The Secure File Transfer Protocol, or SFTP, provides file access, file transfer, and file management over a reliable data stream. The exchanging of files between users is a common occurrence between users from different companies and businesses. However, there are individuals who try to steal information, and being open to these possibilities will affect company activity. Furthermore, individuals may broadcast confidential information to other users on some occasions, which is also undesirable.
Thankfully, SFTP services such as the GoAnywhere SFTP server help distribute information in the safest way possible. They can achieve their goal of file security through four aspects that determine their quality of service.
The Security of Files
The most obvious of the three aspects would be found in file security, as organizations would want their information to be broadcasted to the intended user. GoAnywhere MFT has an intricate service allowing for the smooth flow of file transfer.
The very foundation is in their use of the SSH Transfer Protocol and their Secure Copy Protocols. In addition, their service is updated to the most recent protocols as they support the SSH 2.0 protocol standard, allowing for both password and SSH key authentication. In other words, the service utilizes encryption which is an excellent help to those who need their data, user ids, passwords, and commands to be protected, even requiring permission from the originator if need be.
Logging Files & Other Services
Tracking is another essential part of the file transfer protocol as one needs to ensure the who and where of the file access. Administrators are given this power through their audit trails which are essentially logs—the service should generate these trails for all SFTP and SSH protocols to meet auditing and compliance requirements. Commands issued, messages, IP addresses, user ids and file names transferred are just some of the parts included in this auditing process.
In turn, log messages are sent to an SYSLOG server using either UDP or TCP connections. The event would trigger the system to either process files automatically or send email notifications to the users.
On the client’s side, not only should file access be tracked but must offer support for their requests to resume file transfers. They should modify the permissions controls and other factors such as idle time and login attempts. All encryption decisions are left to the clients and their desires.
Key Management Ability
Key management is another crucial aspect of any SFTP service. Key management combines the policies, processes, and tools used to protect and enable digital keys. The process will authenticate users to the organization’s network, servers, and systems, and the organization will be able to share their files securely with others.
For example, there are intuitive graphical screens provided in GoAnywhere MFT to manage the SSH Keys. In addition, their Key Manager can be used to create SSH public and private keys, import and export keys, and view keys. The RSA and DSA key types are supported with key lengths up to 4096 bits.
High Availability Planning For Beginners
STFP protocols heavily rely on high availability planning as their primary goal is to complete any file management processes as fast and convenient as possible. High availability comes in two forms that businesses may choose from, depending on their size or requirements.
The first form is the active-passive high-availability plan, and this involves only one active server at a time to serve all of the needs of the clients and trading partners. As the name implies, the system is a “passive” one that is installed but not actively running. Failure is a typical occurrence in information systems which means downtime is possible. Downtime may range from a few seconds to a few hours, depending on the system’s booting process. Therefore, it would be best for those using this service to frequently replicate all settings and configuration files from the active SFTP server to the passive system. Then, when downtime occurs in the dynamic system, one may launch the passive server and configure it to point to the new system.
The second version is called the active-active high availability plan. Those with more prominent corporations may prefer this version as it is a “clustering-based” system because two or more SFTP installations run simultaneously while sharing the same configurations and trading partner accounts. The “clusters” constantly communicate with one another, and failure is not a big issue as there is another active system to compensate. No human intervention or third-party tools are required for this plan as there is nothing passive about the systems that run it.
The only requirement needed for the server is a load balancer as the number of users may increase, resulting in effects on the system. Considering the number of trading partners a multinational may communicate with daily, this is especially important.
The four aspects determine the SFTP service to be the best, and it is no surprise why companies such as GoAnywhere should be considered. First, GoAnywhere SFTP server is highly scalable and with no restrictions. Apart from this, they assure the security of their client’s files and their accessibility which is vital for any organization today.
