Wuala the more secure alternative to Dropbox

[01 May 2012]

On 21 March we reported that we were investigating a range of cloud based services available and in use by staff. As a result of this work we are pleased to recommend Wuala as a more secure alternative to Dropbox for individual use.

Like Dropbox, Wuala synchronises files between your computers and mobile devices, to provide easy access on the move. A key advantage is that it encrypts files before they leave your computer, such that there is no way for Wuala staff to access them. This is especially important for staff who have access to confidential information.

Wuala provides 5GB of space free of charge for any individual who signs up for the service. While Wuala provides additional security you still have a responsibility to 'think twice' about the data that you are storing with a external provider. A wiki has also been created to document aspects of the service: https://wikis.bris.ac.uk/display/CloudS/wuala

We will continue to investigate individual cloud services which complement our core University-wide services, and give advice where we can. We'd welcome suggestions for other areas you'd like us to look at, and recommendations of services you find helpful. Staff and student requirements are constantly changing, and so the mix of services will too. For more information see Building blocks in the cloud on the IT Services blog.