In the past, many IT professionals tasked with deploying a file transfer solution would opt for Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) server software. In recent years, however, IT pros have increasingly turned to managed file transfer (MFT) to meet their organizations’ evolving file transfer needs. Before we delve into the reasons IT pros are starting to shift away from SFTP server software, let’s understand why these professionals chose SFTP all these years.
Why is SFTP software so popular among IT pros?
While the market has long been filled with a plethora of file transfer solutions, it’s not hard to see why many IT pros preferred to use SFTP. When used as a file transfer tool in business environments, SFTP readily meets multiple requirements for supporting business processes. For instance, it’s capable of transferring large files and supporting multiple simultaneous file transfers. It also has built-in security controls like authentication, data-in-transit encryption and data integrity mechanisms.
Also, because SFTP originated from Secure Shell (SSH), you can fire up an SFTP service from any machine that already has an SSH server. Most Linux distributions come with OpenSSH, an open-source implementation of SSH, pre-installed. Even recent versions of Windows Server (such as Windows Server 2025, 2022 and 2019) readily support OpenSSH. You just need to enable OpenSSH to use SFTP, so it’s very accessible.
As an IT professional, it’s normal to be drawn to solutions that are both reliable and straightforward to implement, especially when dealing with mission-critical business processes. SFTP's reliance on SSH, a protocol well-known for its security and stability, makes it an attractive option for organizations that prioritize these qualities. Additionally, the fact that SFTP can be deployed with minimal setup on systems already running SSH servers reduces the overhead and complexity often associated with configuring secure file transfer environments.
What is the best SFTP server software?
Not counting MFT software, OpenSSH is arguably the best SFTP server software out there, as it’s readily available in all major operating systems. As mentioned earlier, it’s already pre-installed in most Linux distributions. It’s also pre-installed in macOS. You just have to enable it. As for Microsoft Windows, you have a couple of other choices.
SFTP server software for Windows
- OpenSSH
- Core FTP: A commercial server application that supports FTP, FTPS and SFTP
- Bitvise SSH Server: A commercial server application that supports FTPS, SFTP and SCP
Being a secure FTP alternative no longer cuts it
Before SFTP became the de facto standard for business file transfers, that distinction belonged to plain FTP. However, as more sensitive data was being sent through the internet, businesses started to recognize the security risks associated with FTP’s lack of encryption. When you upload files from an FTP client to an FTP server, those files are sent in plaintext. As a consequence, your files are susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks.
SFTP addresses this deficiency by providing data-in-transit encryption. So, even if an attacker manages to intercept an SFTP connection, that attacker won’t be able to obtain any useful information from it.
Yes, File Transfer Protocol Secure (FTPS), the secure version of FTP that derives its security functionality from Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS), also has those same capabilities. And indeed, FTPS is also a good and popular choice for business-grade secure file transfers. However, if your FTPS clients have to go through a firewall to get to your FTPS server, you’re bound to encounter some technical challenges.
To overcome those challenges, you’ll need to tackle certain complexities involving the differences between active mode and passive mode FTP, and the way you would set up an FTPS server behind a firewall. While these challenges aren’t necessarily impossible to overcome, they do pose additional obstacles not found in SFTP. SFTP uses only a single port and doesn’t have any active mode and passive mode the way FTP does, so it’s very firewall-friendly.
So, if you’re an IT pro, and your organization is seeking a reliable and secure file transfer solution, SFTP might initially seem like an obvious choice. While it has historically been a preferred option, evolving business needs have shifted that perception towards more comprehensive solutions.
Businesses are demanding more from their file transfer software
Modern businesses now face several data transfer-related challenges that either weren’t as pronounced or simply didn’t exist in the past. For instance, they must contend with mounting security risks and compliance requirements. Additionally, in order to remain competitive and efficient, businesses must seek more opportunities for process automation. And when those processes involve supply chains and business-to-business (B2B) data exchanges, they must be able to interconnect with the trading partners involved.
Naturally, as the orchestrators of technology, system administrators and other IT pros are required to step up and meet these needs.
More secure file transfer features
As indicated earlier, SFTP already has built-in security features that provide a decent level of data protection. For instance, when you connect an SFTP client with an SFTP server, these two endpoints can use public keys and private keys to leverage public key cryptography. This type of cryptography allows you to enforce authentication and data-in-transit encryption, two important security controls.
The same cryptographic technology can also be used to enable SFTP key-based authentication, which, when combined with SFTP’s password-based authentication, amounts to a strong two-factor authentication method.
While SFTP’s built-in selection of security controls is quite robust, it may not be sufficient for organizations with more complex security requirements and regulatory obligations. For example, the United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires stored electronic protected health information (ePHI) to be encrypted. Unfortunately, SFTP doesn’t have any built-in data-at-rest encryption capability.
Thus, if you’re working in a healthcare organization and are tasked to configure your organization’s SFTP server so that it complies with that particular HIPAA requirement, accomplishing that task won’t be easy. You’ll have to integrate your server with a third-party tool to implement the required capability.
Data-at-rest encryption is just one of many HIPAA-mandated security controls that impact file transfer systems, so there’s more to do to achieve compliance. For a more comprehensive discussion on the matter, read our guide to HIPAA-compliant file transfers. And if your business is covered by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), we also have a similar guide for PCI DSS-compliant file transfers.
