Many lawyers love the convenience of Dropbox but worry about its security. If you are looking for an alternative file-syncing application, consider Trend Micro’s SafeSync for Business. A new version released just today offers new features and functionality that make it easier to use and compatible across all devices.

Like Dropbox, SafeSync keeps your documents synchronized across all your devices and in the cloud. That means you can update a document on your PC and access the revisions on your iPad or through any Web browser. Not only does that give you a high degree of mobility, but it also provides the peace of mind of knowing your documents are always backed up.

The new version offers the same drag-and-drop simplicity of Dropbox. Simply drag a file into the SafeSync folder and it will sync with the cloud immediately. Alternatively, make any folder on your computer one that automatically synchronizes simply by right-clicking it and selecting the option, “Make this a SafeSync Folder.” In this way, you can keep entire folders in sync and backed up. There is no limit on file upload sizes.

Three other service-level features of SafeSync for Business also make it attractive for law firms:

  • A 99.9% uptime guarantee, backed by a money-back service level agreement.
  • A high level of security, with 256-bit encryption used during data transfer and encrypted storage using Trend Micro’s proprietary SecureCloud technology.
  • Trend Micro operates its own data centers in the U.S. and Europe. Dropbox uses Amazon’s S3 servers.

SafeSync works with both Windows and Mac computers and with iPhones, iPads and Android mobile devices.

The cost of SafeSync for Business starts at $90 per user per year for 50 GB of storage. Volume licensing is available. There is also a personal version available, with prices starting at $40 a year for 20 GB. The personal version lacks the service level agreement.

Those prices compare favorably with Dropbox, which is $99 a year for 50 GB. Of course, Dropbox offers a free version with 2GB of storage, expandable to 8 GB by referring others to sign up. SafeSync has no free version but does offer a 30-day free trial.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.