RES unveils HyperDrive file-sharing tool for enterprises

RES Software has announced RES HyperDrive, a file sharing platform designed to let workers access files outside the company firewall, across different devices, and share them with colleagues, while allowing the IT department to retain control over security.

Set to be available from the second quarter of 2012, RES HyperDrive is described as offering a hybrid solution for file sharing, aimed at delivering the ease-of-use of Dropbox combined with the access control of SharePoint.

Unlike cloud-based systems such as Dropbox, HyperDrive is deployed on-premise, allowing organisations greater control over files, while allowing users to access them from PCs, tablets and smartphones.

"End users can now use HyperDrive delivered from their own IT organisation and stop using Dropbox to access files outside the firewall,"  RES co-founder and chief technology officer Bob Janssen told V3.

HyperDrive is deployed as a virtual appliance in the customer's datacentre. It is available in versions for VMware, Xen or Hyper-V infrastructure.

Each user gets their own HyperDrive, which appears as another logical drive on a Mac or Windows PC, allowing them to simply drag and drop files they want to be able to access. Each HyperDrive can also be accessed via a web browser.

For mobile users, RES offers native apps for Apple iPhone and iPad, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices, with IT administrators having the ability to remotely wipe any files on the mobile device should it be lost or stolen.

"It's not only about 'follow me data', but 'follow me compliance' as well," said Janssen.

WorkGroups can also have a shared team HyperDrive, which all members of the group can access, but users can also give access to others on a per-file basis by sending them a link.

HyperDrive also integrates with Active Directory, which offers a seamless login for users and allows IT managers to apply policies governing access to files.

Any customers using RES Workspace Manager, which provides user profile management, will be able to provision HyperDrive this way, the firm said.

In addition, companies can also use RES Baseline Desktop Analyser, a free cloud-based audit tool, to check how many people are using Dropbox on the company network, according to Janssen.

RES HyperDrive will be available on a pay-as-you-go basis, with customers paying a simple monthly fee of £4 per HyperDrive. There is no fee for the virtual appliance itself.