Amazon WorkDocs vs OneDrive

August 26, 2023 | Author: Michael Stromann
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Amazon WorkDocs
Amazon WorkDocs is a fully managed, secure enterprise storage and sharing service with strong administrative controls and feedback capabilities that improve user productivity. Users can comment on files, send them to others for feedback, and upload new versions without having to resort to emailing multiple versions of their files as attachments. Users can take advantage of these capabilities wherever they are, using the device of their choice, including PCs, Macs, and tablets.
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OneDrive
Tools for online file/docs storage and collaboration. Contains Web versions of Microsoft office editors (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote). Excel web version allows simultaneous document editing in real time.
Amazon WorkDocs and OneDrive are both cloud-based file storage and collaboration solutions, but they are offered by different providers and have some key differences:

Provider: Amazon WorkDocs is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is a cloud computing platform, while OneDrive is a service provided by Microsoft, a technology company.

Integration with Ecosystem: OneDrive is tightly integrated with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, providing seamless collaboration and file syncing within the Microsoft ecosystem. Amazon WorkDocs, on the other hand, is not limited to any specific office productivity suite and can be used with a variety of document editing tools.

Storage and Sharing: OneDrive offers personal and business plans with different storage limits, ranging from a few GBs to unlimited storage, depending on the plan. OneDrive also provides the ability to share files and folders with others, both within and outside of your organization. Amazon WorkDocs offers unlimited storage for enterprise plans, and also allows for file sharing and collaboration within your organization.

Security and Compliance: Both Amazon WorkDocs and OneDrive provide features such as encryption, access controls, and user permissions to ensure the security of files and data. However, they may have different compliance certifications and security features, so organizations should carefully review their specific security and compliance requirements when considering these services.

Integration with Other Services: OneDrive integrates tightly with other Microsoft services such as SharePoint, Teams, and Azure Active Directory, providing a comprehensive collaboration and productivity ecosystem. Amazon WorkDocs integrates with other AWS services, such as AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for access control, AWS Key Management Service (KMS) for encryption, and Amazon S3 for storage, allowing for seamless integration within the AWS cloud environment.

Pricing: Both Amazon WorkDocs and OneDrive offer different pricing plans depending on the storage needs and number of users. Pricing models, storage limits, and additional features may vary between the two services, so organizations should carefully review and compare the pricing plans to choose the one that best fits their requirements and budget.

Platform Availability: OneDrive is primarily designed to work with Windows operating system, but it also has apps for macOS, iOS, and Android. Amazon WorkDocs has apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire OS, making it more platform-agnostic.

In summary, the main differences between Amazon WorkDocs and OneDrive include the provider, integration with ecosystem, storage and sharing options, security and compliance features, integration with other services, pricing, and platform availability. Organizations should carefully evaluate these differences and consider their specific requirements when choosing between Amazon WorkDocs and OneDrive for their file storage and collaboration needs.

See also: Top 10 Cloud Storages
Amazon WorkDocs vs OneDrive in our news:

2018. Microsoft added AI transcription to OneDrive and SharePoint



Microsoft is introducing video and audio transcription capabilities to OneDrive for Business and SharePoint, enhancing the accessibility of various digital content for users. This new feature utilizes AI technology from Microsoft Stream (previously known as Office 365 Video) to automatically generate a complete transcript of dialogues when viewing videos or listening to audio files. The resulting text data will be stored in the Microsoft Cloud, offering cost-effectiveness and enhanced security compared to relying on external transcription tools. Office 365 subscribers can expect to access this new service later in the year.


2015. Amazon released mobile app for Cloud Drive



Amazon has launched a specialized mobile application that grants users access to their stored documents within the Cloud Drive service. This release is a response to the growing competition within the cloud storage market, where companies like Google and Dropbox dominate. The newly introduced app is compatible with iOS, Android, and Kindle devices, enabling users to conveniently view all their documents stored in their Amazon Cloud account. The accessibility extends to any location where users are logged in. Additionally, the app serves as a complementary tool to the existing desktop cloud client. With this mobile app, users can now browse their files, much like using a desktop's file browser, similar to the functionality offered by the Dropbox app.


2015. Amazon Cloud Drive adds unlimited storage plan



Amazon Cloud Drive is expanding its services to include a paid offering that encompasses a wide range of content and is available to users outside of its loyalty program. With Unlimited Cloud Storage, users can opt for either unlimited photo storage or an "unlimited everything" plan, which covers various media types such as videos, music, and PDF documents. The pricing for these plans is set at $11.99 per year for unlimited photo storage and $59.99 per year for the comprehensive "unlimited everything" option. This strategic move by Amazon is a direct response to the competition posed by established players like Dropbox, Google, Microsoft, and other prominent providers in the increasingly crowded market for cloud-based storage services. While Amazon is not the first to offer "unlimited" storage, it appears to be the first to market this service to anyone who desires it.


2015. Microsoft gives Apple Users OneDrive For Business Access



Microsoft has unveiled the initial public release of OneDrive for Business for Mac, enabling Mac users to perform the same tasks while accessing and utilizing their OneDrive files through the Mac Finder. Additionally, they can effortlessly handle and synchronize files, similar to the functionality provided by the existing Windows application. Notably, the OneDrive for Business client for Mac empowers users to access and use their files offline, eliminating the need for an internet connection. Moreover, the iOS mobile app grants users the convenience of accessing both their OneDrive for Business and OneDrive consumer accounts within a single app.


