What is the best online or cloud way to share files

Question

We have a part-time bookkeeper who takes care of all the bills, collects rents etc.  We presently use Q Box which has been working well, although wondering if others have used something else and what their experience has been?

For us, it is important that each of us has access to the documents and be able to make changes to existing documents, quick books, and up load new documents.

Do any of you have good examples or past experience with online or cloud host locations.  I would also be interested in hearing about ones we should stay away from.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jeff B. · Answer

-- this will be true *IF* you only have a modem WITH the internal router feature AND no personal router attached to the modem

-- SOME NAS boxes *may* have these features, others do not.  The *BEST* have a login feature separate from the PC

I would go with a Dropbox and a share account.

Jeff B. · Answer

NOT RECOMMENDED, BUT ---

the setup on YOUR system is like:

• modem--router
• .................|----PC
• .................|----NAS

The ISP does not play a part as the controls are in the router.

1) the NAS MUST have a constant address;  that's done with a STATIC address or an Address reservation

2) the port forward is from the router, to the NAS address, for the port(s) you need - - and that depends upon the software accessing the NAS

3) the remote user access then needs to know the PUBLIC ip address of your router -- see http://checkip.dyndns.org/

Just so you know, this setup is NOT protected by any firewall or antivirus so if an intruder probes and finds it, you can expect all kinds of problems, including have those files stolen

Account Closed · Answer

Comcast controls this (before it gets to the router) via IP I believe.  You have to argue with them about it because they will insist you open a business account with them before they do it.

My NAS is a Synology NAS - firewall is in place, antivirus is in place, other bells and whistles are in place.  It's a pretty slick system.

Account Closed · Answer

For accounting, I use Xero.  You can upload receipts and attach them to your transactions.  You can set up multiple 'users' with various abilities in the software.  I'm very happy with it and I think it's the type of thing you are looking for.

For pure cloud file sharing and backup, I have mixed feelings.  Google Drive gets very high reviews.  Drop Box appears to have gotten passed it's privacy issues it had a few years ago.  Spider Oak is awesome as well for backup.

I personally use a network attached server (NAS) device with redundant RAID backup.  It was REALLY easy to set up about 3 years ago.  You can work with your internet provider to "forward port" your internet connection so it is accessible online.  I have a 10tb system.  My issue is I attempted to backup to the cloud and two weeks into it, I realized it wasn't a good solution for me (it would take me about a month to restore a failed system).

Mike Strodtman · Answer

Thanks for the reply's!  Much appreciated!!

Jeff Filali · Answer

I use Google Drive and it works very well.  I have all my business entities files there and it makes it great for accessing on the go, from remote computers, or cell phone.  I also like the fact that you can share access to different files with different people, so if you have other business or personal files, you can block access.  Also, being able to send files quick from my phone is a big plus for me.

Christopher Phillips · Answer

@Mike Strodtman

I've been using various cloud storage platforms for years.

For documents, small files:

Microsoft OneDrive.

Pretty decent free storage 5GB or so for free for basic storage.

DropBox is also very good. Many companies use them. 2TB for teams at $12.50 per month. Individuals 1TB $8.25 per month.

I also use MEGA.NZ for large media files. A lot of video and audio people use the service. Pretty easy to share. Very secure. 50GB for free. or 4TB for 8.33 euros per month.

I've used a bunch others, but many of them come and go over the years.