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What is MFT?

Data transfer is getting more and more important. MFT (Managed File Transfer) offers you the tools to do so, but what is MFT exactly? Read our blog to found out. 

What is MFT?

We have discussed what the differences were between MFT and FTP/SFTP and why you should choose to implement a MFT solution. But what is MFT actually? MFT (Managed File Transfer) is a technology platform that allows organizations to exchange and share various types of data in an efficient and trusted secure manner. These data movements can be both internal and external to an organization and include various types, including sensitive, compliance-protected or high-volume data. MFT provides higher security and transfer performance than FTP, SFTP, HTTP and other transfer protocols.


What are the key features of MFT?

While MFT provides data transfer like other solutions, MFT offers some key features that FTP for example simply does not have. The main key features of MFT are:

  • Simplified (B2B) file transfer – MFT offers timely and flexible data transfers while supporting multiple file types including PDF’s, XML, EDI etc.
  • Secure (encrypted) internal and external transfer, in motion and in rest – secure your file transfers with advanced capabilities like session break and protocol inspection.
  • Full Visibility of every file transfer – get a full 360-degree view of who is transferring files, what is being shared and the volume passing through the system.
  • Compliance to required standards – due to the strong encryption your company will avoid compliance failures and successfully clear audit trails.
  • Systematic enterprise-level large file transfer – plan and process bigger files than an FTP solution will be capable of handling.


What are the benefits of MFT?

Data exchange solutions will continue to be in demand since business networks continue to grow, requiring qualities of service and your Trading Partners become more demanding in the way they want to communicate with you. Without MFT software, unstructured data (reports, contracts, project data and more) is open to manipulation and loss. The efficient and secure movement of files between internal systems and external partners is critical to an organization’s success.

There are several benefits pushing companies to implement a MFT solution:

Compliance:

According to legislation (think of AVG/GDPR) and some industry requirements, such as healthcare industry, payment card industry, etc., there are usually strict data security standards. Using a properly configured MFT system to encrypt, transmit, monitor and store sensitive data empowers organizations to meet security requirements.

Data Growth:

Data is everywhere, and companies face larger and more varied files than in the past. With the growth of this data, enterprises have a greater and more diverse need to transmit, receive, and share files for data transfer. More data is also being shared between users and the lager the files get the longer it takes to move them globally. MFT brings reliable, fast, automated movement of files in and outside your business.

Data Security:

Coupled to the Data Growth comes higher requirements for the security of the data transmission. MFT offers a preemptive security strategy with real-time monitoring, and validation security policies, protocols, encryption and controls to protect data in transit or at rest.

Strong Encryption:

MFT solutions are easily scalable to meet the file transfer needs of any organization, whether dozens per week or thousands or more per day. MFT uses a variety of industry standard technologies (including Open PGP, AES, SSL, and SSH) to encrypt and compress in-transit and at-rest file transfers to protect data security.

Trends:

Technology is constantly being updated, so moving files has become more complex than ever before. Technlogies like Big data, the cloud, AI, and the Internet of Things are all popular now, placing higher demands on data transfer. The development and application of new technologies require higher speed and capacity. MFT offers advanced capabilities and support for multiple platforms, mobile devices, applications and other existing IT infrastructure to meet those requirements.

Visibility:

Companies need to anticipate potential risks to reduce possible losses. Companies can clearly monitor who is transmitting what files. Operational visibility over file movements leads to proactive issue resolution, like failed transfers and improved compliance with SLA commitments.


Conclusion

As you can see, MFT offers significant advantages over FTP solutions and brings a lot of benefits for organization. In addition to the advantages that save time and a considerable amount of ease of use, safety is the main reason why you should opt for an MFT solution as soon as possible and not implement an FTP solution because it seems cheaper at first sight. A data breach will entail considerably more costs and will also damage your image as a reliable trading partner.

ECS is the official partner of GoAnywhere and Cleo for MFT solutions, among others, and brings over 20 years of experience with us to assist and implement the right choice for an MFT solution. Contact us today if want you know more about the right MFT solution for your business!