How to organize remote access to files?

Question

Windows

It is necessary to organize remote access to a large number of files. The file format is mainly docx, pdf and high quality images.
At the moment, all this is running on Ubuntu server 12.04 and distributed using samba over the local network.
Basic requirements:
- security and speed of data transfer.
- ease and flexibility of setting up accounts for the distribution of access rights.
- ease of use on the client machine.
There will be about 10 client machines, all running Windows 7.
Actually the question is: in which direction to dig? What to read?
Thank you.

Answer 1

Is it easier to separate tasks? Assign a vpn server to the security task, and inside the network you can already raise anything.

Answer 2

ftp, if you do not need to work with files directly (open from).
samba if you need to open)

Answer 3

What does not suit in the current implementation?
Why not install Windows Server?
Why not buy a simple NAS like Synology with a CIFS server?

Answer 4

Try BitTorrent Sync . Saving bandwidth, plus the ability for users to work offline. If there are a lot of files, then of course a VPN is better.

Answer 5

+1 for VPN. Let it be the simplest PPTP.
If you really want SFTP with rights, like in Samba, read about PAM + Winbind.