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Susan D.11's avatar
Susan D.11
Helpful | Level 5
5 months ago
Solved

Question about linking personal and work accounts in regards to space and end-to-end encryption

I am an admin, and my work email address is the primary login at my company for Dropbox.  We have a Dropbox Advanced plan with over 20 users.

At some point in time, I was told that if a basic personal account were linked that the personal account would then have access to all the "space" that my employer's account has.  Is that true?

If a basic personal account were linked, would that account then have end-to-end encryption as well?

If the answer to both those questions is no - my question is this - if I were to set up my own personal Dropbox Advanced plan, I understand that I could not link it to my employer account because the type of account is the same.  Would I ultimately have to create a separate login on my Mac at home for when I did work for the company, so that login would be connected to the work Dropbox, and then my regular home login could be connected to my personal Dropbox?

I ultimately need space and end-to-end encryption for my personal files.  Thanks.

  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    5 months ago
    Susan D.11 wrote:

    Sounds like the plan I need doesn't really exist.  Thank you, Jay.

    I think it would actually Susan D.11​ 

    The plan is intended to be used by multiple people - hence needing 3 licences. However, you CAN use it with just one. The 15TB of data is a pooled plan so you could use it all and none of the other 2. Or, if you wanted to give 2 licences to friends you could use 14TB and give them 500gb each (or less!). 

8 Replies

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  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
    5 months ago
    Susan D.11 wrote:

    Is that true?

    No it isnt, sorry. 

    Each account is totally and utterly independent. 

    Susan D.11 wrote:

    If a basic personal account were linked, would that account then have end-to-end encryption as well?

    Again, no, because they are completely separate entities. 

    Susan D.11 wrote:

    Would I ultimately have to create a separate login on my Mac at home for when I did work for the company, so that login would be connected to the work Dropbox, and then my regular home login could be connected to my personal Dropbox?

    Yes thats right - one log on per Business account. When you do the new log on just make sure you install Dropbox fully from the website to get it to work right, dont just run it :)

  • Susan D.11's avatar
    Susan D.11
    Helpful | Level 5
    5 months ago

    Thanks so much, Mark.  I appreciate your help very much.  I had heard there were some third party software options that would allow you to switch between both similar-style Dropbox accounts, but then it makes me wonder how secure those options would be.  Perhaps a separate login would be the best bet.

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    5 months ago

    Hi Susan D.11, thanks for messaging the Community!

    I would agree with Mark, as personal accounts don't get any extra benefits when linking to a Dropbox team account. 

    If you want both your Dropbox team accounts to sync to your computer, then you would need separate computer profiles/logins with a different Dropbox account under each profile, as they would also generate their own Dropbox folders. 

    It's worth bearing in mind that if you plan on subscribing to a Dropbox team plan, you would need to purchase the minimum of 3 licenses in order to do so.

    If you need any further assistance, please let me know.

  • Susan D.11's avatar
    Susan D.11
    Helpful | Level 5
    5 months ago

    Thanks, Jay - if I were to go with the Dropbox Advanced plan (which I know you have to pay for 3 users, even though it would only be me) - would I have access to all 15 TB, or would I have to have 3 separate logins in order to take full advantage of that space?

  • Jay's avatar
    Jay
    Icon for Dropbox Community Moderator rankDropbox Community Moderator
    5 months ago

    In order to use a Dropbox Advanced team plan, the licenses would need to be actively used, as this plan isn't intended for personal use.

  • Susan D.11's avatar
    Susan D.11
    Helpful | Level 5
    5 months ago

    Hmmm - OK.  Will have to go back to the drawing board.  Sounds like the plan I need doesn't really exist.  Thank you, Jay.

  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II
    5 months ago
    Susan D.11 wrote:

    Sounds like the plan I need doesn't really exist.  Thank you, Jay.

    I think it would actually Susan D.11​ 

    The plan is intended to be used by multiple people - hence needing 3 licences. However, you CAN use it with just one. The 15TB of data is a pooled plan so you could use it all and none of the other 2. Or, if you wanted to give 2 licences to friends you could use 14TB and give them 500gb each (or less!). 

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