Automation capabilities
When businesses look for process automation opportunities, file transfers often become a key focus area. Automating file transfer workflows not only reduces the risk of human error but also improves efficiency and ensures timely data exchange.
For instance, if you could, you would probably prefer to have an automated tool download files from a remote file system or upload files to it. Such a tool would allow you to save time and, if you could configure the file transfer to execute on a predefined schedule, accomplish the task in a timely manner.
Alas, if you wanted to carry out these automated tasks through an SFTP server, you would have to write scripts to do that, as SFTP has no built-in automation capability. You would have to employ scripting languages like Python, Bash, PowerShell, etc. for that purpose. However, if neither you nor other IT staff members know how to write automation scripts, you’ll have to hire someone who does.
Better interoperability
When you need to exchange data with a trading partner, you and your partner must first agree on a common file transfer protocol. If your trading partner also uses SFTP, that shouldn’t be a problem. However, since different organizations have different technological preferences, that protocol won’t always be SFTP. It could be FTPS, Applicability Statement 2 (AS2), Odette File Transfer Protocol (OFTP) or any other file transfer protocol.
If your trading partner refuses to use, or simply can’t use, SFTP, you would have to adapt to your partner’s protocol of choice. Otherwise, you won’t be able to transact with each other. This would entail deploying a separate file transfer server that runs the required protocol. Plus, if you need to support multiple partners with different protocol preferences, you would have to deploy multiple additional file transfer servers as well.
Why IT professionals are shifting to MFT
Clearly, it would be much easier if you could use a single file transfer solution that meets all those requirements we discussed earlier. An MFT solution could do just that.
Extensive array of security features simplify cybersecurity and compliance efforts
MFT solutions are typically packed with an array of security features. In addition to those found in secure file transfer protocols, i.e., authentication, data-in-transit encryption and data integrity mechanisms, MFT solutions also come with:
- Data-at-rest encryption: Protects files while stored
- Access control mechanisms: Regulates user permissions and access
- Password policy settings:Enforces strong and regulatory compliant password policies
- Multi-factor authentication options: Prevents unauthorized access
- Logging and reporting: Provides logs for auditing, troubleshooting and compliance
- IP-based whitelisting/blacklisting: Regulates client access
- Advanced cryptographic settings: Meets strict encryption standards like FIPS 140-2
Some MFT solutions, like JSCAPE MFT by Redwood for instance, even add advanced security features such as:
Since this extensive selection of security controls are all found in a single solution, IT pros can fulfill their cybersecurity and compliance obligations with ease.
Built-in automation features reduces reliance on scripts
Modern MFT solutions come equipped with built-in automation tools. Some solutions, like JSCAPE MFT, even provide low-code/no-code platforms that allow you to rapidly build automated file transfer workflows in just a few clicks and drag-and-drop actions. This means you no longer need to learn scripting languages or hire someone who does.
Sample flowchart from JSCAPE MFT’s low-code/no-code automation feature
So, not only do these tools enable your organization to save time by automating business processes, but they also allow your IT team to reclaim time that would have been spent building those automated workflows. This recovered time can then be allocated to other critical tasks.
Multi-protocol support enables seamless trading partner interoperability
With an MFT solution, you’re not limited to just the SSH file transfer protocol. Although all major MFT software support SFTP, they also offer several other protocols such as:
- FTPS
- AS2
- OFTP
- Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning (WebDAV)
- Secure Copy Protocol (SCP)
- Hyperext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
- Hyperext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
- And others
Again, these protocols are available within a single solution. So, as an IT professional, the task of interconnecting with multiple trading partners for file transfer, file sharing, data exchange or synchronization purposes becomes significantly easier.
Centralization simplifies administration of file transfer and file sharing workflows
An MFT solution consolidates all your file transfer and file sharing workflows into a single platform. All related tasks, from adding file transfer services and creating automated workflows to instituting security policies and monitoring file transfer/file sharing activities, are accomplished through a single administrative user interface.
From a system administration standpoint, this consolidation greatly simplifies management and oversight. It reduces the need to juggle multiple tools and interfaces, thereby minimizing the risk of errors and improving efficiency. It likewise simplifies technical support and maintenance responsibilities, as you’ll no longer be dealing with disparate pieces of software.
Discover JSCAPE MFT
JSCAPE MFT is an advanced MFT solution that comes in two flavors. There’s JSCAPE MFT Server, an on-premises solution that installs on all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, UNIX, Solaris, AIX and macOS. And then there’s JSCAPE MFTaaS, a cloud-based version offered under a Software-as-a-Service model.
Both JSCAPE MFT Server and JSCAPE MFTaaS integrate with a wide range of applications, network services and cloud-based service providers. These MFT solutions have connectors for:
- An SMB service
- An IMAP service
- Microsoft Azure Blob
- Microsoft Azure Data Lake
- Google Cloud Storage
- Dropbox
- Amazon S3
- Box
- And many others
In addition, they also provide APIs that allow you to interface with the software programmatically. This wide range of integration options ensures that JSCAPE MFT can seamlessly work with your existing IT infrastructure and workflows.
Allow us to show you how JSCAPE MFT can simplify your job as an IT professional. Schedule a quick demo now.