ownCloud Expands Easy To Configure Private Cloud Options, Includes Mac Support

By

ownCloud adds business features in its latest release
ownCloud adds business features in its latest release

We last looked at ownCloud nearly three months ago. The company offers a unique private cloud solution that can scale from the needs of a small businesses with a handful of users all the way to the requirements of larger enterprise. What makes ownCloud unique is that it’s designed to easily integrate with existing infrastructure and IT processes.

Because ownCloud is based on open web standards, it can be easily implemented on virtually any web server. That means it can function as an on-premise solution that is configured and managed completely by company’s IT team, a hosted implementation where it can be installed onto server space provided by a commercial web hosting company, or it can offered in a more turn-key fashion through one of the ownCloud’s partners.

ownCloud is in a unique position. Many of the features that it offers are available from other cloud providers. Box, in particular, has made strides at delivering cloud services with enterprise options like user account management and advanced security and permissions. The ownCloud advantage is that it can provide similar enterprise cloud functionality and it can do it using an on-premise solution.

ownCloud hasn’t been slacking over the past few months. In fact, the company has been working to build up its enterprise capabilities. The result is the company’s latest commercial release that it announced today and they are definitely major additions.The new release offers the following expansions to ownCloud’s feature set.

  • Enhanced LDAP integration – Advanced directory integration lets customers manage user-related functions like group member and storage quotas from their native directory systems including Active Directory.
  • System logging options – Support for syslog means that log management can be streamlined and integrated any existing processes.
  • Client themed interface – Interface theming let’s companies provide their own internal branding.
  • File versioning and rollback – File versioning has become a core cloud service feature because it allows users to view and restore previous versions of a document in much the same way as Lion’s Versions feature.
  • ownCloud application (plug-in) store – ownCloud offers a new API that lets customers or developers create extensions to its base feature set. In addition to letting customers extend ownCloud, the company also offers access to the existing plug-ins available through its open source community edition.

The company now also offers a Mac client that extends some previously existing features to Mac users and allows more seamless desktop integration between the Mac and ownCloud implementation. Similarly, ownCloud also released an updated Android app. It’s iOS app is currently listed as being “available soon.”

ownCloud may not be the right solution for every organization, but it does offer a unique mix of features and opportunities that make it worth considering.

Source: ownCloud

Image: ownCloud

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.