Looking for the best cloud storage options for your small business? Here are our top recommendations with reliability, easy access, features, and robust security.
According to the recent analysis by Market Data Forecast, “The cloud storage industry is expected to grow from $32.72 billion in 2019 up to $106.75 billion by 2024. Along with an average annual growth of 23.76% over this period.”
This statement clearly describes the importance of cloud storage solutions in modern industries and even small businesses. Besides the flexibility and security that cloud storage offers, it’s also the most effective way of providing your customers peace of mind with data security. Here are the few things you’ll benefit from once you choose cloud storage over conventional options.
Why Cloud Storage is Beneficial?
Cloud services can help businesses operate in the most cost-effective yet practical way possible. Cloud storage improves the collaborative approach towards multiple employees accessing information. Teams can create, edit & share projects from wherever they are. Even for MNCs, offices across oceans can efficiently collaborate without complex network infrastructure.
Businesses have to worry less about security, backup, or system updates. The majority of cloud storage solutions are way more powerful nowadays.
Cloud storage provides greater flexibility and work-life balance. One can work from anywhere and anytime, and it doesn’t matter whether your team is under the same roof. According to Microsoft’s survey, 67% of small businesses and startups require their employees to work anywhere simply because they are bound to confined spaces. Thus, cloud storage becomes the go-to solution.
So, if you are looking for a cloud storage solution for your small business, we have compiled a list for you.
Here are the best cloud-based storage solutions for business
1. Google Drive Business
Pricing: 14 days free trial | 30 GB for $5/month | 2 TB for $12/month | 5 TB for $18/month
Anyone with a Google account has probably used Google Drive. Google Drive, introduced in 2012, has emerged as a popular cloud storage service thanks to its user-friendly interface and robust collaboration features. It’s part of the larger Google ecosystem, facilitating seamless interaction with Google Workspace applications like Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Whether it’s real-time editing, secure storage, or easy sharing, Google Drive covers it all. Moreover, third-party apps can also integrate with Google Drive, expanding its functionality. While it’s a powerful tool for collaboration, some users might find its syncing capabilities, security features, and backup alternatives lacking.
As a professional content writer, I use Google Drive to synchronize thousands of files and sensitive data across my smartphone and Windows PC. Drive also lets you look at file previews, even when you don’t have compatible apps installed. And who can forget seamless integrations between Gmail, Google Photos, Chrome, and Google Calendar? Overall, It is not only a cloud storage option for your business but a complete solution for startups.
Benefits and Key Features
- File sharing and collaboration tools.
- Real-time editing with internet connectivity.
- Secure storage with a simple interface.
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace including Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
- Very user-friendly dashboard to manage all your files.
- UI-powered smart search engine to find your lost files.
- Highly advanced file-sharing control and data privacy.
- Accessible from various devices once connected to a Google account.
2. Dropbox Business
Pricing: Essentials Plan: $9.99/month for 2TB | Professional Plan: $16.58 to $19.99/month for 3TB | Standard Business Plan: $15/user/month for 5TB
Dropbox has been a key player in cloud storage since 2008, continuously evolving to stay competitive. Known for its impressive performance across all features, it stands out for its integrated tools, making collaboration within teams a breeze. However, it falls short in terms of privacy and security as it lacks zero-knowledge encryption and admits to the possibility of accessing user data. Despite these drawbacks, if privacy isn’t a major concern, Dropbox remains a reliable choice for file syncing, sharing, and collaboration.
Features like recovery of deleted files (within 180 days), setting an expiry date for temporary sharing permission, and sending up to 100GB of data at once to your clients and team. For the bells & whistles, Dropbox offers unlimited storage per user for just $20, that’s very cheap compared to other platforms.
Dropbox also excels in providing chunky capacity for businesses & startups. Whether it’s file storage, sharing, synchronizing across multiple devices, or seamless team collaboration, Dropbox is dominant. It boasts centralized administration, activity monitoring, and advanced security settings with data redundancy and backups. Let’s be honest — there’s always an employee with poor data management. It happens to everyone, but not anymore with Dropbox. That’s why Dropbox is one of the top picks for cloud storage for your small business.
Benefits and Key Features
- Unlimited eSignatures and eSignature templates (plan dependent).
- File transfer up to 250GB (plan dependent).
- Sharing analytics and tracking.
- Comes integrated with Gmail for business, Docs, Sheets, and over 300k other apps.
- File requests, branded sharing, and branding of signature requests (plan dependent).
- PDF editing, screen recording with Capture, and frame-accurate video feedback & markups with Replay.
3. OneDrive Business
Pricing: Microsoft 365 subscriptions start at $5/month, offering 1TB of storage along with additional features
Microsoft OneDrive is a reliable cloud storage solution, particularly for those using Microsoft apps. It excels in document creation and collaboration. However, it lacks zero-knowledge encryption, posing a privacy concern. Despite this, its integration with Microsoft applications like Office, Skype, OneNote, and Outlook makes it a compelling choice for individuals and small businesses, especially those already within the Microsoft ecosystem
Microsoft OneDrive is the direct answer to Google Drive. While Drive is best for Android & Chrome OS, OneDrive has seamless integration with Microsoft Suite of applications (Office 365) and Windows OS. For Windows 8 and above, you can synchronize system settings, apps, files, and folders on OneDrive. Similar to Google Drive, OneDrive also helps collaboration across multiple devices.
Don’t worry about Mac, Android, and iOS users, because OneDrive is also available for these platforms. You can upload photos/videos from your smartphone and keep them synced with your PC. In addition, Microsoft OneDrive has this Windows-only feature called Fetch, which lets you import files from any synced PC connected to the internet. Sorry Mac users, this one’s not available for you!
