Accellion Secure File Transfer

Paula Skokowski, VP of Marketing for Accellion, and I had a lovely debate, err, conversation over the need for her company's product, a file transfer "virtualization" product. In the end, she won me over and I was forced through gritted teeth to agree that Accellion's managed file transfer solution could be very useful for medium to large organizations. In quite a number of circumstances it does make sence to "centralize" large file transfers rather than having workers send large files as attachments to Email messages.

Competing approaches

The debate, err conversation, centered on whether transferring files around the organization was the right approach. Wouldn't it be better I suggested to store documents, presentation decks, spreadsheets, personal database files, photos and the like in a central information storage facility (infostore) and provide access to those files rather than sending huge files through an organization's network to each and every recipient of a message?

Having spent time as Open-Xchange's executive VP of corporate and marketing strategy, I was fond of an approach that was a central part of Open-Xchange. That is a central, secure, controlled "infostore" rather than copying files about the organization. This way, what's sent in an Email message is a very small pointer to a storage resource. If the recipient wishes to look at the file, they would have to have the appropriate access privileges.

The Infostore could also log who has changed the file, prevent multiple people from updating the file at the same time and allow the organization to go back to any previous version. An additional benefit was simplicity. a staff member could attach a pointer to a message and know that only the intended recepients could access the information in the file stored in infostore even if the message containing the pointer were to be forwarded to unauthorized individuals.

After a delightful debate, I was persuaded that there was a place for transfering these files through an appliance rather than using a central store house.

Here's what Accellion's Secure File Tranfer Appliance does

Here's how Accellion describes their solution:

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Accellion’s managed file transfer solution is architected to address the key design requirements for on-demand and automated, multi-office enterprise, secure file transfer. The Accellion secure file transfer system comprises a selection of components that in combination create a robust system for securely sending and receiving large files and folders—up to 20GB in size.

We’ve architected the Accellion secure file transfer system to integrate into existing infrastructure and leverage rather than duplicate existing systems. Accellion’s secure file transfer system gives you practically nothing to do. Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.

Key Components

• Secure File Transfer Appliance
• Web User Interface
• Email Plug-in for MS Outlook and Lotus Notes
• IT Administrator Interface
• Automation Agents
• Envelope Designer

Key Benefits

• Provide on-demand and automated large file transfer capability for business users
• Send files and folders up to 20GB in size
• Eliminate FTP support
• Offload files from email system
• Achieve compliance with SOX, HIPAA, FDA
• Reduce IT support
• Implement audit trail for files
• Increase data security
• Automate file transfer management
• Obtain return receipt for file transfers
• External partner send back
• Multi-language support

Snapshot Analysis

It's clear that a central repository provides the benefits of simplicity, security and the ability to keep track of document revisions. It's also clear that a highly distributed company would end up with multiple repositories and these repositories would, in the end, create a problem - where a specific file could be found.

It's also clear that making it easier for workers to send files by "dropping them in a post office box for delivery" would seem much more familiar to many.

Which approach would you use if both were made available to you?