Abstract: A system and method are provided for synchronizing read-only folders from a cloud-based server. Users can set read-only permissions when sharing folders with other users. The read-only permissions are enforced by client devices of the users downloading content of the folders from the server. To prevent local changes made by a user having read-only access to a folder from being overwritten, the user's client identifies modified folders as local content. After identifying a modified folder as local content, the client may retrieve the original folder from the cloud-based server.

Abstract: A method of sharing data is disclosed. A request from a client node to access data in a share associated with a server node is received. A communication from a management nexus is received. The communication includes a confirmation of an identity of the client node and a confirmation of an authorization for the client node to access the data in the share associated with the server node. The client node is allowed to access the data in the share associated with the server node based on the communication from the management nexus. However, the data is not sent to the management nexus.