Large File Transfer Blog

7 Social Media Lessons from Mr. Miyagi

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I was directed to this fantastic post by Frank Strong (of Vocus & PRWeb fame) on the TopRank Online Marketing Blog that ties the classic 80's movie into social media.

I confess, as both a martial artist and marketer, that I think the concept is awesome all-around. Besides having a neat concept, the article is well-written and provides useful advice, especially to those new to social media marketing. It doesn't have anything to do with large file transfers, but I think you'll find it interesting and useful.

Here's the link. Enjoy!

File Transfer Article - We're Famous!

Okay, so I may be exaggerating, but only a little!

This post is really to toot my own horn (so to speak) but what can I say: I'm excited, and the rest of the team here encouraged me to write a blog post about it, so here we are:

I am now listed as an "Expert Author" on EzineArticles.com, the Internet's leading article directory.

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And yes, before you ask, I was almost as excited as a kid at Christmas.

Anyways, the article is titled: "Send Large Files Safely Online" (feel free to click the link) and it gave me the opportunity to discuss some of the knowledge I've gained over the past few months about sending large files, receiving large files, and online storage - specifically focusing on the security issues involved in online file transfer.

It's not an in-depth discussion of different security protocols, or a careful examination of different methods of cryptography (although, come to think of it, those are some petty good ideas for later articles...hmmm...) so much as a brief overview of the security issues to consider when choosing a file transfer service.

Feedback is welcome (just leave a note in the comments) but please - be gentle. :)

Online Storage and Keeping Health Information Safe

Healthcare organizations (including hospitals, claims administrators, doctors' offices, etc.) exist in a high-pressure, highly-regulated environment, and several of those regulations are about keeping and transferring patient data.

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Regulations like HIPAA demand that healthcare organizations keep personally identifiable health information confidential, and that they track and report on how that information is accessed.

The challenge is that the systems used must not only be secure, but be simple enough that any staff who need to access the information can do so easily and effectively.

Email, though widely-adopted and easy to use, suffers from a lack of security and an ability to transfer only small files (10MB or less). FTP, though commonly used by IT professionals, is very complicated to use and very insecure.

Example

A local hospital has a wide variety of staff, clients and partners, not all of whom are on-site. Doctors and nurses need to access and update patient information on the fly, while hospital administrators have to manage the access given to the hospital’s billing service, who is then in contact with patients' insurance companies. They had previously used email and FTP – but their FTP system lacked encryption abilities, and email was becoming less scalable and using increasing amount of server resources. To top it all off, neither system lets them manage workflow or enforce appropriate access to patient records.

The solution is online file transfer and storage. These services (like FilesDIRECT) let healthcare organizations store data offsite, which gives redundancy of important information and reduces server load.

FilesDIRECT’s “One-Click Send” system is easy to use; with a simple, customizable public upload page. This allows hospital staff and partners to use the system without time-consuming (and expensive!) training.

Our online file transfers use the same level of encryption as banks and major online retailers (like Amazon). This means healthcare organizations can rest assured their patient information is secure.

Simplicity, security, and built-in tracking means FilesDRECT is the perfect solution for HIPAA compliant file transfer.

Try it FREE today!

Why Should Sending Files be Complicated?

Trying to email large files is a process filled with limitations and problems, and even though it’s a popular method to send files, you shouldn’t risk losing your work to it.  Low file size limits and a tendency for messages to disappear without any kind of notice are all reasons to switch to something new. Now, you can quickly and safely email large attachments to anyone, anywhere in the world with FilesDIRECT.

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Using one-click send and a secure SSL encryption, FilesDIRECT is the best and most convenient web based file transfer service available. 

Whether you are a large enterprise business needing to email thousands of confidential documents or a small graphic design firm trying to get dozens of large Photoshop files to the printers, FilesDIRECT is the perfect solution.  In addition, no FTP or tech knowledge is required, just click to upload your file and emails are instantly sent to both you and the recipient letting everyone know the files are ready to be downloaded.

