Secure Access to Network File Shares from iPad & Tablets

July 2, 2014

Secure Access to Network File Shares from iPad and Android Tablets for Banking Institutions When we started building FileCloud, our objectives were very clear. We wanted to create a solution that will empower our users to have complete control of their data and at the same time provide simple accessibility to their data from any […]

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Secure Access to Network File Shares from iPad and Android Tablets for Banking Institutions

When we started building FileCloud, our objectives were very clear. We wanted to create a solution that will empower our users to have complete control of their data and at the same time provide simple accessibility to their data from any device.

Over the years we have matured FileCloud, by adding rich feature sets based on customer feedback. And, we have heard several use cases that enterprises, small businesses, schools, universities and banks were trying to address. I am writing this blog to share one of those use-cases and how FileCloud helped First United Bank out of west Texas.

Our client's requirements for a private cloud file sharing solution were as follows:

  1. Allow  their board members, non-employees, to look at confidential financial meeting notes securely.
  2. Avoid the need for emailing meeting notes
  3. Provide Active Directory support and the ability to enforce read only settings
  4. Executives and board members should have easy access to the meeting notes from iPad and Android devices.
  5. Provide the ability to wipe information from devices if needed and control who has the information.
  6. No access to the files via a web page

We looked at their requirements in detail and we tailored FileCloud as follows:

Requirement 1, 2, & 3:

FileCloud's network share feature was able to satisfy the requirement of user/group specific access to folders. And, as files are already shared via network shares, no need to email the meeting notes. Moreover, FileCloud provides Active Directory & LDAP support along with NTFS permission support restricting access to network folders to just authorized users.

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Requirement 4:

All network shares are accessible via FileCloud’s leading mobile apps (rated 4+ stars), which are available across all major platforms iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

iPad

Requirement 5:

FileCloud's Mobile Device Management was able to provide client the ability to block access and wipe information from devices.

MobileDeviceManagement

Requirement 6:

Now, this one was tricky. We have built-in web access running off Apache and the client wanted to prevent access via web for their users. The solution needed some wicked smartness, we asked the client to remove the web application archive serving the web access. Talk about a hack, let me re-phrase, a hidden feature :)

In the end, the client was impressed with the FileCloud product and fanatical technical support to say,

"FileCloud has allowed the IT department to offer a solution to our executive team and board members for accessing confidential bank data outside our network using mobile devices.  This has been a big hit with our users and we hope to continue to use it for other solutions in the future."

 

Although from software business standpoint, we all would like to have a cookie-cutter solution, the reality is that every customer is different and their needs are different. We strongly believe we built FileCloud robust and flexible to satisfy various private cloud file sharing business needs. At least FileCloud was able to fulfill First United Bank's business needs.

 Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

By Team FileCloud