File streaming vs file acceleration: stop moving files

For years, file acceleration tools like IBM Aspera, Signiant, FileCatalyst and MASV have solved the problem of moving massive files in record time.

But even the fastest transfer is a bottleneck when teams need to collaborate in real time.

File acceleration is a fix for yesterday's workflow. You still have to move data. And you still have to wait. 

File streaming offers a fundamentally different approach where your team works on files directly from the cloud. That means no transfers, no waiting and no copies to manage.

This piece explores areas file acceleration falls short for modern collaboration and how file streaming eliminates the transfer step entirely, letting teams get to work faster.

What is file acceleration?

File acceleration software was designed to move big files quickly across long distances. Instead of relying on standard internet transfer protocols, it uses methods like compression, file chunking and parallel connections to overcome latency and packet loss.

Pros

These tools excel at what they were built for; the fast delivery of large files:

• Fast and reliable transfers, even across continents

• Secure delivery for enterprise-grade protection

• Supports moving terabytes in hours instead of days

Cons

But acceleration only fixes one stage of the workflow — getting the file from A to B: 

• You still have to wait until the transfer finishes before work can begin

• Files often require manual relinking for editing or CAD software

• Duplication across sites can create version confusion

• High cost and IT complexity due to specialized software or appliances

In other words, acceleration speeds up the transfer, not the work.

Transfer-then-work: where file acceleration falls short

So, file acceleration offers a simple but limited workflow. Transfer the file, then start working.

But let’s break down where the solution tends to struggle in today’s collaborative workflows.

Fast transfer, slow start

Even at peak speed, work can’t begin until the file arrives.

A post-production studio in New York can use Signiant to move 4K footage to London in a few minutes rather than hours. But editors still can't touch those files until the transfer completes. Then they spend more time relinking sequences before work can actually start. 

Why it matters: your team loses hours waiting. Deadlines slip, and creativity is put on hold while files “catch up.”

Duplication and relinking headaches

Every transfer creates a new copy of the same data. Editors spend time relinking media, engineers rebuild file paths and designers struggle to identify the latest version.

Why it matters: productivity drops and mistakes increase. Teams waste energy managing files instead of working on the project and version confusion can lead to costly rework.

High cost, high complexity

Acceleration tools often require specialized appliances, per-gigabyte fees and constant IT support. Faster transfers come with bigger bills and more moving parts.

Why it matters: your IT team is tied up managing infrastructure instead of supporting vital work and budgets balloon with hidden costs that don’t directly improve output.

Not built for collaboration

File acceleration is perfect for “send once” workflows, like delivering a finished master to a distributor. But it’s not built for live projects where multiple people edit, update and share files simultaneously.

Sure, a global engineering team can accelerate CAD file transfers with Aspera. But now there are copies scattered across offices and no single source of truth, creating file admin and rework.

The impact: teams can’t work in real time. Collaboration slows, remote contributors are blocked and global projects lose the agility that modern workflows demand.

Enter file streaming: a new way to work

File streaming takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of moving entire files, it lets you work with them directly in the cloud, as if they’re stored locally.

You don’t download. You don’t wait. You just open the file and go.

With LucidLink’s file streaming platform, your data stays securely in the cloud, encrypted in transit and at rest, while your team streams only the parts of a file they need, when they need them.

Progress doesn't come from following the rules. It comes from rewriting them. For decades, the rules were clear. Big files lived on local drives. So we built bigger servers, faster networks, and countless copies. An endless cycle of shipping drives, syncing data, waiting for transfers, and ideas stuck on storage. At LucidLink, we asked a different question. What if files never had to move? What if the cloud wasn't just storage, but a shared creative space instantly accessible anywhere? That's why we built a new way to create together. Instead of downloading entire files, we stream them straight from the cloud, delivering only what you need exactly when you need it. Suddenly, petabytes feel weightless. Collaboration knows no borders. Teams can brainstorm over breakfast in Bangkok, refine in London by lunch, and launch in LA the same evening, creating together in real time no matter the distance, no matter the file. Great ideas shouldn't wait on storage. With LucidLink, they don't have to. LucidLink. One platform. Every workflow.

