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• # 71388
• Wed 25 May 2011 09:55 PM

Has anyone out there found a really good system for data file encryption. It must to be quick and convenient. It needs be able to encrypt sage backups, excel spreadsheets, word docs etc. It also should be capable of allowing the files to be recalled and decrypted on onother PC without having to load an application. Connected with this, does anybody use Dropbox to store client sage backups and timesheets etc. If so, do you know how secure the system is?
I know there are memory sticks and external HDs that have encryption, but there may be other systems around which could work better in Dropbox internet situations. Does the ICB recommend any systems for data encryption?

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• # 71389
• Wed 25 May 2011 10:26 PM

One idea - add them to a zip archive with 7-zip or Winzip and password protect it. Only problem is you can still see the file name even if you can't open it. Solution to that is to zip up the zip file. I think most Windows computers with XP or later can open zip files.

• . http://www.smbps.co.uk/
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• # 71398
• Thu 26 May 2011 08:48 AM

You need to instal something on your own computer - but the client would just be given a web link would they not? Or have I misunderstood how Dropbox works?

Similarly with Winzip/7-Zip, you need to instal it on your own computer but the client doesn't need to instal anything.

• . http://www.smbps.co.uk/
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• # 71448
• Thu 26 May 2011 09:30 PM

Hello

I can't speak on the security of Dropbox as I'm not technically minded

However I use it to store Sage backups, my own personal accounts, my CV, etc. I also have a client whom I share a folder with, and she drops in emailed supplier invoices, scans of bank statements, etc. The folder sits in My Documents and each time one of us adds in a new file, it updates on the other's folder and notifies you.

I find it to be a very handy tool for storage of all those documents and files which, should my system ever crash, I could not trade without.

Helen

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• # 71494
• Sat 28 May 2011 09:07 AM

Hi

As a user and fan of "Dropbox" I thought I would throw in my tuppence.

Dropbox, yes you do need to load something on your computer. It allows you to manage your off line document storage as if it was a folder on your machine. It puts a folder in your documents call "my Dropbox". you can access your files either the normal way or via the website.

On the website you can give people access to the data, a great way for internally file sharing and with external clients/partners.

I cannot comment on the security but it was a question I raised and I was told projects where security is key aspect also use it - ok for me as not a key issue.

I would say it has it flaws, you can easily move files out of the shared area rather than copy and this has lead to files being lost - having said that they do have a file recovery.

An area up to 2G is free so give it a whirl. Anything up to 50G is $9.99 a month about £6 pounds (no VAT LOL).

If you need to know more about my experience of it email me at clare@skybusinessservices.co.uk rather than clogging up the forum.

Regards
Clare

PS New company logo has now been done - website on it's way.


Edited at 28 May 2011 09:10 AM GMT

Edited at 28 May 2011 09:13 AM GMT

Edited at 28 May 2011 09:15 AM GMT

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• # 71524
• Sun 29 May 2011 12:33 PM

James – Thanks for confirmation that Dropbox is relatively secure via the SSL & subsequent file encryption. It does seem that this would satisfy the data security requirements of the ICB, MLR & ICO. By the way, great work by you on all things IT at the ICB.

I have now set up Dropbox and created a Client Folder below which there is a shared folder for each client. I have invited all my clients to install Dropbox and we now share files such as my timesheets, recent Sage backups, Letter of Engagement, etc. They can send me files just by dropping it into in our shared folder without sending me an email with an attachment and vice versa. They all think it is great. As a result of these Dropbox referrals I have now reached the maximum of 8Gb free space. My storage amounts to approx. 1Gb, so lots of room to expand on non-business stuff.

I have also backed up all of “My Documents” in a folder which is not shared with anyone. This allows me to have another off-site backup which is secure and accessible from any PC anywhere. Because I work on Client PCs at their premises, it is very convenient to be able to access any file relating to any client directly from the PC I happen to be working on.

As Helen suggested, Dropbox works by appearing in Explorer as any other folder, nominally in “My Documents”. This allows folder creation, file drag and drop, deletion, rename, copy, cut etc. just like any other file or folder on your C drive. The same applies at the client site. So if I am in my office and drop a client’s cash flow forecast into their shared folder, they see it immediately it has “synchronised” i.e. copied to the Dropbox server. They even get one of those pop-up information boxes down at the bottom right hand corner of their screen to tell them it has arrived.

I am very pleased with the implementation. It adds value to the client service provision, it gives me a secure backup and remote access, costs nothing and is very quick and easy to use. The only downside is that the file transfer is slow when copying large numbers of files, or very large files. It is very much improved by setting “No Limit” to the upload & download speeds in Preferences.

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