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Have questions?  Want to try FilesDIRECT?  Sign-up for our FREE trial and start emailing large files right now.

FilesDIRECT faves: free iPhone apps

As a bit of a break from our usual posts, we've decided to poll the staff here at the FilesDIRECT office to get a list of everyone's favorite iPhone apps.

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In case you're wondering: yes, everyone here does have an iPhone. And yes, we love them.

One of our top picks is iBooks - Apple's free e-book app. The built-in search, easy organizing and bookmarking, and pdf-reading capability all make this a perennial favorite. Make sure you've got iOS 4 before you pick this one up so you can get all the latest features.

Bump made the grade as a networking app: all it takes is a quick fist bump and you can share photos, contacts, and calendar events, become friends on Facebook, and more.

Zoocasa got the thumbs up by our CEO himself as a real estate search app that is simple and easy to use. It shows you local homes that are up for sale and displays them as a Google map. You can filter the results by number of bedrooms or bathrooms, as well as price. It lets you view photos as well as agent contact info, and email the info with just one tap.

The next 3 apps made it onto this list because most of our staff travel internationally on a regular basis:

XE Currency is a powerful (and popular) currency converter powered by XE.com - access current conversion rates on over 180 currencies.

Next up is TripAdvisor. This handy little app lets you find flights, restaurants and things to do wherever you're travelling. It includes over 35 million reviews, and it works with your iPhone's GPS to get you directions and point out nearby options.

The last of the "travel app trio" is Flight Tracker, which lets you search for and track upcoming flights, and keep track of relevant details like gates, arrival times, baggage claim info, flight delays, etc. It's biggest draw is that it suggests alternative flights (and their connections) so that you're not entirely at the mercy of the never-that-reliable airline industry. While not really free, at $0.99, it's so close that it might as well be.

A fun free app (if you're a Star Wars nerd, anyways) is Lightsaber. On the off chance you haven't tried this yet, it does just what you think: creates a big glowing line across your screen and produces all the sound effects of the elegant weapon from a more civilized age.

Game-wise, it's hard to beat Monster Kill for sheer manic enjoyment. You have a wall. Monsters come down the screen and try to break through your wall. You kill the monsters. Repeat. A simple but effective formula.

So there you have it - some of our favorite apps. What are yours?

FilesDIRECT How-To: Sending Files with Direct Send

We've been promising everyone tutorials on how to use the service to transfer large files, and while we're setting up our video studio, we thought we would post these in the interim.

Okay, you've just signed up with FilesDIRECT, and you have some files you'd like to send - now what?

First, log in to FilesDIRECT by entering your username and password in the upper right-hand corner of the screen:

Once you have logged in, you will see two tabs on the upper left: "Dashboard" and "Manage Files". Make sure the "Dashboard" tab is selected:

Once you are in the Dashboard, you have 3 main options:

1. Send a File

2. Manage Files

3. Customize Page

Click on "Begin Upload" (underneath Send a File)

This takes you to the Upload page - once the page loads, click "+ Direct Send" at the bottom of the page:

This will bring up the additional fields to fill out to send the file(s).

First, verify your personal information at the top of the page: feel free to add or remove data as you like (the only information you need to have is your name and email address)

Halfway down the page is the "Add files" button. Click it.

Now you can select the files you want to send via the popup window:

Once you've selected the files you want to send, just scroll down, enter in the recipients' email address, and the subject and text of the message you'd like to send them along with the file. Then decide if you want to password-protect the download and/or have the file automatically erased after being downloaded:

If you want to encrypt the files, select "Click Here for Secure Uploads" at the top of the screen.

Then just click "Continue" and sit back and relax as your files are uploaded and sent!

Simple, easy, safe: that's FilesDIRECT.

Secure File Sharing Methods

For thirty years, FTP has been the default method of moving files around networks, including the internet.  It's no surprise that FilesDIRECT replaces FTP, but on what basis?

The real question is: on what basis does it not?

