Building a Web-Based File Exchange Service

1. A great deal of corporations are looking to replace traditional ftp systems with browser based file sharing solutions. Properly done, these new systems can speed up transferring large files and increase productivity. It is very important to articulate what customers and employees require, before choosing a secure file sharing service.

Major reasons companies are looking for an alternative to ftp

1. Some clients having difficulty using ftp.
2. Flexibility – traditional ftp systems allow very little customization.
3. File Management can be very complicated with ftp systems.
4. Privacy – a great majority of ftp systems in place today allow clients to see all files on the server.
5. 5 Security- without the proper security precautions ftp can leave some serious access points for hackers.

Major reasons companies are looking online file transfer systems

1. Browser Based – all clients can use Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari to securely upload and download files.
2. Privacy – managed web based file transfer systems allow only designated users assigned by the administrator access to certain files.
3. Flexibility – web file sharing solutions can be customized.
4. File Management – all files can be managed from a browser based control panel. Files can be easily added, deleted, renamed or moved to different project folders.
5. Online file sharing solutions allow individual clients and employees to be assigned separate user names and passwords for access.

Some questions to consider when building your online file manager

1. Will your file sharing system be written in .net or php?
2. Will our users be using Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari to access the system?
3. How big or what is our average file transfer size?
4. Approximately how many files will be online?
5. How many employees will need access to the system? Will they all need separate user names and passwords or will one corporate id and password be easier?
6. How many customers will access the system?
7. A web based file transfer system will totally replace your traditional ftp service. This is what you want?
8. Who or whom is the administrator, the person who will assign people passwords and provide reports on system usage to management if required?
9. What percent of our employees and customers use MAC and PC?
10. Will we host the file sharing system internally or outsource this aspect?
11. What process or procedure will we setup to move the files from our current ftp system to the new web based file manager?

Some features to consider for your online file exchange solution

1. Email notification on file uploads and downloads
2. Time stamps for user access and file uploads and downloads
3. Auto delete functionality for files left on the server for a certain period of time.
4. Temporary passwords.
5. No Java – large corporations disable java on corporate PCs, they will have trouble accessing a drag and drop system that uses Java.
6. Mac users on Safari will have trouble using a Java system.
7. Allow notes to be posted by file names.