The need for faster file sharing is bringing new challenges for today’s media companies. In media, file sharing (distributing digital data) mostly means files for television shows, films, music, books, and games.
The most well-known file share technologies are peer to peer (P2P) networks, BitTorrent and file hosting. In peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, users search for other computers connected to the network in order to find specific content and transfer that file from the original computer to their own across the internet. This type of file sharing was popularized by companies such as Napster, which ceased operations because of legal problems over copyright infringement.
BitTorrent is a specific protocol that supports peer-to-peer file sharing and focuses on transferring large files. Instead of downloading from a single source server, BitTorrent protocol joins a collection of hosts that download and upload simultaneously. With BitTorrent, a file is divided into small pieces and then reorganized after download. Pieces can be downloaded out of order depending on what is available, which makes downloading a whole file faster and allows users to easily start and stop the download. At its peak, BitTorrent was responsible for over a third of all internet traffic.
In file hosting or cloud storage, users upload and download content that is hosted by a remote service. One-click file hosting allows a user to upload a file then gives the user a URL so that user (or whoever they give the URL to) can download the content later.
Public file sharing hurts media sales, and some experts even suggest that file-sharing has forced media owners to make content more easily available on demand through the internet. Technology has brought sweeping changes to the media and entertainment industries. Media companies need to move data faster in order to keep up with the demands of their customers and keep it secure to protect and control their content. Security and encryption for file transfer is an absolute necessity for sensitive and proprietary content.
SkyDrop is a highly secure SaaS solution from Signiant that accelerates the movement of large files and data sets into and out of cloud storage. Find out what SkyDrop can do for you. Sign up for a free trial today!
Media Shuttle is Signiant’s hybrid SaaS solution that allows media professionals to quickly transfer any size file anywhere in the world. With Media Shuttle, you can consolidate and track all your file movement while enjoying speed, security and control in one elegant, easy to use, cloud-based solution.
Media companies must remain focused on delivering content safely and on time. Read through the articles below to learn more about Signiant’s file sharing technology and how we help media enterprises share their files safely and securely.