Abstract: A method and system for an optimized transfer of data files to a cloud storage service (CSS) are presented. The method comprises dividing a data file into a plurality of data blocks; assigning a block code to each of the plurality of data blocks; generating, based on a contract with the CSS, a first list of block codes from the plurality of data blocks, wherein the contract defines at least data blocks guaranteed to exist in the CSS; querying the CSS with the first list of block codes; responsive of the query, receiving a second list of block codes from the CSS, wherein the second list of block codes includes block codes of data blocks designated in the first list of block codes but missing in the CSS; and transmitting to the CSS data blocks designated by their block codes in the second list.

Abstract: A system and method for securely sharing files from a cloud storage are provided. The method includes capturing an electronic message sent by a client device, the electronic message designating at least one recipient, wherein the electronic message includes at least one attachment; identifying the at least one attachment and the at least one recipient designated in the electronic message; sending, to a cloud storage system (CSS), a list indicating the identified at least one recipient; receiving, from the CSS, a link to a shared folder, wherein the shared folder is in the CSS; replacing, in the electronic message, the at least one attachment with the received link; uploading, to the shared folder, at least one of the at least one attachment; and sending, to the at least one recipient, the electronic message with the replaced link, wherein at least one authentication procedure is applied for one of the at least one recipient upon activation of the replaced link by the recipient.

Abstract: A method and computing device for allowing synchronized access to a cloud storage system (CSS) based on stub tracking. The computing device comprises: a processing unit; a storage system, wherein the storage system is configured to maintain objects, each object having a state, wherein each state is any one of: a synchronized state, and a stub state; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, configure the computing device to: receive a request from a client to access an object maintained in the storage system; change the state of the requested object from a stub state to a synchronized state upon receiving the request; and synchronize data of the requested object having a synchronized state with the CSS.

Abstract: A multi-level namespace management system. The system comprises a processing unit; and a memory, the memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, configure the namespace management system to: maintain a plurality of multi-level namespaces for data stored by a storage system, wherein each of the plurality of multi-level namespaces designates at least one of: at least one personal folder of a user, at least one shared-folder being shared with the user by other users, and at least one project namespace designating at least one project folder that is accessible by the user; and maintain for each of the plurality of multi-level namespaces, an escalation policy enabling a potential escalation of the at least one personal folder to the at least one project namespace, thereby allowing the at least one personal folder to be viewed and accessed throughout a hierarchy of the at least one project namespace.

Abstract: A system and methods for reconciling data and metadata in a cloud storage system while the cloud storage system is fully operational are provided. The method comprises scanning for broken references in a metadata database containing metadata of blocks stored in the cloud storage system, wherein the scanning for the broken references is performed as a background process; and synchronously verifying blocks for at least existence of the blocks in the object storage system, wherein the synchronous block verification is performed using a foreground process as blocks are requested.

Abstract: A multi-tenant cloud storage system is provided. The cloud storage system a plurality of tenants, each tenant is configured to utilize an isolated logical partition of the cloud storage system accessible to a respective tenant portal, wherein the plurality of tenants includes at least a first type tenant and a second type tenant, each of the first type tenant and the second type tenant are configured to provision its respective set of members with a different storage policy.

Abstract: A cloud connector for interfacing between a network attached storage device and a cloud storage system (CSS). The cloud connector comprises a unified cloud protocol module for communicating with the network attached storage (NAS) device using a cloud transport protocol; a plurality of cloud protocol drivers for interfacing with at least one of a plurality of storage devices and a plurality of cloud storage providers, wherein the plurality of storage devices and the plurality of cloud storage providers are part of the CSS; and a permissions-and-quotas enforcement module for enforcing access control to data blocks stored in at least one the plurality of storage devices and the plurality of cloud storage providers of the CSS.

Abstract: A network attached storage device for performing network attached storage operations with cloud storage services. The device comprises at least one network controller for communicating with a plurality of clients over a local area network (LAN) and with a cloud storage service (CSS) over a wide area network (WAN); a plurality of storage devices for locally storing data in the device; a CSS module for at least synchronizing between data locally stored in the plurality of storage devices and data stored in the CSS; and a processor for enabling the plurality of clients to perform file-based operations on the device using a file sharing protocol.