Migrate to the Cloud with MyWorkDrive

Moving to the Cloud? Think MyWorkDrive First.

MyWorkDrive is a core component of many Cloud First or Cloud Migration strategies, owing to map drive functionality in the Windows/macOS Clients which uses HTTPS and doesn’t require insecure ports like 445 or complicated VPN connections; coupled with flexible storage sources like SMB/Windows Shares, non-windows CIFS shares, Azure File Shares with SMB, and now OneDrive and SharePoint with version 6.4 (currently in Preview). Users who’s file shares have been migrated to the cloud can still have their same share paths, without having any on-premise file servers.

MyWorkDrive Cloud Based File Server Benefits

• Keep the same user experience with no training needed
• No vendor Lock-in with storage that you control
• Simple, Easy Setup with No Migration
• No hardware to maintain on-premises
• Unlimited Capacity and no file count limits
• Reduce cost compared to cloud only services
• Maintain Data Privacy, Control of files and storage location

Many new customers come to MyWorkDrive at the point they migrate to the cloud, discovering SMB ports blocked by their ISP, file limits, syncing issues or struggling under the user requests related to failed VPN connections. The deployment options for MyWorkDrive are flexible, to suit your organization’s preferences for scale, redundancy and reliably.

MyWorkDrive can work with any SMB file storage

• File shares on VMs
• Azure file shares
• Azure NetApp Files
• Amazon FSX
• Network Attached Storage

MyWorkDrive now also connects to OneDrive and SharePoint Sites, folders, and Libraries in version 6.4 (currently in preview).

Active Directory

MyWorkDrive authenticates users using Active Directory (Active Directory Domain Services). What is commonly thought of as “on prem active directory”, this is also easy to run in the cloud.

• It could be Domain Controllers moved to the cloud as VMs.
• It could be a read only domain controller sync’d from On Prem via VPN
• Or it could be Azure AD Domain Services (“Hosted Active Directory”) from Microsoft or Directory Services from AWS.

A sample configuration in Azure might include

• Azure File Shares (Premium for daily work loads, Standard for archival data) with SMB Multi-Channel enabled
• Azure AD Domain Services hosted AD
• Domain Joined Windows Server with MyWorkDrive with Accelerated Networking enabled.

View SMB and OneDrive/SharePoint files in one interface

When clients initially size their file shares, they often include the user’s home folders that they’re migrating in their size estimates. Often, users with Microsoft or Office 365 licenses will have OneDrive storage included with their license, and user folders can be migrated to OneDrive, cutting back on enterprise storage needs.

With 6.4, those home folders and SharePoint sites can be mapped through MyWorkDrive, eliminating the need to deploy the OneDrive sync client, or retrain users – since the drive letter can still be “U:” for their user data, but now pointed to OneDrive instead of an SMB Path (or “h” or “j” or whatever letter is being used).

What’s coming next

MyWorkDrive was founded around the core value that organizations should have the option to retain ownership and control of their files – wherever they are stored. With that in mind, our future road map items include:

• Broader support for file storage beyond SMB. You already see that with our introduction of OneDrive/SharePoint.
• Azure File Shares and Azure Blob Storage via API Key with the possibility of other API Key integrations such as Amazon S3, Cloudflare R2, Google Cloud Storage, Back Blaze, etc.
• AzureAD SSO for user validation without Active Directory Domain Services

In the future look for support for other SSOs and directory-less alternatives as likely possibilities.

Looking to migrates files or services to the cloud? Learn more..

Introduction to Web Storage Server Solutions

With enterprise, businesses and government employees working remotely, reliable and secure web based file access is critical. This is where web storage server solutions come into play. With a web storage server solution, you can store, manage, and share your data securely using a secure web browser.. In this article, we will take a closer look at the benefits and features of web storage a server solutions and how implementing them can improve employee productivity and file security. Learn more..

MyWorkDrive Version 6.4 Released to Preview

We are excited to announce the Preview Release of MyWorkDrive Server 6.4 with support for OneDrive and SharePoint Storage and Public file and folder sharing. Version 6.4 preview also includes additional improvements and bug fixes. MyWorkDrive Server Version 6.4 is a major update in preview. Customers are advised to test version 6.4 in a separate or standalone environment.

OneDrive/SharePoint Storage

SharePoint and OneDrive are collaboration and document management platforms by Microsoft which can now be integrated with MyWorkDrive for file access and storage services. By enabling OneDrive and SharePoint Storage in MyWorkDrive, customers can now access OneDrive and SharePoint files side by side with standard SMB File Shares. OneDrive/SharePoint File Share Access allows MyWorkDrive Servers to connect to OneDrive and SharePoint Sites and make them available to clients via the MyWorkDrive Web Browser, Desktop as a Mapped Drive and Mobile Clients. In addition to accessing, saving and updating files, OneDrive/SharePoint in MyWorkDrive supports external public file sharing. Support Articles: SharePoint OneDrive

Public Sharing

Starting with version 6.4, With Public Sharing in MyWorkDrive you can securely collaborate with people outside your organization such as your business partners, vendors, clients, or customers — without the recipient needing a MyWorkDrive account. You can share files or folders with them by creating a link that you can send via email or other methods. You can also control who can view or edit your files and set expiration date and password for your link. Public Share links can be created from the Web, Windows and macOS clients, with a public link management tool for users included in the Web client. Support Article

New Consolidated Integrations Tab

We moved all 3rd party integrations to their own tab in the Server Admin Panel called Integrations. This simplifies and enhances support and availability of 3rd party services and storage providers. Support Article

Cloudflare File Size Limits Removed

We removed the file size limits for MyWorkDrive sites utilizing our Cloudflare hosts under MyWorkDrive.net reverse proxy. MyWorkDrive can be easily integrated with Cloudflare® Tunnel services to automatically provide a secure web address without exposing the MyWorkDrive server to the internet or provisioning security appliances.

