Options Technology is a global managed service provider that serves all the major capital markets. The types of customers they serve include investment banks, trading firms, hedge and quant funds, private equity firms, ISVs, family offices, and more, all of which demand bulletproof security for file transfers.
While Options continue to provide traditional, on-premise SFTP servers, they identified an opportunity to enhance their offering for clients wanting a secure file transfer solution that integrates directly with modern cloud storage platforms.
"As more clients moved to cloud platforms like M365 and SharePoint, we wanted a cost-effective solution that would connect SFTP systems directly to these environments"
Jason Davidson, Vice President at Options.
The traditional approach for new customers involved deploying separate virtual machines with individual environments and credentials. Options recognized that for some clients, a cloud-native alternative could bring additional advantages such as:
These considerations led Options to search for a modern solution that complemented their existing services.
"We wanted to expand our portfolio with a more streamlined option that connects SFTP systems directly to SharePoint for clients that prefer this approach," Davidson explains.
After confirming that major financial firms were already using Couchdrop successfully, Options implemented the platform and saw clear benefits:
"The implementation process is very efficient," Davidson notes. "We can set up customers through the Couchdrop portal ourselves, and their support team is readily available for any questions."
The solution provided a cloud-native alternative while maintaining the security standards essential for financial clients.
Overall, adding Couchdrop to their service portfolio provided an improved experience for both Options and their clients. Options gained the ability to quickly deploy a cloud-native solution, and customers looking for direct SFTP connections to cloud storage gained a modern, scalable solution with several improvements.
"Only basic technical knowledge is needed, allowing us to distribute the work more efficiently across our team," Davidson explains.
"We typically complete basic setups within a few hours, and partners can now start the process by signing up for Couchdrop themselves."
“The seamless integration with platforms like SharePoint has made it easier for cloud-first clients to manage data securely, improving satisfaction and expanding our solution portfolio."
Couchdrop has become a valuable addition to Options' infrastructure, expanding their service offering and providing clients with more choices. For some clients, Couchdrop has provided meaningful improvements in setup and maintenance. "We've seen significant time efficiencies in both setup and ongoing management for specific use cases," Davidson confirms.
By adding a modern file transfer approach with Couchdrop, Options Technology has enhanced their service capabilities in the demanding financial services sector, giving clients more flexibility in how they manage secure file transfers.