FTP alone as a way of simply moving data from one place to another in a company has served its purpose in its day but really its time is up. In modern times, it’s not enough simply to send and receive files between storage, server, user or data manipulator without some form of security and visibility. The failings of FTP are listed as vulnerability to file corruption, data-loss and clumsiness which accompanies the manual command to send or receive files rather than system automation. It’s impossible to know exactly what state the data’s in, where it is or really control who has access to it. FTP cannot effectively limit file access or offer security whereas managed file transfer offers strict permission-based control keeping things really tight and as it should be.

All the failings of FTP mean that it is past its sell-by date and it’s time to move over for managed file transfer.

Organisations are becoming more complex, there is also more pressure to automate processes for reliability, cost savings and security and the IT lines between companies and their suppliers, clients and other stake-holders becoming blurred. This being the case, the need for managed file transfer as a norm has come to the fore and it’s here to stay.

No matter which corporate function is looked at, data transfer is taking place within and between that department and others. Managed file transfer enables complete control and visibility of file transfer from one place to another, with a simple centralised administration tool.

Whatever the architecture or operating system, managed file transfer is important and can be applied. In fact, the dove-tailing of different systems with in different locations and in different formats is exactly the sort of scenario that gives rise to the obvious need for file transfer to be as reliable, visible and safe as possible.

Automating file transfer between points is an obvious advantage as it not only reduces the need for a manual instruction but can factor in reliability as a result. Commands can be recorded and every aspect of the movement of the data is logged and reported. This is a 24/7 and 365 days a year feature which makes system operation full-time and continuous without the constraint of the working day or time-zones.

Plain old FTP offers very little in the way of an audit trail. Growing pressures mean that data handling and tracking require compliance to standards of measurement and control are met by managing the transfer of files. Internal and external checks can be easily carried out when file transfer is controlled as opposed to standard FTP.

Looking at the bigger picture, with privacy laws seeming to gain in clout, organisations with certain leanings or heritage becoming the target of disenchanted activists and the penalties for data security breaches on the rise, data security including managed file transfer is becoming more and more important – and not just to the IT department. Operations need complete reliance on the efficacy and productivity of their systems, legal departments need to make sure risks are minimised and the marketing department – not to mention share-holders – will want to avoid the bad publicity associated with slack practice at all cost.