* [Blog](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog)
* [Palo Alto Networks](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/corporate/)
* [Uncategorized](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/)
* Dropbox and iCloud: David...

# Dropbox and iCloud: David vs Goliath?

[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2011%2F12%2Fdropbox-and-icloud-david-vs-goliath%2F)  
[](https://twitter.com/share?text=Dropbox+and+iCloud%3A+David+vs+Goliath%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2011%2F12%2Fdropbox-and-icloud-david-vs-goliath%2F)  
[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2011%2F12%2Fdropbox-and-icloud-david-vs-goliath%2F&title=Dropbox+and+iCloud%3A+David+vs+Goliath%3F&summary=&source=)  
[](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2011/12/dropbox-and-icloud-david-vs-goliath/&ts=markdown)  
\[\](mailto:?subject=Dropbox and iCloud: David vs Goliath?)  
Link copied  
By [Matt Keil](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/matt/?ts=markdown "Posts by Matt Keil")  
Dec 22, 2011  
3 minutes  
[Uncategorized](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/?ts=markdown)  
[App-ID](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/app-id/?ts=markdown)  
[application control](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/application-control/?ts=markdown)  
[enterprise 2.0](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/enterprise-2-0/?ts=markdown)

Today I saw this article in [Wired on Dropbox](http://m.wired.com/epicenter/2011/12/backdrop-dropbox/)and found it very interesting based on the classic David vs Goliath comparison, where the small, innovative solution is pitted against the larger, more established solutions and vendors (Apple and their new iCloud offering). In this respect, the Dropbox vs. Apple story is similar to the Palo Alto Networks story of bringing new innovation to a very established market (firewall), against pretty tall odds, competing against large, established vendors.

[](http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/researchcenter/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/david_v_goliath.png)  
[![](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/researchcenter/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/david_v_goliath.png "david_v_goliath")](http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/researchcenter/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/david_v_goliath.png)

Comparing the frequency of use and the percentage of file sharing (browser-/cloud-based) bandwidth consumed, we see that Dropbox crushes iCloud globally as well as across different geographic regions. To be fair, the iCloud App-ID was added in late October 2011, so the comparison, while valid, does not take into account newness of the application vs. the more established Dropbox offering. A more fair comparison will be to look at the usage and the bandwidth in October of 2012.
[![](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/researchcenter/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/icloud_dropbox_bandwidth-500x287.png "icloud vs dropbox comparison")](http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/researchcenter/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/icloud_dropbox_bandwidth.png) Comparing iCloud and Dropbox across different geographic regions.

The other interesting datapoint to look at is the manner in which Dropbox has differentiated itself in what an be considered a very crowded market. Since 2008, the number of browser-based filesharing applications has more than tripled, growing from 22 to 71 now [identified in Applipedia](http://apps.paloaltonetworks.com/applipedia/). The growth is attributed to two factors; the first being the new applications being released to the market and the second is new App-IDs being added to the database. Regardless of the reasons for the growth, this is a crowded market segment.

Between April 2011 and November 2011, 65 different browser-based (or cloud-based) filesharing applications were found. On average, 13 variants were found across 1,506 (92%) organizations. For some perspective on the number of application variants found, an average of 13 variants per organization is considered to be high; only two other application categories. photo-video (29 variants) and social networking (16 variants) had more application variants.
[![](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/researchcenter/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dropbox-500x282.png "dropbox compared to other vendors like megaupload, mediafire, and filesonic")](http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/researchcenter/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/dropbox.png) Browser-based/Cloud-based filesharing comparison - frequency of use and bandwidth consumed.

Based on the upcoming Application Usage and Risk Report, Dropbox is the most commonly used application in its category and it is the 2^nd^ most heavily used, based on the percentage of bandwidth it consumes. Cleary Dropbox is doing something right in terms of differentiating itself from others. From what I can see, it is easy to use, it is reliable, and is relatively secure. Again, some similarities between Dropbox and Palo Alto Networks exist -- both companies solve a particular challenge and do so in a differentiated manner, in crowded and competitive markets.

See you in 2012.

*** ** * ** ***

## Related Blogs

### [AI and Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/ai-and-cybersecurity/?ts=markdown), [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown), [Uncategorized](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/?ts=markdown)

[#### Ransomware Attacks: Why Your Endpoint Protection Can't Keep Up](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/ransomware-attacks-why-your-endpoint-protection-cant-keep-up/)

### [AI and Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/ai-and-cybersecurity/?ts=markdown), [Automation of the Week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/automation-of-the-week/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown), [Uncategorized](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/?ts=markdown)

[#### A Day in the Life with Your AgentiX Automation Engineer Agent](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/a-day-in-the-life-with-your-agentix-automation-engineer-agent/)

### [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown), [Uncategorized](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/?ts=markdown)

