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File Transfer Protocol With SSL Security (FTPS)
Last Updated: December 14, 2015
Definition - What does File Transfer Protocol With SSL Security (FTPS) mean?
File Transfer Protocol with SSL Security (FTPS) is an extension to the FTP protocol that adds Secure Socket Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS)-based mechanisms/capabilities on a standard FTP connection.
It mainly enables performing or delivering standard FTP communication on top of an SSL-based security connection.
FTPS is also known as FTP Secure.
Techopedia explains File Transfer Protocol With SSL Security (FTPS)
FTPS is mainly used to provide secure server-to-server communication; however, it can also be used to access a server from desktop or end-user devices.
FTPS uses a combination of symmetric (Data Encryption Standard (DES)/Advance Encryption Standard (AES)) and asymmetric (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA)/Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA)) algorithms to deliver security and uses X.509 certificates for authentication.
FTPS is delivered in two different forms:
- Explicit FTPS -- Selected parts or components for communication are encrypted.
- Implicit FTPS -- All communications are encrypted.
