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What is SFTP?

SFTP is a file transfer protocol that’s normally packaged with Secure Shell (SSH), the network protocol most IT administrators use to access and manage remote Linux, UNIX and macOS machines in a secure manner. Most of these systems already have built-in support for OpenSSH, an open source implementation of SSH. Even later versions of Windows Server support OpenSSH. 

Most Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) hosting services can handle basic file transfer tasks, but not all are suitable for advanced workflows. For instance, if you just want the ability to upload files from a local system to a remote server or download files from that server, almost any SFTP hosting service should suffice. However, if you also need robust automation, integration and regulatory compliance capabilities, you have to be more selective in picking the right service. 

File Transfer Protocol (FTP) has very few advantages over Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). However, if you measure the transfer speed between an FTP client and an FTP server and compare that with the speed between an SFTP client and an SFTP server in exactly the same network conditions, the FTP transfer usually comes out faster. 

For several decades, SFTP, which stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol or SSH File Transfer Protocol, has been arguably the most widely used solution for transferring sensitive data across the internet. In the past few years, however, we’ve seen increased adoption of what’s known as SFTP cloud. 

Many of our customers use Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) for their business file transfers. While SFTP is certainly a good choice for organizations looking to securely transfer multiple files or large files directly to their intended recipient, it’s not the only solution suited for that purpose. In this post, we’ll review seven secure FTP alternatives and discuss their advantages and disadvantages compared to what many consider the de-facto standard for secure, multi-file and large file transfers. 

When you’re troubleshooting connectivity issues between Secure Shell (SSH)/Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) clients and servers, it pays to inspect the error messages generated on both sides of a connection. Those messages often provide vital clues about the problem. If your error messages involve the Diffie-Hellman-Group1-SHA1 key exchange algorithm, you’ll want to stick around. In the succeeding sections, we’ll be discussing the underlying cause of this particular issue and how to fix it.  

For the past few decades, many organizations have used the SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) as their main file transfer solution. It’s more secure and less prone to connectivity issues than the archaic File Transfer Protocol (FTP). However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that SFTP is also starting to age. Companies struggle to meet today’s business needs and use cases with purely SFTP-based solutions.

What is AS2 protocol?

AS2 or Applicability Statement 2 is a file transfer protocol that’s commonly used in business-to-business (B2B) data transfers. It’s based on the S/MIME and HTTP/S protocols. While you can theoretically use AS2 to transfer almost any type of file, it’s normally associated with electronic data interchange (EDI).

When you first start scouting for the right file transfer protocol for your organization, you’re bound to encounter these two acronyms: SFTP and MFT. SFTP stands for SSH File Transfer Protocol, whereas MFT stands for Managed File Transfer. While SFTP is indeed a protocol, MFT isn’t. Nevertheless, these two acronyms become increasingly intertwined once you explore advanced, secure, automated file transfer solutions.