Google Cloud Storage Mobile Access with iOS

From a Simple Tool to a Business Solution

Simple secure remote file access and file sharing solution based on Google Cloud Storage. iOS app and mobile access included!

google cloud storage solution

Unleash the Power of Google Cloud Storage


You have moved data into Google Cloud Storage and are looking for a simple way to access those data from your mobile devices such as from an iPhone or an iPad. Google Cloud web admin UI has a web based file manager. However, it doesn't provide a mobile application on iOS other than the normal administration stuff. There are many other Google Cloud Storage iOS applications out there too. So what is different with CentreStack? With CentreStack, you can access Google Cloud Storage files and folders from iOS devices, and share files and folders as web links. You can integrate your on-premise file servers to Google Cloud Storage and create a hybrid cloud file server to facilitate mobile access to your on-premise file servers.

Challenges of Google Cloud Storage


Google Cloud Storage, for the most part, is designed for independent software vendors (ISVs) to build business solutions, and not for direct use. It is kind of like a hard drive, which is not designed to be used directly but as a building block behind a tool like Windows Explorer or a file sharing platform such as a Windows file server.

CentreStack Solution


CentreStack uses the Google Cloud Storage API (S3 Compatible API) to add secure remote access, file sharing, disaster prevention and recovery to your file server on-premises with automatic migration to Google Cloud. It's not a tool to manipulate object meta data, but provides a secure file sharing solution and file server replacement based on Google Cloud Storage.

Secure Access & File Sharing

CentreStack bridges file servers and Google Cloud for secure remote access and file sharing.

Disaster Recovery

Leverage Google Cloud Storage as a central cloud file repository with version control, file change history and audit tracing to provide business continuity for file servers on-premises.

Easy Cloud Migration

Hybrid deployment between local file servers and Google Cloud can be seamlessly converted to Google Cloud only as a pure cloud file server.

CentreStack Feature Highlights


Cloud Mapped Drive

Remotely access file shares from a drive letter, without the need for a VPN. iOS app included!

On-Demand Sync

Minimize storage and bandwidth consumption by automatically syncing and caching only the files you need.

Version Control

CentreStack adds version control and file protection to the local file server.

Hybrid File Server

Local file server and Google Cloud Storage synchronize with each other for business continuity and easy cloud migration.

Active Directory

Preserve NTFS permissions and Active Directory identities when connecting file servers to Google.

Folder Permission

Granular folder permissions that can mirror NTFS permissions or start from scratch.

Deployment Option #1

Hybrid Local File Servers with Google Cloud Storage


Install CentreStack's Cloud File Server Agent on the file server that will automatically migrate to Google Cloud Storage. Supports Windows 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.

If the file server is in the same network as the CentreStack server, a direct connection is also possible (see Option #2). The file server is optional if you have other ways to migrate data to Google cloud storage and just want a mapped drive to access the files and folders.

Deployment Option #2

File Servers with Direct Cloud Access


If you've already migrated local file server data into the Google Cloud data center with virtual machines in the Google Cloud, CentreStack provides a direct file access solution for remote devices and mobile devices.

Problems Solved


CentreStack file server integration and cloud enablement solves these problems by installing agent software on your file server or directly mounting your file server network share into CentreStack when direct access is available. It intelligently manages local and cloud storage together to provide a range of cloud enablement options.

Most importantly, the active directory and NTFS security models are maintained as if it nothing changed. Drive mapping functionality is also maintained so end users get a familiar drive letter to access files from remote locations. File locking is also maintained for multiple users collaborating on the same file at the same time.

File server network shares are synchronized to Google Cloud Storage to provide a secure access solution for Windows mapped drives, Mac Finder mounted volumes, iOS and Android.

Secure Access and File Sharing

Attach local file server folders to your CentreStack server to enable remote access while the original network shares remain accessible over the local area network.

Migrate Existing File Shares to Google Cloud Storage

Alternatively, file server content can be migrated over time to Google Cloud Storage to form a hybrid environment. In addition to remote access, this enables a background backup process for business continuity.

Global Workspace

Create a global name space unifying folders from different file servers into a single directory structure, enabling multi-site collaboration. It's a distributed cloud file system backed by Google Cloud Storage.

Server in the Cloud

You can also leverage existing file servers from Google Cloud Virtual Machines as a private cloud.