Benefits and Features
- Seamless integration with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Office, and Outlook).
- A personal vault for added security.
- Offers eDiscovery, data loss prevention (DLP), threat protection, and encryption.
- Comprehensive collaboration tools, making real-time editing and sharing straightforward.
4. Box for Business
Pricing: Personal Pro plan at $15/month for 100GB | Business plans start at $15 to $35 per user per month with varying features and storage capacities.
Box is popular among small businesses, especially for its competitive pricing. Here is the best thing about Box! By paying only $15/month, you get unlimited cloud storage. Literally unlimited! However, the single file size should not exceed 5 GB. If you want more space, you can go for higher plans too. The service centralizes business data for your teams working on important files. Box also lets you share screenshots & screencasts directly from your PC and smartphone.
Additionally, Box also offers a range of features essential for businesses, including a plethora of third-party integrations like Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace. It stands out for its security measures, though it has been criticized for its privacy practices. Box may get expensive, particularly with more advanced plans and add-ons. It’s a solid choice for businesses looking for productivity and collaboration features, but it might fall short for those prioritizing budget or seeking private encryption.
And the most underrated feature is its search system. The service also integrates seamlessly with various third-party services to deliver more and more features. As you would expect, the service is distributed across multiple platforms.
Benefits and Features
- Offers flexible storage, including unlimited storage plans.
- Robust sharing features, making collaboration easy, better task management, and workflow automation.
- Strong security and compliance features with encryption and access controls.
- Integrates with numerous third-party apps and services.
5. SugarSync Business
Pricing: Individual 100 GB plan at $7.49/month| Individual 250 GB plan at $9.99/month | Individual 500 GB plan at $18.95/month | Business 1000 GB plan at $55/month
SugarSync Business boasts unique Outlook plugins that keep your crucial files completely uncluttered and free of unnecessary data for the snappiest loading times.
SugarSync Business is a cloud service known for the active synchronization of files across various devices enabling file backup, access, syncing, and sharing from a range of operating systems. Launched in 2008, the platform currently serves millions of users globally. SugarSync is particularly beneficial for businesses as it continuously monitors changes to files and synchronizes these changes with the SugarSync servers.
The service is akin to Dropbox and allows users to sync selected files and folders locally while maintaining copies in cloud storage. Accessible on iOS or Android devices, SugarSync allows file access, sharing, and editing from virtually anywhere. To utilize SugarSync, users need to have a Windows operating system to map a network drive. SugarSync Business works across multiple platforms and devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even Linux.
As a result, you can synchronize files and folders across multiple devices, even when dozens of employees collaborate. While SugarSync Business seems more expensive than the competition, the benefits you’ll get are exceptional. You will love this cloud storage if you need a simple dashboard to manage all your files at once.
Similar to Google Drive, SugarSync sends files and folder links with emails rather than attaching the chunky files. As a result, it not only saves you space on email attachments but also lowers your internet usage.
Benefits and Features
- Free 30-day trial.
- Single-point billing for simplified account management.
- Mobile access to files on all devices through the SugarSync mobile app.
- Collaboration and sharing features for remote teamwork.
- Set permissions to control file access and storage usage.
- Pooled storage for multiple users.
- Search, security, versioning, disk backup, and local backup functionalities.
6. pCloud Business
Pricing: Business plan starts at $7.99 / user per month (billed annually) or $9.99 (billed monthly) for 1TB of storage | Business Pro plan is priced at $15.98 per user per month (billed annually) or $19.98 per user per month (billed monthly) for unlimited storage.
pCloud Business is recognized as a secure and easy-to-use cloud storage solution for businesses. It provides an integrated file-sharing platform where users can upload files and documents. The platform is designed to be user-friendly across several systems, making it an attractive choice for business owners.
One of the remarkable features of pCloud Business is its ability to provide access to all digital content, including images, video, audio, documents, and more, anytime, anywhere, on any device. Its security approach is focused on ensuring data safety, giving users as much control as possible over their digital content.
Benefits and Features
- Easy-to-use tools for workflow control and optimization.
- Organization of employees in teams with set group permissions.
- Shared folders to control data access both in and outside the company.
- Client-side encryption through pCloud Crypto.
- Enterprise-level security with data transferred via TLS/SSL protocol.
- Direct upload of online files to the cloud, bypassing local hard drive storage
- Provides file sharing, real-time collaboration, and versioning.
- Emphasizes client-side encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Integrates with popular apps and offers an API for custom integrations.
- Get lifetime access to either 500 GB or 2 TB of storage.
7. Tresorit Business
Pricing: Business Standard plan starts at $18 per user per month for 1 TB of storage | Business Plus plan starts at $24 per user per month for 2 TB of storage
Tresorit is a notable cloud storage service recognized for its end-to-end encryption, which ensures a high level of security for stored data. Established in 2011, this Swiss company has been growing rapidly, with an €11.5M Series B financing round in 2018, and was featured on FT1000 by Financial Times 2020 as one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies in Europe.
Tresorit facilitates secure file synchronization and collaboration, allowing business users to share confidential data with ease. It’s suitable for both personal and business use, with specific features tailored to meet business requirements, like secure sharing, access control, and digital signature solutions
Benefits and Features
- Secure cloud storage with end-to-end encryption for storing, syncing, and sharing files securely.
- Email encryption for sharing confidential information and attachments securely with just one click.
- File sharing features to share sensitive files while maintaining control to prevent data breaches.
- Admin controls for a higher level of control, including 2-step verification, device management, IP filtering, and session control.
- Distributed control of files where administrators can set access levels on all folders, defining roles across teams
- Real-time collaboration, and granular permissions.
- Integrates with select productivity and collaboration tools.