[#### Beyond the Cloud Dashboard: Exposure Management Requires Full-Scope Visibility and Real Action](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/beyond-the-cloud-dashboard-exposure-management-requires-full-scope-visibility-and-real-action/)

### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown), [Uncategorized](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/?ts=markdown)

[#### From ILOVEYOU to AI Defenders -- 25 Years of Email Evolution](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/from-iloveyou-to-ai-defenders-25-years-of-email-evolution/)

### [AI Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/ai-security/?ts=markdown), [Uncategorized](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/?ts=markdown)

[#### The 3Cs of AI Red Teaming: Comprehensive, Contextual \& Continuous](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/the-3cs-of-ai-red-teaming-comprehensive-contextual-continuous/)

### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Uncategorized](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/uncategorized/?ts=markdown)

[#### Securing Shadow AI with Cortex Xpanse](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/securing-shadow-ai-with-cortex-xpanse/)

### Subscribe to the Blog!

Sign up to receive must-read articles, Playbooks of the Week, new feature announcements, and more.
![spinner](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/themes/panwblog2023/dist/images/ajax-loader.gif) Sign up  
Please enter a valid email.  
By submitting this form, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown) and acknowledge our [Privacy Statement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown). Please look for a confirmation email from us. If you don't receive it in the next 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.  
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply.  
{#footer} {#footer}

## Products and Services

* [AI-Powered Network Security Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security?ts=markdown)

* [Secure AI by Design](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/precision-ai-security/secure-ai-by-design?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma AIRS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-ai-runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI Access Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/ai-access-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Delivered Security Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/security-subscriptions?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced Threat Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-threat-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced URL Filtering](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-url-filtering?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced WildFire](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-wildfire?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced DNS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-dns-security?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise Data Loss Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/enterprise-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Medical IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Industrial OT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/next-generation-firewall?ts=markdown)

* [Hardware Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/hardware-firewall-innovations?ts=markdown)

* [Software Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/software-firewalls?ts=markdown)

* [Strata Cloud Manager](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/strata-cloud-manager?ts=markdown)

* [SD-WAN for NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/sd-wan-subscription?ts=markdown)

* [PAN-OS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/pan-os?ts=markdown)

* [Panorama](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/panorama?ts=markdown)

* [Secure Access Service Edge](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SASE](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Application Acceleration](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/app-acceleration?ts=markdown)

* [Autonomous Digital Experience Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/adem?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise DLP](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/access?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Browser](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/prisma-browser?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SD-WAN](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/sd-wan?ts=markdown)

* [Remote Browser Isolation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/remote-browser-isolation?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven Security Operations Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Application Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/application-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Posture Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/cloud-posture-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Runtime Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven SOC](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XDR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xdr?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSOAR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsoar?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Xpanse](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xpanse?ts=markdown)

* [Unit 42 Managed Detection \& Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-detection-and-response?ts=markdown)

* [Managed XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Threat Intel and Incident Response Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42?ts=markdown)

* [Proactive Assessments](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/assess?ts=markdown)

* [Incident Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/respond?ts=markdown)

* [Transform Your Security Strategy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/transform?ts=markdown)

* [Discover Threat Intelligence](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/threat-intelligence-partners?ts=markdown)

## Company

* [About Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us?ts=markdown)
* [Careers](https://jobs.paloaltonetworks.com/en/)
* [Contact Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/contact-sales?ts=markdown)
* [Corporate Responsibility](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility?ts=markdown)
* [Customers](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/customers?ts=markdown)
* [Investor Relations](https://investors.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Location](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/locations?ts=markdown)
* [Newsroom](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/newsroom?ts=markdown)

## Popular Links

* [Blog](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/?ts=markdown)
* [Communities](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/communities?ts=markdown)
* [Content Library](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources?ts=markdown)
* [Cyberpedia](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia?ts=markdown)
* [Event Center](https://events.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Manage Email Preferences](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/preference-center)
* [Products A-Z](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/products-a-z?ts=markdown)
* [Product Certifications](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center/compliance?ts=markdown)
* [Report a Vulnerability](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/security-disclosure?ts=markdown)
* [Sitemap](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sitemap?ts=markdown)
* [Tech Docs](https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Unit 42](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://panwedd.exterro.net/portal/dsar.htm?target=panwedd)
  ![PAN logo](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/pan-logo-dark.svg)
* [Privacy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown)
* [Trust Center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center?ts=markdown)
* [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown)
* [Documents](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal?ts=markdown)

Copyright © 2026 Palo Alto Networks. All Rights Reserved

* [![Youtube](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/youtube-black.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/user/paloaltonetworks)
* [![Podcast](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/images/icons/podcast.svg)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/podcasts/threat-vector?ts=markdown)
* [![Facebook](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/facebook-black.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/PaloAltoNetworks/)
* [![LinkedIn](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/linkedin-black.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks)
* [![Twitter](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/twitter-x-black.svg)](https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks)
* EN  
  Select your language