LucidLink: real-time collaboration without transfers

Think of LucidLink as a high-performance drive that lives in the cloud, always on and always in sync. It turns cloud storage into something your team actually works from, not just stores files in. Here’s how:

Instant access 

Open and work on massive files right away. Only the portions you need stream on demand, no waiting for full transfers. This is true for any type or size of file, including:

• Multi-gig 4K video timelines

• Complex CAD/BIM models

• Layered design assets

Your tools, exactly as you use them

LucidLink connects to your desktop like a local drive. That means every creative or technical application you already rely on — Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid, AutoCAD, Revit, GIS and more — just works. No relinking, retraining or workflow rewiring.

One shared workspace, everywhere

Instead of juggling copies and syncs, everyone works from the same live filespace in the cloud. Updates appear instantly for every collaborator, wherever they are. No version drift. No “which file is final?” debates. Just one single source of truth.

Set up once, scale effortlessly

No appliances or no complex setups, giving your team instant access and the ability to scale projects, users and locations without friction.

How your team wins with LucidLink

With LucidLink, your team spends time creating, not waiting, syncing or relinking files.

• Work instantly: open massive projects and start working immediately.

• Collaborate seamlessly: multiple team members edit the same file in real time, from anywhere.

• Stay aligned: one single source of truth eliminates version confusion and errors.

• Simplify IT: no appliances or constant oversight — just plug in and go.

• Scale effortlessly: add users, projects or offices without disrupting workflows.

The result: faster project delivery, smoother collaboration and more time for the work that matters.

File acceleration vs. LucidLink file streaming

File streaming in action: WebMD

During the pandemic, WebMD faced a challenge: 37 editors and producers worldwide were producing 200+ videos per month, often in 4K, VR and 3D formats.

Traditional transfer methods, including Aspera, Media Shuttle, Dropbox, WeTransfer and even FedEx couldn’t keep up.

After moving to LucidLink:

• Editors could access massive video files instantly from anywhere

• Producers could stream only the parts they needed, no full downloads

• Collaboration across New York, Atlanta, Paris, Munich and more became seamless

• Workflows stayed the same — no retraining, no relinking

LucidLink turned a global, remote and high-volume workflow from friction and waiting into real-time productivity.

When to use file acceleration vs file streaming

Both have their place, it just depends on how your team works.

Use file acceleration for one-off deliveries

File acceleration is great for one-time, one-way transfers.

Think of it as overnight shipping for data: fast, reliable and done once it’s delivered.

Use it for:

• Sending a final master to a broadcaster or client

• Archiving projects offsite

• Transferring data to a partner for review or backup

Use file streaming when you’re collaborating

File streaming shines when work is ongoing, shared and global. 

Instead of waiting for transfers, everyone connects to the same project instantly and works in real time. That could be:

• Video teams editing across multiple cities

• Architects or engineers co-developing CAD and BIM files

• Global design or VFX teams collaborating on large media assets

When multiple people need simultaneous access to actively changing files, streaming is the only approach that makes sense:

“When you’re working so fast and collaboratively it can be hard to keep track of it all, especially if you’re receiving material from different sources. You are at risk of duplicating files and duplicating effort by not working on the most up-to-date version.

LucidLink changed our workflow overnight by unifying all our inputs and outputs, and because the process is so intuitive, the file directory remains centralized so that everyone can join in from anywhere and always be in sync with the workflow,” Julian Crespi, Owner and Colorist at Vuela.

The natural evolution: from acceleration to streaming

Most teams start with file acceleration because it’s the obvious fix for slow transfers. But as they grow, they realize that the real challenge isn’t speed, it’s workflow friction.

When collaboration becomes constant and projects never really “stop,” waiting for transfers just doesn’t make sense anymore.

That’s when teams evolve from acceleration to streaming. From moving files to working instantly.

Stop moving files. Start streaming them.

File acceleration solved a problem of its time: moving data faster.

But the future of collaboration isn't moving files faster. It's not moving them at all.

Teams need instant access everywhere, seamless collaboration and zero duplication.

That’s exactly what LucidLink delivers.

• Work on massive files instantly, from anywhere

• Collaborate in real time, across tools and time zones

• Keep your data secure, centralized and always up to date

Ready to see the difference? Try LucidLink free for 30 days, or book a demo with our team.