Security and data protection in the cloud:
an essential comparative guide
In a world where technology is evolving at breakneck speed, data security and protection are of paramount importance. Faced with this challenge, organizations are wondering how to choose the ideal platform for storing, sharing and working with sensitive data.
In the digital age, secure data management has become an unavoidable business issue. With the proliferation of cloud-based file management solutions, it's becoming crucial to discern the most reliable options, particularly in terms of security, standards compliance and ergonomics.
Among the many solutions available, Microsoft's SharePoint stands out as a popular option. However, NetExplorer, a French solution, is increasingly establishing itself as a strong contender, thanks to its advanced security features and commitment to data sovereignty.
Our comparative analysis is designed to guide you transparently in choosing the best solution for hosting your organization's data in the cloud. We'll highlight the key differences between NetExplorer and Microsoft's solution, to help you make an informed decision.
When it comes to choosing between NetExplorer and Sharepoint, there are several key factors to consider:
Data backup and retention
NetExplorer excels in data backup, offering double protection in two data centers in France, guaranteeing geographical redundancy and 30-day data retention. In comparison, SharePoint entrusts backup to users, limiting retention to just 14 days. With NetExplorer, you benefit from precise data recovery, a distinct advantage over SharePoint, ensuring the security and availability of your essential data.
Dependence on extraterritorial laws
One of NetExplorer's strengths lies in its status as a sovereign player, guaranteeing total immunity from extraterritorial laws, unlike SharePoint which, as an American solution developed by Microsoft, is notably subject to the Cloud Act, which can compromise data confidentiality. This distinction is crucial for organizations, and ensures that NetExplorer respects their data, as French and European laws guarantee total confidentiality for data stored in this space.
File sharing
NetExplorer offers unlimited sharing options, both internally and externally, with the possibility of defining validity dates and personalized rights for files shared by e-mail or link. All these parameters give the user total control over shared data. SharePoint, on the other hand, has its limitations, notably with restricted rights management, no option for setting a validity date and all this limited in file and folder size, which makes the whole thing not very ergonomic and forces users to use another solution as a complement.
Although SharePoint doesn't offer advanced sharing options, NetExplorer does offer a number of sharing protections: SMS code or password, download limit or download acknowledgement to ensure that the integrity of shared data is not compromised.
Collaborative management
With NetExplorer, exchanges are made more fluid, with the possibility of co-editing, reviewing documents, adding annotations or commenting by identifying team members. It is also possible to invite both internal collaborators and external partners to collaborate.
The SharePoint solution also offers features for easy document collaboration and co-editing. The difference is that NetExplorer goes one step further, providing enhanced security measures to protect files during collaboration.
What's more, Microsoft's tool allows you to invite collaboration only within a file, with only two levels of rights: modification and preview. With NetExplorer, when an invitation to collaborate is issued, the rights levels are more extensive, with the possibility of generating a preview of the file, downloading it or inviting new people to collaborate on it.
Document validation, an integral part of collaboration, is a feature directly integrated into the NetExplorer solution, enabling users to increase productivity without the need for an additional collaborative solution. SharePoint, on the other hand, makes document validation accessible only via a manually-configured integration via Power Automate.
Traceability and rights management
Traceability is essential for data security. NetExplorer offers full traceability with exportable event logs, enabling user actions to be tracked. SharePoint, on the other hand, provides no traceability or event logs, leaving organizations in the dark as to their users' activities. What's more, NetExplorer's advanced, customizable rights management offers granular control, whereas SharePoint has limitations for large tree structures.
File synchronization
NetExplorer enables the synchronization of millions of items on different devices, i.e. a client workstation or a server, offering maximum flexibility. This high level of synchronization is made possible by NetSync, a tool developed in-house and integrated into our offerings at no extra cost, which automatically synchronizes all files from the web platform to the workstation and vice versa. SharePoint, on the other hand, recommends synchronization of up to 300,000 items on the client workstation only, and has no dedicated tool for this functionality.
Electronic signature
One of the key features of the NetExplorer solution is the electronic signature. This feature once again centralizes all stages of a document's lifecycle within a single interface. NetExplorer offers three levels of electronic signature, two of which are legally binding: the digitized handwritten signature, the eIDAS electronic signature, and the advanced eIDAS electronic signature. Whatever the nature of the document, it can be signed or submitted for signature with NetExplorer. Microsoft's solution, on the other hand, has no electronic signature functionality, forcing users to resort to yet another tool.
Platform customization
The NetExplorer platform is 100% customizable to respect the brand image of its users. In terms of graphics, users can add their own logo and set a dominant color. As for the platform's access address, it's not generic. In fact, it is systematically customized by customers so that they can use their company name to obtain a platform that reflects their image, which is not the case with SharePoint. All this means that NetExplorer users can use a tool that matches their corporate image and business applications on a daily basis. With SharePoint, platform customization is also entirely possible, but requires an integration service that will generate additional costs.
HDS certification (healthcare data hosting)
Security and compliance are key concerns for NetExplorer. Dedicated to medical players handling sensitive patient data, HDS certification enables us to certify to healthcare establishments our compliance in hosting and managing sensitive data: medical records, treatment prescriptions, etc., to ensure the utmost confidentiality. With HDS certification and hosting in France, NetExplorer offers a solution that complies with French and European regulations, a major advantage for organizations handling sensitive data. Although SharePoint is not HDS-certified, the solution can still be adapted to certain measures via specific arrangements, without having to comply 100% with the strict HDS standards issued by an independent certification body. Although, as a reminder, an HDS-certified IT service provider is a legal requirement for healthcare establishments and medical players.
Technical support
One of NetExplorer's greatest added values is its local technical and commercial support, based in France and available to its users. Our support team can be reached by telephone or e-mail every working day from 9am to 6pm, to ensure rapid assistance. Customer satisfaction is one of our main concerns, and 95% of our customers are satisfied with our services. Companies often call on external service providers to manage their IT support and install the various tools within the company. These services represent a significant cost for companies, who have to pay for new services whenever they need them. Using a complete solution such as NetExplorer, with its wide range of functions, limits the number of tools used internally, and on top of this, support is included in the package. With SharePoint, technical support is included via a generic hotline.
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