If it weren't such a clumsy phrase, "access your files from anywhere" could be as potent a buzz word as "the cloud." iTwin ($99 direct) is one of the latest contenders in the remote-access game. Unlike Google Docs (free, 3.5 stars), which moves your files to the cloud, or Dropbox (free, 4 stars), which synchronizes files between multiple computers, the Windows-only iTwin (XP, Vista, and Windows 7 are supported) keeps everything on your hard drive. But its most unique feature is that it's hardware: two USB keys connect your devices. Because it's a physical solution, iTwin can offer more security measures than any of its virtual competitors. Given that it doesn't back up files or synchronize them across machines, iTwin is a mono-utility tool, but it's a sleek, petite and efficient one. Furthermore, the sole utility offered is one that most small businesses and frequent business travelers need.

How iTwin Works
One of iTwin's co-founders came up with the idea for iTwin when he wanted to access personal financial data that lived on his home computer from the office. His options at the time boiled down to a simple solution that offered minimal security, or a secure solution that would require a huge investment in time and energy to configure.
In a nutshell, iTwin offers a very secure, yet simple and elegant way to access files remotely. It's similar to Windows Live Mesh (née Windows Live Sync), except with two physical USB keys.

The hardware is thin and sleek with rounded edges and comes in two colors: steel gray and lime green. One end of each key has a USB connector. The other end has a different connection point that lets the two keys plug into one another. When the keys, or "twins," are hooked together, they create a unique number that allows them to talk to each other (and only each other) via the Internet.

Like all the major cloud services, iTwin also uses AES 256-bit encryption. The physical hardware provides an added measure of security because you need the keys to access the files. And if you lose a key, you can disable it remotely using a unique link that iTwin sends you via email.

To get started with iTwin, you'll need to have the two keys connected so that the two USB connection points are sticking out on opposite ends. Put either USB end into your computer's port (I'll call this computer home base to avoid confusion) and wait for the PC to recognize it. You'll have to install a rather minimal iTwin application, which takes hardly any time at all. You'll also be prompted to enter your e-mail address so iTwin can send you the instructions for disabling the key in the event it gets lost or stolen and you need to cut off its access. Finally, a virtual iTwin folder will appear where you can drag and drop files.

You can now remove one of the twins and take it with you to a remote computer. Once it's connected to this new machine, iTwin gives you full access to all the files in the folder back at home base. Likewise a new folder will appear on the new computer, with access granted to the user at home base (if there is one). Either user can now open and make changes directly on any shared file, with no need to copy the file locally first. Both computers must be online during use for iTwin to work.

The Always-On Conundrum
The first time I tested iTwin, I plugged one stick into my office computer and took the other home. I made the mistake of letting the office computer go into sleep mode, which kicked it offline, although I didn't know this right away. A representative from the company told me that the device should have prevented this from happening, that iTwin disables sleep/hibernate mode when you install it. In any event, make sure you double-check your settings so the computer stays up and running and connected to the Internet.

Back at home, I plugged in the other twin, downloaded and installed the iTwin application, and received a message saying the other device was not online. I couldn't access anything. From start to finish, only two and a half minutes had ticked by. I couldn't get to my data, but because the problem was clearly stated, at least I didn't lose any additional time fiddling around trying to get it to work.

The "always-on" conundrum has become a pet peeve of mine and is one reason I prefer Web-accessible, cloud-based systems. I'm a stickler for being green. I actually keep my home electronics plugged into power strips that I switch off completely when I leave the house or go to sleep. Leaving a computer on and connected while I'm away from it doesn't sit well with me. Certainly, I'm in the minority. And certainly, even with cloud-based solutions, someone's server is always on. With iTwin, the "server" is your own hard drive, so I can accept having to leave my machine on (but I still don't like it).
Portability, Version Control, and Loss
Remove both twins, then plug them back in (even to the same computer), and the process starts all over again: re-enter your e-mail address, receive a new disable code, drag and drop files again. My assumption was that iTwin would remember its most recent connection point and the files it was allowed to access—but that's not the case. From a security standpoint, iTwin wins even more favor for forgetting its history.

In another test, I asked a colleague to take one of the USB keys so we could try opening the same file simultaneously. Neither of us could tell when the other had the file open. Nothing locked us out. At the same time, we both made a change to the file. Luck of the draw, I saved and closed mine first. When my co-worker tried to save and close his version, a notice popped up warning him that the file had been manipulated by the other user. He could overwrite my file, or he could rename his and share it with me. Or, if his changes were not complex, he could ditch his work, open the file as I had last saved it, and re-enter his changes.

Losing changes is one thing. Losing the USB key itself is another, but iTwin handles this potential catastrophe quite gracefully. You can disable both keys using the link from the e-mail that iTwin sent you when you first plugged them in. If you find the missing key, you can re-activate it instantly by simply connecting it back to its twin. And if both twins are lost, no data will be compromised because nothing's stored directly on them. Consequently, the only limitations you'll find with storage for iTwin are the constraints of your own hardware because, as mentioned, your PC is the server.

Well Suited for Suits
iTwin appeals to small business owners who don't need to invest in actual servers and VPNs, as well as business travelers looking to minimize the risk of carrying sensitive data on a laptop. Really, anyone who would rather carry a netbook for portability but might unexpectedly need access to their bigger hard drive (and for security purposes can't host files in the cloud) would see the value of iTwin.
Mac users are left out in the cold, but the company has stated that OS X compatibility should be available later this year. iTwin also won't meet the needs of small businesses that need to give multiple employees access to the same files simultaneously, as iTwin currently only operates on the "twin" one-on-one basis. But if security concerns are the only worries keeping you down on earth and away from the cloud, iTwin may be the solution.

Learn more from Itwin Website

Article Source