Nextcloud: a private cloud for your business

What it does

• Files: folders synced to computers and phones, share links for clients and version history.
• Calendars and contacts: shared across the team and synced to phones.
• Online office: edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations in the browser with an integrated office suite.
• Chat and video calls: with the Talk app.
• Extra apps: forms, tasks, notes and many more, enabled as needed.

Advantages over a commercial cloud

• Your data lives where you decide: on a NAS or server in the office, or on a cloud server contracted in your name.
• No per-user fee: the cost depends on the server and maintenance, not headcount.
• Access control: users, groups, per-folder permissions and two-factor authentication.

What to plan for

• Maintenance: Nextcloud and system updates, and keeping an eye on disk space.
• Backups: a private cloud also needs copies stored outside it.
• Connection: if the server is in the office, the fibre upload speed shapes the experience from outside.

Typical uses

• Professional firms sharing documents with clients.
• Businesses with several sites or remote staff.
• Content creators exchanging large files.
• Families who want their photos outside commercial clouds.