Gladinet Cloud V4.0 Released

Gladinet, Inc. announced a platform to provide cloud storage solutions for collaboration, file storage, backup and team workspaces.

Gladinet Cloud version 4.0 also integrates with existing local storage to create a hybrid cloud platform with centrally managed, unified access.

As part of their continuing effort to "ease SMB migration to the cloud," Jerry Huang, Gladinet’s president, said: "We are excited by the opportunity to offer customers solutions that allow them to adopt cloud storage quickly and without disruption, while maintaining control of their data using preferred storage services like Google Cloud storage, Google Docs Amazon S3, OpenStack and more."

Version 4.0 is available in four editions: Starter, Professional, Premium and Team, ordered by increasing capability.

The Starter edition provides basic cloud connectivity through a mapped drive on a single user’s desktop and the Professional edition adds capabilities like backup, 2-way synchronization and support for Google Docs 2-step authentication. These editions are geared towards customers that just want to access cloud storage from their desktops and laptops. The Premium edition adds capabilities like snapshot backups, file and folder sharing, web portal access and mobile access. Finally, the Team edition offers access to more advanced clients for servers with Active Directory integration.

The open, flexible platform gives Gladinet customers several options for cloud storage adoption. For example, they can make shared folders on a file server accessible to remote users without disrupting on-premise access. They can use existing Active Directory identities to globally manage access. They can share files and folders with external users. Version 4.0 also facilitates file server replacement or the creation of synchronized, shared workspaces in the cloud, and can be used to synchronize a folder across multiple machines.

In addition to the new features and open platform, Gladinet has also broadened the potential scope of its partnerships. Engagement models now run the gamut from simply recommending or reselling Gladinet products to becoming a preferred partner with the right to distribute a branded version hosted by Gladinet or the partner.

Huang also noted: "We are seeing a sharp increase in partner branding activity as they seek to make it easier for customers to access their cloud storage."

His claims were confirmed by a partner who stated: "Gladinet Cloud’s unified access model is an interesting differentiator, which makes it easy to migrate to the cloud and control user access without changing their access models away from familiar paradigms like local drives, network shares, desktops and mobile devices."