Secure Your Growing Data Exchange Needs with Managed File Transfer

In our digital economy, the amount of business-critical information being exchanged internally and with partners is growing exponentially. As per IDC, the global data sphere is expected to reach 175 zettabytes by 2025, a 5x growth from 2018 levels.

With data comprising everything from customer records to financial reports and intellectual property, it‘s no surprise that over 80% of data breaches originate from insecure file transfers according to Ponemon Institute. Email and consumer-grade file sharing services still dominate exchange methods, exposing confidential data to interception and theft.

Legacy protocols like FTP and HTTP cannot address modern security, compliance and integration challenges either. They lack encryption mechanisms and activity tracking required to safeguard critical information. This urgent need is driving rapid adoption of managed file transfer (MFT) solutions across finance, healthcare, retail and government sectors.

What is Managed File Transfer and How Does it Work?

Managed file transfer refers to specialized software and appliances designed to facilitate secure transfer of data over networks and between organizations.

MFT solutions offer centralized control and visibility over the entire file transfer process – from user authentication to encryption, transmission, auditing and storage at rest. They act as an intermediary layer augmenting or replacing protocols like FTP and HTTP with additional security capabilities.

As shown above, core platform elements include:

• Web Portal / Console – Provides intuitive browser-based interface to configure security policies, schedules, process workflows and monitor transfers.

• DMZ Gateway – Acts as a perimeter filter to handle security credential exchange with external partner systems attempting to connect.

• Key Management – Generates encryption keys and handles lifecycle of certificates used for secure communications.

• Orchestration Engine – Executes business rules and logic around transfer events like file arrival, date trigger etc. to enable automation.

• Audit Log – Records detailed activity trail required for security reviews and compliance reporting.

• Protocol Mediation– Normalizes connectivity across standards like FTP, SFTP, FTPS, HTTP/S etc. for consistent data intake and delivery.

MFT platforms offer flexibility to be deployed on-premise using organization‘s infrastructure or leverage private/public cloud environments based on use case.

Why Choose MFT Over File Transfer Protocols

Legacy protocols like File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) laid the early groundwork for exchanging data over networks. However, increases in security threats and stringent compliance requirements have exposed many limitations:

As the above comparison highlights, MFT provides significant advantages over traditional file transfer approaches:

• Guaranteed Delivery – Automatic retries, failover and checkpoint restart ensure files reach destination irrespective of interruptions.

• Enhanced Security – Encryption for data in transit and at rest protects files from interception or after delivery.

• User Access Controls – Fine-grained permissions restrict actions allowed per user based on role.

• Automation – Transfers can execute based on schedules, database events etc without manual intervention.

• Visibility – Dashboards track real-time status of transfers, failures and activity logs for audit.

• Compliance – Features assist with adherence controls per HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR/CCPA via access restrictions, audit trails etc.

Considering these aspects, IT teams overwhelmingly prefer specialized MFT solutions for workload exchanges despite higher initial investment compared to free protocols.

Key Features That Define MFT Platform Capabilities

While core purpose of secure file movements with protection against data leakage remains constant, vendors have enhanced additional MFT features to align with evolving enterprise needs:

1. Protocol Support

Breadth of protocols facilitated determines flexibility in interfacing with diverse internal and partner systems:

• Core – SFTP, FTPS (FTP over SSL), FTP, HTTP/S

• Email – SMTP, POP3

• EDI / B2B – AS2, OFTP2, RosettaNet

• Cloud Storage – S3, Azure Blob, Google Drive

• APIs – REST, SOAP, AS4

2. Transfer Scalability

Ability to handle growing number of daily file transfers and large files up to GB sizes without performance impact:

• Concurrent Transfers – Number of simultaneous connections.

• Clustering – Distribute processing across servers.

• Load Balancing – Spread transfer workload evenly.

