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Five Secure Alternatives to FTP for File Transfers

FTP has been around for decades, over 21 million FTP servers are still active on the internet today. Unfortunately, this once-reliable file transfer method is not equipped to handle modern security threats, as it offers no protection for data during transmission or while stored on a server. On top of these security concerns, regulatory compliance requirements are becoming stricter, making legacy FTP servers a high-risk liability for businesses.

Posted: 21-10-2024

Read time: 4 min

Article

FTP

File Transfer

MFT

SFTP

Cybersecurity

1. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)

SFTP is an extension of the widely-used SSH protocol, which enables secure file transfers by establishing an encrypted connection between the client and server.

The key advantage of SFTP is that it encrypts the data stream during transmission, ensuring that sensitive information is protected. Additionally, SFTP supports two-factor authentication via a key exchange process between client and server, adding an extra layer of security beyond just a username and password.

SFTP has become the go-to replacement for FTP and is sometimes mistakenly referred to as secure FTP.

2. FTPS (File Transfer Protocol over SSL/TLS)

While SFTP is often viewed as the secure upgrade to FTP, FTPS is actually the true successor.

Like SFTP, FTPS establishes a secure connection between the client and server for data transmission, but it uses SSL/TLS instead of SSH for encryption.

FTPS can operate in two modes:

  • Explicit FTPS, which is now the most common, uses port 21 and allows the configuration of SSL for authentication, data transfers, or both.

  • Implicit FTPS, on the other hand, uses port 990 and automatically initiates an SSL/TLS tunnel as soon as a connection is made.

    • By using different ports for FTP and FTPS, implicit FTPS lets you maintain both secure and non-secure options.

    3. AS2 (Applicability Statement 2)

    AS2 is a widely adopted protocol for transmitting sensitive data securely, especially in environments where EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) is used.

    AS2 improves on its predecessor, AS1, by supporting the encryption of messages, which are exchanged securely over the internet via HTTPS. This protocol uses TLS encryption to safeguard files in transit and relies on digital certificates for authentication.

    For more details on how AS2 works for file transfers, check out our dedicated blog post on the topic.

    4. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure)

    Although best known for securing web traffic, HTTPS can also be used for transferring files securely.

    HTTPS encrypts communication between the client and server through SSL/TLS, ensuring that files are transmitted securely. This is why all e-commerce websites use HTTPS for payment processing to protect sensitive data like credit card information.

    Due to its straightforward implementation and familiarity among IT professionals, HTTPS has become a go-to protocol for secure data exchanges.

    5. MFT (Managed File Transfer)

    MFT solutions represent a more advanced approach to file transfers, incorporating all the protocols mentioned above and allowing them to be customized for different users or connections.

    MFT platforms typically offer features like:

  • Detailed audit logs, encryption for files at rest, and integration with authentication systems such as LDAP or Microsoft Azure.

  • Flexible deployment, either on-premises or in the cloud.

  • Strong authentication options, including multi-factor authentication (MFA).

  • Tamper-proof audit trails to track every upload, download, and access attempt.

  • FIPS-validated encryption to protect data from unauthorized access.

  • Deduplication and integrity checks to ensure efficient and accurate file storage.

    • One example of a highly regarded MFT solution is the award-winning MOVEit Transfer, which is trusted by over 10,000 companies worldwide. And that’s just the beginning.

    Monitoring MFT Solutions for Availability

    Despite all of the many positive features and benefits of MFT solutions, there remains a gap in monitoring their security and availability postures. This is in part due to it being a consequence of configuration and other areas of infrastructure.

    While MFT software vendors may get to wash their hands of these concerns, you and your trading partners require dependable and secure solutions to support your growth-based business objectives. Threpoly offers a cloud-based solution which can monitor these aspects of your MFT service and warn should there be degradation or an outage which could impact your business.

    Overview