Today’s IT ecosystems are becoming increasingly intricate. The proliferation of disparate systems, the need to accommodate hybrid and remote workforces and the challenge of integrating legacy and modern applications have added layers of risk to data exchange. Maintaining the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data in transit is particularly important as threats are ever-evolving.
In this article, we’ll explore the problems complexity presents and the strategies and technologies for secure file transfer that can help your business modernize and stay compliant.
Security: A burden in a fragmented environment
Data transfer happens more frequently than ever, and safeguarding against unauthorized access and data breaches is a core responsibility of IT teams today. Keeping sensitive data safe becomes exponentially harder if you’re using a patchwork of security measures.
The more complex your IT environment, the more difficult it is to maintain consistent security policies across all systems and processes. For example, if you use multiple file transfer methods across different departments, it’s nearly impossible to have each one adhering to the same security standards. Fragmentation increases the likelihood of security gaps and complicates your auditing and monitoring.
If, like most organizations, you’re integrating various third-party applications and cloud services, you have many points of vulnerability. When data flows through multiple systems, it’s critical to have robust encryption and authentication mechanisms in place. However, implementing them properly across your growing landscape requires advanced solutions.
The evolution of secure file transfer protocols
As your systems and data needs have expanded, file transfer protocols have simultaneously changed.
Traditional file transfer protocol (FTP) methods are becoming obsolete due to inherent security weaknesses. FTP lacks encryption, which makes your data vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access.
The rise of secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) as the standard marked a significant shift toward more robust data protection measures. SFTP enhances the basic FTP framework by integrating SSL/TLS encryption to provide a secure channel for transferring files while also offering authentication capabilities. Built on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol, SFTP encrypts both commands and data so that every aspect of your transfer process is protected.
File transfer protocol secure (FTPS) and HTTPS are also upgrades over FTP but lack the specialized features big organizations with large numbers of file transfer need.
Managed file transfer (MFT) solutions are now at the forefront of secure data exchange because they offer a centralized environment for managing all file transfer activities and support a wide range of secure protocols, including FTP, FTPS, SFTP, HTTP/S, OFTP2, TFTP, WebDAV, AFTP (UDP) and AS2. MFT delivers better security, automation and visibility.
Advantages of MFT solutions
There are several standout reasons to opt for an MFT solution, especially in an enterprise context. Designed to address the unique challenges of large-scale organizations, the best MFT solutions offer a level of security, efficiency and control that traditional file transfer methods can’t match.
Streamlining organization-wide file transfer
By consolidating various file-sharing activities into a single platform, MFT reduces the complexity of your IT environment and enhances operational efficiency. Advanced features such as data streaming — where data moves directly to its destination without intermediate storage — minimize the risk of data loss or interception and ensure that information reaches its target securely and swiftly. As a result, all of your teams can access and use data in real time and operate more collaboratively.
Simplifying compliance
MFT solutions fortify data security with top-tier encryption methods, such as AS2 for data at rest and SSL/TLS for data in motion. Comprehensive audit trails and detailed reports make it easier to comply with stringent regulations such as HIPAA, PCI DSS and GDPR. These features also provide a clear, documented path of your compliance efforts that you can refer to during audits and reviews to prevent legal or financial penalties.
Introducing automation into the file transfer process
MFT solutions don’t require much manual intervention, so they reduce human error. Features like no-code/low-code workflow automation and template libraries can simplify how you configure and schedule your file transfers so it’s easier to manage your complex data movement and adhere to your industry’s compliance requirements. Automation also frees up your IT resources for more value-added tasks.
Increasing visibility and control
MFT platforms with real-time monitoring and exhaustive logging of your file transfer activities give you the visibility you need to manage your data exchanges effectively. Your IT leaders can quickly identify and address potential bottlenecks or security vulnerabilities before they escalate into larger problems.
Real-world impacts: MFT in manufacturing
Let’s consider what a move to modern MFT might look like in the manufacturing sector.
Manufacturers often need to exchange large volumes of data, such as design specifications, production schedules and compliance documents, with partners, suppliers and internal teams. This data is sensitive and critical to the timely and accurate execution of manufacturing processes.
If a given manufacturer needed to share design specifications with a supplier located in a different country, they would traditionally need to use multiple tools, including email, FTP or other methods. Each brings its own set of security risks and inefficiencies. Manual processes would require different teams to track and confirm file transfers, increasing the potential for errors and delays.
Automated MFT solutions can transform this process by centralizing and securing file transfers on a single platform. The manufacturer can automate their entire workflow, from encrypting the files with industry-standard protocols to sending them directly to the supplier through a secure, streamlined channel. Because they can consolidate their former file-sharing tools and integrate an MFT solution with existing systems, they reduce their IT complexity significantly with this move.
The road ahead: A future with innovative MFT
The future of secure data exchange lies in adopting solutions that address current security challenges and anticipate and adapt to emerging threats. MFT solutions with features such as data streaming and triggers will allow your organization to be proactive no matter what comes.
Choosing an MFT solution that integrates with your end-to-end automations will further optimize and secure your internal and external file sharing. Paired with ActiveBatch by Redwood for workload automation, JSCAPE by Redwood can support your automated MFT practices well into the future.
Book a demo to see how this powerful combination can simplify your IT complexity.
