Dropbox Advantages And Disadvantages

Ah Dropbox. It’s one of those cloud storage solutions that have become a mainstay in our lives. Whether you’re a freelancer a small business or just someone who needs to store files online Dropbox has become a go-to solution. But is it really all it’s cracked up to be? Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of Dropbox and see if it’s right for you.

Advantages

Dropbox is a great way to store and share files. It’s easy to use and accessible from almost any device. You can store files up to 20GB in size and share them with anyone. You can also access your files from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. Dropbox also offers a range of features such as file versioning password protection and advanced sharing options.

Disadvantages

One of the main drawbacks of Dropbox is that it can be quite expensive. The free version only offers 2GB of storage and the paid plans start at $9.99 per month. Additionally the file size limit of 20GB can be restrictive for some users. Finally Dropbox is not as secure as some other cloud storage solutions so it’s not the best choice for storing sensitive data.

Comparison

Here is a comparison of Dropbox’s features and pricing:

Disadvantages

For all its glory Dropbox does have its drawbacks. The primary one is the overall lack of privacy and security. Even with everything being stored in the cloud user data can still fall into the wrong hands as was the case with a major security issue reported in 2011. Furthermore there’s the issue of synchronization which can be a major pain. Indeed even when an internet connection is available syncing files can take an inordinate amount of time; and with no connection well forget about it. That said if you store your data in Dropbox you are trusting the company to keep it safe and depending on the sensitivity of the data it may be advisable to look for an alternative.

Security and Privacy Issues

At first glance it looks like Dropbox has got your back when it comes to security. But is that really the case? With their fancy encryption methods two-factor authentication protocols and ‘zero-knowledge’ policy it sounds like Dropbox is a stronghold of security – however not everything is as it seems.

When it comes to security Dropbox isn’t as bulletproof as it would like you to think. While there is a strong focus on encryption this doesn’t always mean as much as one might think. Sure the data is encrypted when it’s stored but the data is still unencrypted during the upload and download process which can leave it open to be intercepted by hackers.

Moreover Dropbox has been found to have several data breaches in the past which puts user privacy at risk. In fact private photos and videos have been leaked and there are plenty of fraud reports concerning its accounts being hacked. And while they have since improved their encryption and security protocols the fact remains that its security is far from perfect.

Dropbox is also known to be quite lenient with who it shares information with. This means that the data might be shared with various third-party vendors marketing companies and other businesses – something that some people are not so keen on.

As a result security and privacy issues are the primary drawbacks of using Dropbox. It’s still fairly secure but there’s no denying the fact that the risks of data breach and unauthorized access are definitely present. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide if you’re comfortable with Dropbox’s security protocols and whether you’d be comfortable with the potential risks associated with it.

Recommendations

For anyone looking to use cloud storage to help simplify their lives Dropbox is an undeniably great choice – with only a few potential drawbacks. To get the most out of the service however it pays to be aware of the both the pros and cons of using Dropbox. Therefore I recommend keeping in mind these key points:

Firstly make sure you’re aware of the tax implications of using cloud storage services like Dropbox especially if you’re living in multiple countries during the same tax year. Also consider the cost-benefit analysis of your storage needs – if you’re unlikely to require an extensive amount of storage space then it’s better to go with another provider.

Next factor in the extras that come hand-in-hand with Dropbox. The collaboration tools the mobile apps and the robust search feature are all great but they do add a certain premium onto the cost. Unless you’re especially needing those features it’s best to weigh-up the implications against your budget.

Finally consider the security implications of using Dropbox. Make sure you’re well-practiced in the basics of securely managing data in the cloud such as multi-factor authentication and data encryption.

Whether you’re an experienced technophile or a Dropbox beginner the important thing to remember is that the advantages of using Dropbox are abundant. Just be sure to know the ins-and-outs so that you can keep your data safe secure and productive.

Resources

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5515255/