Connecter’s Feature Storage Explained
“Get to Know Connecter” is a series of articles designed to acquaint you with the diverse features and functionalities of Connecter. Whether you’re a freelancer or a member of a large organization, this series will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate our Digital Asset Management solution confidently and boost your productivity.
One of the most frequently asked questions and misconceptions our support team faces is in regard to Connecter’s feature storage. So, we decided it was time to address this confusion formally.
In short, your asset storage isn’t the same as the feature storage; even if they use the same storage provider, they’re still separate things. Now, let’s dive into the details about their use!
What is the feature storage?
Some of the Power-user features — the advanced ones you get with Connecter Suite — Version Control, Shared Content Metadata, Web Catalogs, and Hybrid DAM, require storage to keep their respective files.
Namely, the different versions of an asset, the shared content metadata extracted from your Workplace, the images in your Web Catalogs, and the assets you offload to the Hybrid DAM all need to go somewhere other people can access them. As for these cloud-stored files, they’re only readable through Connecter and its services.
The reason we’re using your cloud for that job is that it’s the only way for you to have complete control over your data and keep it within your established storage infrastructure. That’s essential for copyright compliance, as for many companies, it’s mandatory to keep all their files in their storage (and not on a third-party server) to avoid infringement.
It’s also easier for you to use the service you’re already familiar with instead of integrating another solution into your regular workflow. Also, you can switch providers at any point, and the Team Admin can easily make the necessary changes from the Team Portal.
On the subject of data security, Connecter’s limited access to your cloud ensures that no breach can occur through our system and compromise your assets.
The only thing to keep in mind is that when your Team Admin sets up the Workplace in the Team Portal, they have to allow Connecter access to the storage solution you’re already subscribed to for each feature. You can have the same provider for all of the tools or go for different ones, but in any case, they’ll have to be from our list of supported options:
NOTE: A special exception is Version Control, as you can use your local storage to keep the asset versions.
It’s important to point out that Connecter can only see and add assets to the one folder it was allowed to create on the cloud as part of the integration, while the other contents there are off-limits. The Team Admin can also revoke Connecter’s permissions to use the cloud at any point.
How is it different from asset storage?
Your asset storage is the primary repository where your digital assets are stored. These files can be hosted on various on-premises storage solutions, such as your computer, a dedicated server, network-attached storage (NAS) devices, external hard drives, etc. Connecter’s access is limited to the assets you add to the desktop app.
It’s a common misconception that by setting the feature storage, users allow Connecter to access their assets in the cloud and add them to the desktop app. As we already explained, that’s not the case. If you want to have your cloud-stored assets in Connecter, you have to map your storage and sync them on your local machine.
Wrap up
Connecter needs access to designated storage solutions to ensure the effective functioning of Power-user features like Version Control and Web Catalogs. The Team Admin should take care of that during the Workplace setup process, and they must choose from Connecter’s supported options.
What it’s important to note is that asset and feature storage serve distinct purposes within Connecter. The former is where your actual digital assets are stored, while feature storage supports the advanced functionality of Connecter Suite.
Understanding this distinction is crucial for effectively managing your digital assets and leveraging Connecter’s capabilities to their fullest potential.
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If you’re looking for a way to take control of your digital assets, our DAM might be a good fit for your needs. Contact our support team to find out more about its organizational and collaboration features.
Disclaimer: Some of the images in the article are generated by Midjourney.
