How to Share Your Online Files Securely

We live in a digital-first world where nearly all important documents, photos and videos in our lives are stored online. There’s so many circumstances that call for sharing these files, whether it’s in a work or social capacity. However, the further into the digital world we move, the higher the threat to our data becomes. That’s why you shouldn’t be taking data security lightly, and every step you take to secure your files is a step that protects them from ending up in the wrong hands. Visit https://www.goanywhere.com/ to learn how to move data securely inside and outside of your organization. If you’re working with confidential documents this could lead to drastic financial losses and lawsuits, so it’s no laughing matter.

Where Are You Storing Your Online Files?

Let’s start at the very beginning. Maybe you’re storing your online files on your device directly, maybe on external hard drives, or maybe in the cloud. The chances are, if you’re storing them on your device or external hard drive, you might have to use a third party app to transfer your files. If you’re using an Apple device then AirDrop can help you, but that’s dependent on whether the recipient of your files is also an Apple user. On the other hand, big cloud storage systems usually offer you secure ways to share your files with anyone you choose, and with any device. You can use a photo storage app on your smartphone, or of course your computer. Either way, you can rest assured they’ll travel securely. 

Top Tips for Sharing Files Securely

The bottom line is that whatever technology you use, you need to make sure they’re using encryption to protect your files on their travels. If you just want to share a few holiday snaps with the grandparents, WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted meaning your files will safely make their way to their intended destination. You can also send other files via WhatsApp, but it’s simply a messaging app, and not somewhere to actually store these files. That’s why we mostly recommend cloud storage for this purpose. 

A cloud storage provider like Dropbox allows you to benefit from AES-256 encryption and TLS to protect your data in transit. That’s what’s crucial here. It’s all well and good that your data is encrypted when it’s kept in one place, but it also needs to be encrypted on its journey between servers for the sharing of files to be as secure as it can be. You can also control who has access to each file with shareable links, passwords and time limits. All of these features make for the most seamless and secure ways to share. 

There’s also something appealing about using the secure sharing capabilities of an app that you’re already using for another purpose, such as storage. Any excuse to keep things streamlined is a good one. 

WeTransfer is another option that can help you send files quickly without the need to create an account. Just like Dropbox, you can send links to access files with a time limit. It’s definitely a straightforward option, but perhaps comes with less benefits than other alternatives. For example, it costs just $11.99 a month for a Dropbox Plus account (if the free option isn’t for you) and you get a wealth of features from storage to productivity, whereas a WeTransfer account costs $12 a month and is less focussed on anything beyond photo sharing. You definitely don’t need a WeTransfer account, but if you want access to features such as password protection, custom expiry times and a higher GB limit, then you’re going to want one. 

Another alternative is iCloud, which lets users share files easily from the web or an Apple device. However, this requires an Apple ID, which limits who can access the files. We always think it’s best to opt for a provider that is accessible from any device brand.