Enterprise file synchronization and sharing (also known asEFSS andenterprise file sync and share) refers to software services that enable organizations to securelysynchronize and share documents, photos, videos and files from multiple devices with employees, and external customers and partners. Organizations often adopt these technologies to prevent employees from using consumer-based file sharing apps to store, access and manage corporate data that is outside of the IT department's control and visibility.^[1][2]

EFSS applications are often characterized by having most or all of the following features and capabilities:^[3][4][5][6]

• Sync files stored in corporate storage to user desktops and devices
• Send links to large files with support for multiple file extensions and protocols
• Integration to existing business applications viaAPIs, plugins and mobile apps
• Built-in file creation, editing and previewing
• User access permissions to files and folders
• Protection of files stored and transferred byencryption,antivirus scanning, and DLP (data loss prevention)
• Publish links to files with the ability to set a login requirement to access data
• Authentication options forActive Directory,SAML,Azure Active Directory, etc.
• Schedule and automate file transfers from automated systems and repositories^[7]
• Audit and report file activities and system actions

Depending on what an EFSS provider offers, services can be deployed usingcloud computing, on-premises, or hybrid. According to Forrester Research, some EFSS providers can provide the ability to lockdown data in certain geographies for companies that have requirements to store content/metadata in specific jurisdictions.^[8]

Box, one of the first EFSS products, was originally developed as a college project ofAaron Levie while he was a student of theUniversity of Southern California in 2004. Levie left school to run the company full-time in 2005.^[9]

In 2007Dropbox was founded, and officially launched at 2008'sTechCrunch Disrupt conference. The same year,Microsoft began beta testing of Windows Live Folders, a predecessor ofOneDrive.^[10]

Around 2010, the EFSS market emerged with over 100 vendors from a variety technology backgrounds including backup and cloud storage (Citrix ShareFile,Syncplicity),managed file transfer (Accellion,Biscom,Box,Hightail, Thru), enterprise content management and more. Many were developed as alternatives to consumer file sync and sharing services that did not have security features in place to protect company information nor the flexibility to integrate with existing content repositories and business applications.^{[11][12][13][14]}

In October 2011, software company,Citrix Systems, announced that it had acquired private enterprise file sync and share service,ShareFile, to add to the Citrix product line. ShareFile was a competitor ofBox andDropbox but focused on selling its product to IT departments of large organizations.^[15][16]

In 2012,CTERA Networks entered the EFSS market.^[17]

On June 25, 2014,Google announced at itsI/O Conference that it was entering the enterprise file sharing market with the release of “Google Drive for Work.”^[18][19]

In July 2015, one EFSS vendor,Syncplicity, was sold to private equity firm, Skyview Capital, by previous owner,EMC Corporation.^[20][21]

• File sharing
• Cloud computing providers
• Data synchronization

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