What Does Secure FTP Server Mean?
A secure FTP server helps users with transferring files over secure file transfer protocols such as SSH File Transfer Protocol or FTP with SSL/TLS. The transfers can be achieved through server-to-server or client-to-server configurations. A secure FTP server helps enterprises in sending confidential files securely over the internet or insecure networks.
Techopedia Explains Secure FTP Server
A secure FTP server needs an SSH client for communication. A secure FTP server supports many actions on files such as file transfers comprised of multiple files, remote file management activities, creations of directories and deletions related to directories and directory listings. A secure FTP server also makes use of protocols to provide security features such as authentication, encryption or data integrity, password management and access control mechanisms. Certain advanced secure FTP servers such as JSCAPE MFT server often provides both SFTP and FTPS protocols along with other file transfer protocols.
There are benefits associated with a secure FTP server. It can detect files which are subjected to unauthorized changes, and as such provides greater data integrity. It also capable of preventing malicious users from impersonating legitimate uses to gain access to files. A secure FTP server helps to keep the file contents secure during transmission. It maintains high access control, meaning only authorized users can access the files. It provides a data-at-rest encryption feature which helps to keep the file contents secure during storage. A secure FTP server is also capable of recording file transfer events; this helps in audits/compliance or to support troubleshooting. One of the other advantages of secure FTP server is its capability to automatically detect sensitive data like cardholder data and ePHI, and its ability to help in password management.
