Study Finds One-Third of Companies Want New FSS Solutions

When managing both mobile and remote workers, it can be difficult to keep information safe and highly available to employees working in different locations. While many companies are content to use consumer software platforms to share files, these solutions aren’t always reliable and can lead to data loss or an outside breach. With the frequency of major data breaches increasing, more companies are turning to more secure solutions for their file-sharing needs, including file, sync and share (FSS) solutions.

Connected Data and Wilson Research Group recently conducted a survey consisting of 123 respondents from companies with more than 1,000 employees, and found nearly a third of companies said they are looking to either adopt a new FSS solution (21 percent) or adopt their first FSS system (13.6 percent) within the next 12 months. These figures indicate the growing importance many companies are placing on having a secure location for their information that can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, to accommodate the growing mobile and remote workforce.

When asked to name their top five objectives when implementing a new FSS solution, IT managers, executives and directors cited a need to increase teamwork and collaboration as well as to provide a repository for remote employees to store documents. Additionally, these respondents said providing mobile access for employees and providing a means for data backup were also top concerns when choosing to implement FSS. Finally, respondents said FSS would more easily allow them to share and distribute large files that could not be sent over email.

“The Wilson Research Group study confirms the rapidly growing need for secure and compliant FSS solutions—particularly for larger companies,” said Geoff Barrall, CEO of Connected Data, in a statement. “From the data it is clear that these companies are looking for solutions that are able to deliver all the convenience of public cloud, combined with the security, performance, protection and control that only a private cloud onsite solution can provide.”

When asked whether they would rather own their own solution or rely on a third-party vendor for file, sync and share, 87.3 percent of respondents said they would want to own and manage their own FSS. Respondents also said they would utilize FSS to acquire an offsite backup capability and to eliminate the use of unauthorized service providers by implementing a companywide solution.

Connected Data sells its own Transporter solution for enterprise file, sync and share, but obviously it’s not the only solution out there. With the data provided in the survey, channel partners and managed service providers looking to sell FSS solutions should focus on their customers’ need to accommodate the growing remote and mobile workforce if they wish to profit in this market.