3. Security

Encryption strength for data in transit and storage mechanisms like Access Control Lists (ACL):

• SSL, SSH, SFTP, FTPS protocols

• Standards like AES, PGP

• BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) support

4. Integration & DevOps

Capabilities to embed MFT directly into existing infrastructure and processes through:

• APIs and webhooks

• SDKs for custom coding

• CI/CD pipeline plugins

• Connectors to platforms like Salesforce, SAP

5. Analytics & Audit Logs

Essential for monitoring operational health, security reviews and compliance reporting around:

• Transfer volumes and throughput

• Users, partners and data patterns

• Detailed audit trails of all access attempts

6. Administration

Efficient ways to manage day-to-day file transfer environments:

• Browser-based dashboard

• Configuration workflows

• User and access provisioning

• Policy management

• Alert definition

With clarity on key capabilities, let‘s evaluate leading MFT solutions against these aspects.

Cleo Integration Cloud Sets the Bar for MFT

Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) has organically grown into an integration platform serving needs of both SMBs and complex global enterprises. The company pioneered use of non-traditional protocols like OFTP in secure file transfers over 20 years back.

90% of Cleo revenues stem from large customers with over $1 Billion in annual sales, reflecting their success in most demanding environments.

Comprehensive Protocol Support

CIC facilitates seamless connectivity across applications and partner ecosystems with support for 35+ protocols encompassing options for batch and real-time workloads:

Cloud & APIs – S3, Azure Blob, REST, SOAP, cURL

B2B Frameworks – AS2, OFTP2, ebXML

Secure Transfers – SFTP, FTPS, FTP with SSL

Email – SMTP, POP3

EDI Transactions – X12, EDIFACT, TRADACOMS

Integration Beyond File Transfers

True to its name, the platform transcends traditional MFT boundaries by serving as an integration hub across core business applications.

Over 300 pre-built connector apps accelerate workflows with:

• CRM / ERP – Salesforce, SAP, Oracle, Dynamics 365

• HCM – SuccessFactors, Workday

• ECM – SharePoint, Documentum

• Cloud Storage – AWS S3, Box, Dropbox

• Remote Infrastructure – SSH, SCP

• Protocols & Formats – Blockchain, XML, JSON

Embedded Security Features

End-to-end protection safeguards documents in all stages:

• Encryption via AES, PGP, GPG

• BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) support

• DMZ proxy perimeter for external connections

• Client certificates

• Configuration audit capabilities

Operational Visibility

Custom dashboard provides configurable widgets to track key metrics like:

• Data volume trends

• Transfer throughput

• Users and partners

• Recent failures

Granular detail available in audit logs chronicles every access attempt and file-level actions across endpoints.

Ease of Automation

Trigger-based actions minimize manual oversight needed once configured:

• Schedule recurring executions

• File arrival / non-arrival events

• Embed transfers into app workflows via API calls

• Cloud service notifications

Flexible Deployment Models

CIC supports complex infrastructure preferences with ability to mix-and-match as needed:

• Cloud – Public or private IaaS environments

• Air-gapped networks – Appliance inside data centers

• Hybrid – Cloud for non-sensitive + on-premise for other

Industry Recognition

Cleo has received consistent recognition from analysts and community:

• Leader in G2 Crowd Grid® for Managed File Transfer

• Named a Sample Vendor in Gartner Hype Cycle for I&AM

• Scored 4.8/5 in Gartner Peer Insights among MFT solutions

GoAnywhere MFT – Affordable On-Premise Solution

GoAnywhere MFT simplifies and secures file transfers with an intuitive browser-based interface for workflow configuration that requires no coding.

Installable on Windows or Linux systems, it can utilize existing infrastructure while providing centralized control required for compliance and audit needs.

Notable Features

• Send large files via cloud services like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive

• Schedule and automate file transfers based on triggers

• Encrypt sensitive files before sending

• Centrally manage and audit file transfers

• Connect outsourced vendors through the DMZ gateway

One-Click Automation

500+ pre-built commands let you automate multi-step processes like:

• Importing data from email into a database

• Archiving old files to cloud storage

• Transferring medical imagery into a document management system

Compliance Controls

Simplify adherence with standards like HIPAA and PCI DSS through:

• Granular user permissions

• Encryption of data-at-rest

• Comprehensive audit trails

• Reporting for security reviews

Intuitive Administrative Interface

Dashboard visualizes all aspects of the environment:

• Volume and status of file transfers

• Users, partners and data flow trends

• Permissions summary

• Audit trail of critical actions

Alerts trigger automatic notifications when configured conditions occur like repeated failed transfers or unauthorized access attempts.

