Citrix Files, formerly known as Citrix Sharefile, is one of the best solutions Citrix has developed. You can add enterprise level IT security while your firm goes paperless. And while it has benefits in almost every business, it is particularly helpful in the construction and manufacturing industry. Share large files and designs securely between your main office, contractors, and those with boots on the ground. You may have a file-sharing solution in place like Box, DropBox, Google Drive today, but Citrix Files has evolved to better protect your data and give you better control over who has access to your files. The solution also gives you enhanced security and auditing capabilities, enables the ability to collaborate and give feedback on your company’s files and data, and has an ease of use that will allow your employees to access their files on any device, anywhere, anytime. Let’s continue to explore how revolutionary Citrix Files has been for the construction and manufacturing industries.
Security
Construction firms regularly deal with sensitive or proprietary information, so data security will always be a primary concern. Citrix Files protects your data in storage, in transit and when it is on the end-user’s device. And this isn’t some basic encryption, this is bank-level SSL/TLS encryption protocols and in storage it uses AES 256-bit encryption. Company-owned encryption keys also allow organizations to safeguard data within private on-premises and cloud repositories. Citrix Files also has a unique Outlook plug-in that we will discuss in more detail, but it will additionally encrypt the email you attach your files to as well.
Citrix files also give you granular control over who can access, edit or even see your company’s files. Give clients, project team members, and others access to only the files you want them to see. You can also determine how long files are available for download and set up a notification the moment someone downloads a file you sent. It also incorporates workflow audit trails, configurable permissions and intuitive reporting tools to get insight into and control over who is accessing data and how often. You can rest easy that your company’s files and data will remain secure.
Collaboration
Besides protecting your files, it is equally important to have a solution that streamlines project management and enables your team to work and collaborate effectively regardless of proximity. Put as many files, forms and client documents in your account as needed – with Citrix Files, you can get an unlimited amount of space in their cloud storage. Easily request and share files and folders up to 100 GB in size whether you are in the office or out in the field. Set up a client portal on your website for internal users and project team members to access their files from any web browser, allowing them to access them anytime on any device.
You can also keep track of changes to files in your account and access older versions of files as needed. Citrix Files also has workflows with co-authoring and feedback and approval processes that give employees a convenient hub to collectively create, review, modify, annotate, and track document changes in real time. You can also get legally binding e-signatures so projects conveniently move along with speedy approvals. Citrix Files is a solution that enhances almost everything for your business.
Ease of Use
First off, anyone can access Citrix Files from any web browser, on any device, so your team members and clients have a simple way to access files with no software downloads, usernames or passwords required. You can also find and store files faster with the desktop app, featuring file drag and drop, and file sending and requesting without needing to log in to a web browser. You can also set up cloud connectors to your repositories like Dropbox, Box, etc., and use Citrix Files Sync tool to sync all of your files, and all of your firm’s files, automatically to the cloud and across devices, so everyone has the most up-to-date information.
If your company uses Microsoft Outlook for email, Citrix Files has another incredible tool. With the Citrix Files Plugin for Microsoft Outlook, you can email and encrypt big files(100GB) to your contacts as easy as sending an attachment. With just a few clicks you can choose which file in your app you want to email, add a link, customize your message and send it off.
The Outlook plug-in is very useful, but integration with industry-specific applications may be even more impressive. With the right engineering Citrix Files can have an API that allows it to translate between third-party applications — for instance, BIM software. You can ensure that your files directly transfer into your file-sharing service from any software you use, allowing you to work seamlessly with all of your current tools.
We use Citrix Files at Wincourse because it’s another solution we believe in. It does a ton for us, but it has an incredible potential for construction and manufacturing firms to increase productivity, streamline projects and save on costs by going paperless. We are inviting you to our webinar to dive deeper into the technology on August 5 at 2pm EST. We hope you can attend and come with any questions.
And as always, you can a private demo with one of our engineers by reaching out to us.