Get the full details and downloads on our 6.4 Preview Server Launch Page

MyWorkDrive 6.4 Preview Webinar Registration

On Thursday March 16th, 2023, 9:00 AM PST (12:00 PM EDT, 5:00 PM UTC) we will demonstrate new the features and enhancements in MyWorkDrive version 6.4 currently in preview. Complete the form below to register.

Features Covered:

• OneDrive/SharePoint Storage
• Public Sharing
• New Consolidated Integrations Tab
• Mapped Drive Client Updates
• Mobile Client Updates

Join us: Thursday March 16th, 2023
Start Time: 09:00 AM PST, (12:00 PM EDT, 5:00 PM UTC)

MyWorkDrive 2022 Year in Review and 2023 Road Map

2022 was a great year for MyWorkDrive. We were honored to add numerous customers across all sectors including highly renowned Educational institutions, Governments and Enterprise businesses. This has enabled us to expand our team and continue to invest in new features and security technologies for use by our customers. Some of the major highlights in for 2022 include:

MyWorkDrive Server & Web Client

• Device Approval for Mobile and Mapped Drive Clients
• Server Health Dashboard
• Delegated Guest User Sharing
• Publishing Logs to Syslog server
• Clustering of Office Locks
• Sessions Management

Windows & MacOS Clients

• Performance Improvements to directory browsing and file opening/saving.
• Speed improvements in file saving, particularly in high volume environments
• DLP Mapped Drive Installer Options
• Native file system driver for the macOS Client

MyWorkDrive 2023 Roadmap

Look forward to the following new major features in preview soon:

• External Public Link Sharing
• OneDrive Storage Drive Mounting
• SharePoint Site Drive Mounting

Watch a preview of these new features highlighted in our recent webinar here.

MyWorkDrive was founded around the core value that organizations should have the option to retain ownership and control of their files, whether they are stored online or locally and should not be forced to migrate, convert, or store them in proprietary cloud storage providers requiring vendor lock-in just to experience the benefits of secure online access or collaboration.

Further to that core value, look forward to additional cloud storage options starting with Azure blob storage and Azure file shares. Expanding on that, look forward to alternative authentication options starting with Azure AD (no Active Directory needed).

MyWorkDrive 6.3 Webinar and Demo

We recently demonstrated new features and enhancements in MyWorkDrive version 6.3 and a preview of features currently under development in 6.4.

• External Public Link Sharing
• OneDrive Storage Drive Mounting
• SharePoint Site Drive Mounting

View the Webinar using this link:

Webinar Video

Secure your file sharing over HTTPS

In the wake of ransomware attacks and other threats, businesses, governments and schools are under the constant threat. Legacy remote access mechanisms such as VPN are no longer sufficient to protect files from encryption, theft, data leaks and ransomware.

Unfortunately, migrating files to cloud services as alternative has not proven to be the magic bullet for improving security and controlling costs. Cloud – like any other source of compute and storage resources – tends to sprawl, can be mismanaged and requires vendor lock-in by cloud sync and share vendors that store files in proprietary cloud storage.

The alternative, utilizing VPN software to connect to work resources, is that end users are creating an open tunnel between their home and corporate networks. This provides malware lateral access to numerous network ports across the network. Many companies are looking for a way to lock down their networks to prevent SMB file share access.

According to Gartner, by 2025, 70% of Enterprises will phase out most of their remote access VPN solutions in favor of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).

This is where MyWorkDrive can help. MyWorkDrive provides secure remote access to files and file shares without having to use VPNs, manage SQL databases, or migrating files to proprietary cloud storage.

MyWorkDrive multiplexes control and data over a single https connection from client to server which is simple for firewalls to manage and scan for security vulnerabilities.

In addition to Zero Trust Security MyWorkDrive adds these additional Security Features:

• File Type Blocking
• File Size Limiting
• Two factor Authentication
• SAML/Single-Sign-On
• Device Approval
• Data Leak Prevention view of files with download/copy/print restrictions.
• Alerting

MyWorkDrive Webinar and Demo

Register to join our resident experts on Thursday, December 8th, 2022 9:00 AM PST where we will demonstrate new features and enhancements in MyWorkDrive version 6.3 and a preview of features currently under development in 6.4.

• External Public Link Sharing
• OneDrive Storage Drive Mounting
• SharePoint Site Drive Mounting

Register using this link:

Webinar Registration

Can’t make that time? Register anyway and we’ll send you the recording.

Map a network drive on macOS remotely using MyWorkDrive

Did you know MyWorkDrive has a native mapped network drive client for macOS?

macOS users can enjoy the same easy-to-use, full featured experience as Windows users with the MyWorkDrive mapped network drive client for macOS. Complete remote file share access natively in Finder without needing to install a complicated VPN, or being stuck using a web client while connecting over a secure https connection.

The MyWorkDrive macOS network drive client runs as an application on macOS and maps network drives on macs directly in Finder, as if the computer were locally on the network. Once installed, Users can browse/copy/drag/drop/edit/delete and create files on their available network shares as if they were in the office! Learn More & Download.

We are excited to be a sponsor of the Bay Area Government Digital Summit by Govtech on Aug 25, 2022. Join our team in person at this important event on Government Technology’s passion in promoting best practices and spurring innovation in the public sector – more important than ever in challenging times like these. We are excited to sponsor a powerful series of sessions that provide inspiration, participation, education, and thought-provocation in government technology!

We look forward to showcasing our MyWorkDrive file share remote access software in use by governments worldwide.