Security - For the past thirty years, plain FTP has ignored security concerns, passing its passwords across the net in plain text.  In today's world that's completely unacceptable, especially with the huge rise in easily eaves-droppable mobile devices.  Also, FTP plays havoc with firewalls, opening a new connection for every file, which makes your network less secure (especially when the firewall is configured out of desperation to allow FTP, but disallow better security.)  FilesDIRECT is SSL-encrypted every time, and nothing passes in plain text.

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Usability - Timestamps on files aren't kept with FTP, leaving users lost as to what version of what file they're looking at after a transfer. Directory listings aren't standardized, meaning users can be stuck working with clumsy, incorrect information about what files are where.  FilesDIRECT uses easy to read links and lists to display directories and timestamps are what they're supposed to be.

Simplicity - FTP clients are confusing, especially for new users. What thirty year old software technology wouldn't be? By comparison, if you can use email and a web browser, you can use FilesDIRECT.

Sadly, FTP won't be going away any time soon. The good news is you don't have to keep using it: now you can choose FilesDIRECT!

Reliable file transfer is a reality

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When you're trying to send your files, you assume that once you've sent them off, they arrive at their destination, right?

Not necessarily.

If you've tried using email to send large files, or to arrange file sharing via FTP, you know that (as the song goes) "you can't always get what you want". Maybe the file's too big. Maybe it got saved to the wrong directory. Maybe your account's been hacked.

Your data is too important to be trusted to "maybe".

FilesDIRECT offers solid architecture that ensures top-notch security and availability. Our secure North American servers make sure that you can both send and receive your files easily, from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Unlike older, outdated models of transferring information, your files are sent instantly, stored securely, and constantly traced, so you always know who has access to your data. As the premium online file transfer service, FilesDIRECT offers you:

Instant email notification lets you know when your file has uploaded

Our system accepts any type of file up to 2GB in size

Includes free online storage for your files

Can be used with any browser or operating system

Industry-leading support for our clients, including live phone support (even for our trial users!)

All account holders can track their files & transfers in real time (by file, IP, email address & time)

All this and more through a simple "one-click" interface. Why leave your file transfers to chance?

Low-Cost Online Storage

There are a number of online storage and file transfer services out there, but are they all created equal?

Of course not.

Unlike other online file transfer services, FilesDIRECT won’t charge you extra to send larger files, or for a minimal (ie: barely noticeable) amount of storage, or demand you have a minimum number of users on your account (each of them having to separately pay the full price, of course).

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Our free trial account starts with 2GB of storage, and it only grows from there - the starter plan gives you 10GB of storage and lets you transfer up to 300MB a month.

There’s no “pay to play” with FilesDIRECT: all our plans (including the 30 day free trial) come with our full suite of services, including:

• Detailed tracking
• 128-bit SSL encryption
• Customizable email notifications
• Personalized “drop box”
• Full (phone and online) support
• and much, much more

You get all this starting at just $18 a month. If you want to send large files, FilesDIRECT gives you the most bang for your buck – guaranteed.

Try it FREE today!

Receiving large files online

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There are many problems with receiving large files – almost as many as there are trying to send them. FilesDIRECT takes care of everything for you: no more complicated FTP, email size limits or expensive couriers.

Our web-based service means even someone without a FilesDIRECT account can send you files up to 2GB in size with literally a single mouse click – and you can download it just as easily.

Here’s how it works:

When you sign up with FIlesDIRECT, we’ll create (and host) a webpage where others can upload files for you.

This page is easily (and completely) customizable to meet your company’s branding needs.

Once files have been uploaded, we’ll send two emails: a confirmation to the sender and a notification to the user. Once you receive the email, just log in to your FilesDIRECT account and start downloading!

The files are stored on our servers for as long as you like, ready for you to download at your convenience.

All our file transfers come with full 128-bit SSL encryption – the same level of protection used by banks and big online retailers like Amazon.com.

No more burning cd’s, hiring couriers or putting up with FTP. Easy file transfer is finally just a click away!