What makes MyWorkDrive different?

MyWorkDrive is designed to integrate with existing on-premise Windows File Servers while providing end users with fast cloud file cloud access – all while maintaining local IT control over the data. The server software is very lightweight – no databases or complicated LDAP requirements – and can be installed directly on existing Windows File Servers.

Server Services

Other products utilize 3rd party integration software to integrate into Window Active Directory and create error-prone, bloated databases that must be maintained, pruned, and backed up. With MyWorkDrive, there are no databases or additional servers to maintain. Our software components utilize native Windows components that can be easily patched as opposed to fragile open source software. Backing up the MyWorkDrive configuration is as simple as copying a few XML files.

User Integration

Since MyWorkDrive utilizes native Windows components and runs within IIS, existing Active Directory users and groups are accessible and manageable right out of the box. Provisioning shares is simple – the systems administrator simply points to the existing file folders (if installed on an existing file server) or share paths such as \\server1\share and chooses what user groups to allow access. Existing NTFS permissions are supported automatically. Other products require complicated LDAP configurations and the continual import of new users & groups. With MyWorkDrive, an end user’s home drives are made available by default with no extra setup, formulas, or added configuration required. Once the shares are set up, new users who are added to Active Directory, can login to MyWorkDrive with no additional requirements.

Web Publishing

Our optional MyWorkDrive Cloud Connector service allows the system administrator to publish the end user web file manager portal in minutes. This means the administrator can simply choose their preferred client URL such as https://MyBusiness.myworkdrive.net and publish it to the end users without opening up firewall ports nor purchasing and maintaining SSL certificates. Our Cloud Connector service utilizes the highest encryption available and is locked down to prevent all known threats. All files remain on the customer’s server, flowing through our encrypted relay channel as they are accessed by end users. Unlike other vendors, we have no access to data – all data stays on the customer’s server. We regularly test our relay servers to ensure the highest rating on Qualys SSL Labs. Self-hosted options from other vendors require significant security expertise to achieve the same level of encryption and availability with some vendors defaulting to no encryption all. MyWorkDrive’s level of security expertise is not typically available to a small business nor is it maintained when using competing products.

Web File Access

MyWorkDrive’s Web File Manager access browser client is the most advanced and user friendly in the industry. Upon login, the user is presented with their home drive and file shares in a view similar to Windows File Explorer. Files and folders are displayed in Detail view for easy sorting, by name and date. Our browser client provides the unique ability to double-click on a Microsoft Office document, edit it and save it back – all without requiring the file to be downloaded or synced first to the user’s remote PC. This unique function ensures data remains on premise and under business control. Other vendor’s products require downloading of files and utilize an unfriendly user interface with only basic file and folder functions.

File Syncing

Competing products all assume System Administrators will maintain a file sync client on all user’s desktops. Syncing clients generate a tremendous amount of network traffic that fills up an end user’s PC with files which creates a substantial support burden on System Administrators. Since MyWorkDrive connects to existing file shares and the end users home drive with both a Web client and mapped drives, syncing is not needed. It’s not uncommon for even the smallest business to have over 1TB of files on even the smallest of file servers. Syncing that amount of data across multiple user’s desktops is unsupportable in these scenarios. With fast Internet access available just about anywhere, error prone file syncing is not required nor desired by many businesses.