2014. Amazon adds new syncing feature to enterprise cloud storage Zocalo



Amazon's Zocalo work-collaboration tool, which rivals services such as Dropbox and Box, has introduced a new functionality that enables the synchronization of files to your computer or mobile device via a shared folder. Users can establish project-specific folders and selectively share them with members of their project team whenever necessary. Once a shared folder is set up, team members gain access to the documents within, and any modifications made and saved to the files are recorded by Zocalo. The syncing feature is optional and can be activated in the preferences section of the Zocalo client, should users desire to utilize it.


2014. Amazon Cloud Drive gets API



Amazon has announced the launch of the Cloud Drive API, enabling third-party developers to seamlessly integrate Cloud Drive into their own applications. This integration allows developers to focus on enhancing their app's core functionalities rather than dealing with the complexities associated with storage, such as screen resolutions, metadata management, indexing, search, or sync functionality. While developers have been utilizing Amazon Web Services for some time, the Cloud Drive API specifically caters to incorporating consumer-oriented features into applications. For example, a photo-editing app could offer users the ability to browse and edit photos stored on Amazon Cloud Drive. Several mobile applications, including OfficeSuite, Perfectly Clear, FreePrints, Photo Gifts by MailPix, ScanCafe, FileThis, CloudHQ, File Commander, Jumptuit, Secrata, and Wappwolf, have already integrated Cloud Drive's API upon its launch.


2014. Office 365 gets unlimited OneDrive storage.



Starting today, customers of Office 365 Home, Personal, and University subscriptions will enjoy an increased storage capacity. Business customers will also receive unlimited storage in the near future, but for now, they have access to 1 TB of storage per user. With OneDrive, you can conveniently access your content across all your devices, collaborate on documents, and easily share files. While Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, and other cloud storage services have limitations on their storage capacities, OneDrive offers a significant advantage. If you reach the storage limit on those platforms, you have to purchase additional storage. Bitcasa, which was one of the few providers offering unlimited storage, recently discontinued that feature, giving Microsoft a substantial edge in terms of storage capabilities.


2014. OneDrive unifies access to business and personal files



Microsoft's OneDrive is introducing enhanced functionality for mobile users, allowing them to conveniently access both business and personal files from their personal and work accounts. The application will intelligently differentiate between the two accounts, preventing any potential confusion, while still enabling users to view and back up files to both accounts. Additionally, Microsoft is implementing an additional layer of security by incorporating the option to set a four-digit PIN. This PIN can be utilized to restrict access to individual files or the entire app, bolstering overall data protection. These new features will be available in the Android app starting next week, with updates for the iOS and Windows Phone apps expected to roll out in the coming months.


2014. Amazon launched enterprise file-sharing service Zocalo



Amazon has set its sights on Microsoft, Google, and Box with the introduction of their new enterprise file-sharing service called Amazon Zocalo. Built on the foundation of Amazon Web Services, Zocalo offers a fully managed and secure document storage and sharing service tailored specifically for the requirements of businesses. Zocalo features centralized user management and has the capability to integrate with existing Active Directory systems. This is a significant development as traditional cloud-based document solutions like Dropbox often lack the granularity needed to align with stringent IT policies. Amazon emphasizes that all documents transmitted through Zocalo are encrypted for enhanced security. The service provides client syncing applications for both Windows and Mac, allowing for seamless folder synchronization. Additionally, Zocalo offers dedicated apps for iPad, Kindle Fire, and Android tablets. The pricing for Zocalo is set at $5 per user per month, providing 200GB of storage space.


2014. Microsoft OneDrive gives 15 Gb for free



Microsoft has increased the amount of free cloud storage available in OneDrive to 15GB, a significant upgrade from the previous 7GB. For users requiring additional storage capacity, there is now an option to pay $1.99 per month for 100 gigabytes. Furthermore, Microsoft has announced that all Office 365 customers will receive 1TB of free storage. For instance, Office 365 Personal, priced at $6.99 per month, now includes nearly unlimited storage. When comparing these offerings to competitors, Google Drive provides 25GB for free and offers similar pricing structures, charging $1.99 per month for 100GB and $9.99 for 1TB. Apple grants 5GB for free and charges $0.99 per month for 20GB. Although there is no 100GB option, the rate for 200GB matches OneDrive's pricing at $3.99. Amazon Cloud Drive offers 5GB for free and provides 100GB for $4.1 per month. Therefore, while the price reduction by OneDrive may not significantly impact industry giants, it adds further pressure to third-party services such as Dropbox and Box.

Author: Michael Stromann
Michael is an expert in IT Service Management, IT Security and software development. With his extensive experience as a software developer and active involvement in multiple ERP implementation projects, Michael brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his writings. Having previously worked at SAP, he has honed his expertise and gained a deep understanding of software development and implementation processes. Currently, as a freelance developer, Michael continues to contribute to the IT community by sharing his insights through guest articles published on several IT portals. You can contact Michael by email stromann@liventerprise.com