Secure file transfer via Collaborate provides an alternative to sharing files via email or less secure, and often unapproved, file-sharing services. Collaborate secure file transfer differs from the typical way that files are shared in Collaborate in a few key respects:
- Files can be shared with anyone, not just other Collaborate users.
However, if external users are granted the right to share files, they can only share files with other Collaborate users.
- Files can be shared ad hoc, at any time, not only as part of an existing site.
- Files are shared by individual users to other individuals.
Secure file transfer is part of a user's My files page, incorporated into that user's My Site. (A user can share files from My files only if the My files feature has been enabled generally in Collaborate and only if file-sharing has been enabled for that user in particular.)
As described in the other pages of this section, there are two principal ways in which files can be transferred via secure file transfer:
- Quick Share - Access the "Send a file..." item in the profile menu available from the top navigation bar or on the Dashboard, a user can quickly transfer a single file with anyone.
- From My files - Access the user's My files module, part of the user's My site, the user can first upload a file or a folder containing other content. Then the user can choose to transfer the file or folder with anyone.
There are a few key differences between Quick Share and My files:
- With Quick Share, only a single file can be shared. With My files sharing, a file or folder can be shared.
- With Quick Share, the sharing period can last no longer than 30 days, whereas with My files sharing, no expiration is required.
- With Quick Share, when the sharing period expires, the files will be automatically deleted. Sharing via My files has no impact on the underlying files that have been shared.
Both transfer methods involve a process and user interface that are almost identical. For example, the person with whom a file is transferred under either method receives the same email and accesses the shared items in the same way.
Also, Collaborate keeps a full audit trail of all shared files and the actions taken with regard to those shared files and by whom.
