10.5.3. Cloud Drive Mapper (CDM)

Summary

At this point in time, if a Client decides to proceed with SharePoint for their document storage needs, XSTRA recommends using Cloud Drive Mapper. XSTRA’s policy on this may change in the near future as we develop a superior solution in-house called XTRINSIC, due for release in early 2025. Cloud Drive Mapper is a software tool designed to map cloud storage services (like Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint) as network drives on a user’s computer. This allows users to interact with cloud storage as if it were a traditional network drive, providing a familiar interface for accessing files stored in the cloud directly from Windows File Explorer. Cloud Drive Mapper integrates seamlessly with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) for single sign-on (SSO), enabling users to connect to their cloud drives without needing additional credentials. It is particularly popular in enterprise environments to facilitate easy access to cloud files without syncing them to the local machine, reducing local storage usage while maintaining accessibility.

Comparison

Feature	File2Me	Cloud Drive Mapper + SP	OneDrive + SP	SP On Its Own	Windows File Server	Google Drive + GD Client
Prevents Duplication Of Files
Sharing Of Files with 3rd Parties					XSTRA releasing XTRINSIC Early 2025
One Source Of Truth For Files
Able to open file in place without download
Avoid Browser-Based File Management for Enhanced Efficiency
Manage Files Locally in File Explorer
Feature	File2Me	Cloud Drive Mapper + SP	OneDrive + SP	SP On Its Own	Windows File Server	Google Drive + GD Client
Does Not Use Sync Technologies
Collaboration on MS Office Documents					XSTRA releasing XTRINSIC Early 2025
File Locking
Versioning
Fast File Search Of Contents
Efficient File/Folder Paths Lengths in Windows