Set up your own Cloud The search for a secure and acceptable means of gaining access to your files stored at the office from a remote location

Disclaimer Doing any of these opens your files to increased threat from the internet If you choose to do any of these options, you must ensure your setup has very strong passwords, up to date firmware and software, secure encryption algorithms, and is configured properly and safely If you choose to set this up, you should have a competent IT person configure this that is familiar with the protocols and concepts of keeping your information secure

Goals Discuss the problem and talk through some solutions Show you how these will be configured and how it works once complete Explain why owncloud is a secure alternative to dropbox and other cloud providers Show you the software and products necessary to make it happen

Achievement Points After attending this Tech Talk, you should be able to… Know what you need to complete this kind of setup Have an understanding of VPN connectivity and tell an IT person what you are wanting And imagine how this kind of ability could increase your own and your office’s productivity

Terminology VPN (Virtual Private Network) – a connection from one location to another location, secured by an encrypted tunnel that network traffic is passed through Cloud – accessible from the internet because it’s on the internet

Option one - VPN Setup a VPN and have your files shared Connect back to your office via tunnel Have access to your files and even remotely control your system if configured Safest and time proven method

How it works VPN VPN

Necessary Components A firewall capable of VPN connectivity Either a VPN client or to setup the built in VPN capabilities of your portable device A storage system to hold your files Static IP address greatly simplifies the process

Option two – ownCloud Works like Dropbox Syncs files between computers Has a web interface you can log into and see/edit documents like google docs Has a calendar and contacts Not as time proven as VPN Apple mobile app is 99 cents Can be used without exposing it to the internet

How it works Your office

Necessary components A server to host owncloud Virtual appliance does exist so it can be a vmware host or some other hypervisor Mobile devices need an app You should have either a static IP address or dynamic DNS to tell the DNS what your office’s IP address is if it changes A good firewall with DMZ

Option three - both You can setup a VPN and owncloud The files will only sync when you have the VPN tunnel established Adds a much heavier level of security and decreases network facing exposure Does increase complexity, but not terribly Removes the option for sharing files outside of the group of users that have the VPN software installed

Weigh the risk Do a cost/benefit analysis with the cost being what it would cost you if the data was exposed to an outside entity Will having these files accessible make me more productive and outweigh the risk What am I willing to spend to mitigate the risks to gain the benefit

Option four - wait We have been researching other third party options and all of them have come up short. We are still optimistic and haven’t given up hope of finding one that meets all the requirements Once we do find one, we will let everyone know how to get connected with them and how much it will cost

Conclusions File sharing has risks and benefits Not any one solution is perfect One of these options could benefit your current workflow and make you more productive

Questions?