeds to work efficiently.

With MyWorkDrive and Morro Data, these problems are solved. Simply sync file shares to the Morro Data Cloud and connect to them using a MyWorkDrive Server for easy remote access without VPN. Power users and designers anywhere who need to access larger files or collaborate on design files with file locking can connect to a local CloudNAS CacheDrive appliance.

The Best of Both Worlds

When used together, MyWorkDrive and Morro Data provide 100% remote accessibility of files from any Web Browser, Mobile, Mapped Drive or local NAS with Gigabit performance.

 

MyWorkDrive & Morro Data combined Cloud File Server Benefits:

  • Keep the same mapped drives with no training needed
  • Simple, automated Migration
  • No Servers to maintain on-premises
  • Unlimited Capacity
  • Reduce cost compared to cloud only services
  • Maintain Data Privacy, Control of files and storage location
  • Access files at Gigabit Speed with CacheDrive gateways

 

MyWorkDrive & Morro Data – For a complete solution to all your File Share Remote Access needs!

Free SSL Certificate

Free SSL Certificate with Let’s Encrypt

Amazon WorkDocs Alternative

Cloud Storage Gateway

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