PROMISE Technology Shoots for the Cloud With New FileCruiser Private EFSS Solution

PROMISE Technology today announced the launch of its new all-in-one cloud storage solution – FileCruiser. A private Enterprise File Synchronization and Sharing (EFSS) solution for Enterprises and SMBs, FileCruiser allows businesses to build their own secure, scalable private cloud storage service.

“Cloud storage is an enabler for innovation, collaboration and productivity,” says James Lee, CEO, PROMISE Technology.  “It provides a means for mobile access that keeps workers connected and contributing.  This is one of the reasons we see the amount of data being stored in the cloud growing at such a rapid pace.   However, we know that in a business setting, security continues to be a top concern.   With FileCruiser we’re not only offering Dropbox-like services, but also building in enterprise level security in a platform that is designed to be deployed as a private cloud to deliver the highest level of protection.”

BYOD
The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement – in which employees bring personally-owned mobile devices to the workplace – is creating challenges for businesses. Security breaches can occur, and the ways in which employees connect, communicate and collaborate can be affected.

With FileCruiser, PROMISE is addressing these concerns.  FileCruiser intelligently syncs files across all of a user’s devices (with an app for both iOS and Android); gives anytime, anywhere data access and offers FTP replacement for file sharing, team collaboration tools and email attachment integration.  FileCruiser supports thousands of accounts and gives IT administrators control by allowing them to set limits on the size and types of files users can upload and sync.

There is a shift to the cloud for collaboration across disparate sites, where it is often a central online repository for editing teams,” says Elaine Kwok, PROMISE Technology’s Product Marketing Manager. “In such a case, quick light weight media can be viewed across teams.”

All On Premise
In contrast to public FSS services, FileCruiser is deployed on-premise – all hardware and data is located in the users’ physical location.  Users can manage the entire system, including hardware and software configuration, eliminating the security concerns of confidential data in public services.

“Adoption to the cloud will increase, but the inhibitor is the security concern,” says Kwok. “So having data on premise will alleviate this concern.”

Additionally, a business-class features set, low total cost of ownership, flexible architecture, ease of deployment and maintenance, seamless integration with existing IT systems, and powerful API for integration with users’ systems set FileCruiser apart from competitive offerings.

Intelligent Features
FileCruiser allows users to access and sync data anytime, anywhere, as well as easily sync large-sized files. It provides Continued data transfer (resume support) and multi-platform support.

In terms of team collaboration with access controls, FIleCruiser provides role-base access permission controls, shared links with password protection and expiry date, and version control and recovery.

For Enterprise level security, the system allows for remote wipe, data encryption in transfer and storage, two-factor authentication, secure sharing and collaboration, reporting and auditing tracking, and Windows AD, LDAP.

Deployment
FileCruiser can be implemented on various hardware platforms, including on a 3U-16 bay Intel x86 server-storage appliance, which is suitable to be deployed by SMBs.  In addition, if performance demands it, FileCruiser can be implemented on multiple Intel x86 1U servers connected to PROMISE storage.  FileCruiser provides the redundancy to protect both servers and storage.

Scale-out Storage Platform
The debut of FileCruiser marks the first step of PROMISE’s plan to introduce a lineup of new cloud solutions that address the rapidly expanding data storage and access needs for businesses and organizations.  PROMISE will launch its first scale-out cloud storage appliance for Virtual SAN this Fall – the PROMISE H1970 – which consists of 70 hard disk bays with two independent server nodes that provide high availability, high storage capacity and high networking throughput. When combined with VMware Virtual SAN technology, the H1970 is able to consolidate free disk space in different servers into one virtual storage pool and can be used as a VDI appliance and Virtual Appliance – ideal for remote branch office or departmental offices.  A cost effective, green storage solution that lowers cost per terabyte, requires less cabling and rack space and reduces electricity costs, the H1970 is also a good fit for deployment by datacenter vendors for hosting purposes.

FileCruiser in the Sports-Production Market
In terms of the sports market specifically, Promise Technology sees FileCruiser as a solution not just for cost-conscious colleges and smaller organizations, but for high-end leagues and broadcasters as well.

“Both [lower-budget universities and high-end leagues/broadcasters] involve users in the 500-999 or 1000 user range in the IT Enterprise aspect,” says “With the former, the sharing of completed videos, whether it be coaching videos or motivational videos, can be very efficiently shared with minimal Capex/Opex.  Same applies for higher end sports leagues, from the business perspective of referencing videos or images on emails, without having to actually email and consume additional bandwidth each time.”

PROMISE will be demonstrating the benefits of both FileCruiser and the H1970 at VMWorld in San Francisco next week  in booth #2517.

Availability
PROMISE’s FileCruiser is currently available through the PROMISE global network of distributors and value added resellers and comes in multiple models to meet the demands of users on various scales.