Adoption Ease

Browser-based interface accelerates onboarding and usage while support for Active Directory and LDAP enables seamless integration with existing access policies.

Industry Validation

GoAnywhere has earned top ratings across evaluation sites:

• 4.5/5 in G2 Crowd for Managed File Transfer

• 8.2/10 on TrustRadius from verified users

With capabilities tailored for SMBs at an affordable price point, GoAnywhere MFT enables central governance required for growth.

Progress MOVEit MFT Powers Secure Data Exchanges

Progress MOVEit minimizes business disruption by guaranteeing reliable and secure internal and external data transfers. Support for over 35 enterprise protocols offers flexibility to connect across diverse platforms.

Installed on-premise or available as cloud service, it gives administrators tools to control, track and analyze all file-based activities across the organization.

Comprehensive Security

Shield critical data from unauthorized access and theft via:

• Encryption using AES, OpenPGP, SSL standards

• Data loss prevention policies

• Granular access permissions

• Multi-factor authentication

Custom proxy architecture acts as DMZ entry point to validate all inbound connections before internal routing.

Ensure Operational Reliability

Guarantee successful file delivery through features like:

Automatic retry of failed transfers

Checkpoint restart for large files

Failure alerts

Load balancing across servers

Storage quotas to prevent overload

Centralized Activity Tracing

Pre-built reports deliver audit-ready documentation like:

• User actions by file, location etc

• Compliance reports mapping activity to regulations

• Bandwidth utilization across systems

• Transfer throughput metrics

Simplify Ongoing Management

Intuitive web interface streamlines daily administration tasks:

• Drag-and-drop workflow builder

• User permissions management

• Ensuring storage compliance

• Monitoring transactions

Industry Validation

MOVEit consistently ranks among the top MFT solutions:

• Leader position in G2 Crowd Grid® Report

• 94% recommend score in Peer Insights by Gartner

With bank-grade security controls, automation capabilities beyond transfers and centralized visibility, MOVEit enables organizations to scale data exchange confidently.

Key Considerations When Selecting MFT Software

While core purpose remains consistent across MFT solutions, analyze key elements upfront aligned to your environment:

Protocols Used

Confirm support for connecting legacy and modern platforms:

• Common transfers – FTP, SFTP, HTTP/S, Email

• EDI / B2B transactions – AS2, OFTP2, X12, EDIFACT

• APIs – SOAP, REST, JSON, AS4

Infrastructure Readiness

Evaluate deployment preferences to utilize existing systems:

• On-premise – Leverage in-house infrastructure

• Cloud-based – No hardware requirements

• Hybrid – Mix to isolate sensitive / general data

Security & Compliance Needs

Ensure adequate safeguards for risk profile:

• CIA triad – Confidentiality, Integrity, Access controls

• Encryption & key management

• Activity audit trails

• Regulatory coverage – HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR

Automation Ambitions

Gauge workflow extensibility required beyond transfers:

• Scheduled executions

• File arrival / non-arrival triggers

• Integration with apps via APIs

• Custom code extensions possible

Administration Bandwidth

Evaluate available team skills to manage solution:

• Browser-based or thick client

• Workflow complexity

• Steep learning curve

• Vendor support response

Budget Expectations

Map business needs to license model costs:

• Perpetual or subscription

• Price per user, transactions etc

• Factor in assistance needed

With sharp clarity on current and future expectations, IT teams can zero-in on the MFT vendor that best fits their environment.

Final Thoughts on Advancing Secure File Transfer Capabilities

The staggering cost of data breaches makes transfer security an existential requirement rather than an option. MFT solutions greatly simplify equipping enterprises with controls, visibility and reliability needed to safeguard information – driving over 20% annual platform revenue growth as per Gartner forecasts.

At their core, all tools aim to facilitate authorized access while preventing leakage. However, buyers must evaluate integration needs with existing apps, administration bandwidth, partner connections and workflow automation ambitions to select fitting solution aligned to long-term roadmap.

Once shortlisted, take advantage of trials or sandbox testing environments offered by leading vendors before purchase. Reach out if any assistance is needed with formulating pilot scenarios or clarifying doubts during technical discussions.