Secure Managed File Transfer: Which Solution is Best for Your Business?

Looking for secure managed file transfer software but don’t know where to start? We’ll explain what MFT is, how it protects your data, and review top MFT software solutions.

What Is the Difference Between SFTP and Secure Managed File Transfer?

Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is a secure FTP protocol that uses SSH to transfer files, whereas managed file transfer (MFT) includes the file transfer process along with security, efficiency, and automation. These added features help automate processes and workflows while also keeping compliant with security regulations.

What Is Secure Managed File Transfer, and How Does It Protect Businesses?

The truth is that, even in the best of circumstances, having a secure managed file transfer solution should be mission-critical for any business. With what we know about supply chain attacks on businesses around the world, representing virtually every industry, is that supply chain risk management must be a key part of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy.

MFT is an alternative to secure file transfer like SFTP. SFTP includes secure protocols for data transfer but doesn’t include additional tools like automation, reporting, and other important features. These features aren’t in addition to security—they are integral to complete security solutions for secure file transfer.

The attack didn’t discriminate against large or small businesses. But large and small businesses need to have secure file management systems in place with secure vendors focusing on the following priorities:

• Compliance: While compliance itself isn’t a free pass against cyberattacks, it is a necessary part of doing business in many industries like healthcare, finance, and government contracting. But more importantly, compliance with security measures can ensure that any MFT solutions you use have basic or better security technologies in place. Whether that means regular data reporting, file encryption in transit, or in place.
• Visibility: Files and data more broadly should be visible across relevant people in your organization. One of the tactics of many supply chain attacks is that the software prevents involved parties from seeing that the malicious programs write to a compromised domain, keeping other data users from communicating with the hackers.
   

  A managed security and file system should have data visibility and transparency in place so that, in the event that something goes wrong, the right people can be plugged into the problem.

• Management: Security and mitigation is a 24×7 job. That’s why most companies actually work with third-party secure MFT vendors to offload that responsibility and expertise with a company that can handle it. Having a secure MFT is more than having secure transfers. It’s having a secure storage, management, and transfer solution that will be part of your overall security picture.

Secure Managed File Transfer: Vetting Criteria

There are several critical criteria that must be taken into consideration when evaluating secure managed file transfer solutions for the enterprise. First and foremost, the solution should offer end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive data at rest and in transit. The solution should have a user-friendly interface to streamline the workflow for employees and customers alike. Scalability, high availability, and redundancy are also essential features that should be evaluated to ensure that the solution can meet the needs of the enterprise, both now and in the future. Finally, the solution should have robust reporting tools to provide accurate insights into transfer activity, failed transfers, and other valuable metrics.

Critical Factors to Consider Before Purchasing a Secure Managed File Transfer Solution

Before making a final decision on a secure managed file transfer solution, there are several factors that should be considered. These include the total cost of ownership, which includes not only the upfront cost but also ongoing maintenance and support fees. Integration with existing systems and applications is also a critical factor to consider, as well as compliance with relevant regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The solution’s level of automation and ease of use should also be evaluated, as well as the level of support provided by the vendor.

Don’t Skimp on Scalability

When comparing the top secure MFT solutions in the market, it is essential to evaluate each solution based on the criteria and factors mentioned above. Additionally, it is crucial to assess the solutions’ level of innovation, scalability, and flexibility to ensure they can meet the ever-changing needs of the enterprise. The section below compares some of the top MFT solutions in the market today.

How Do Some of the Top Secure Managed File Transfer Solutions in the Market Compare?

Secure file transfer is paramount for businesses of all sizes in today’s digital landscape. Managed file transfer solutions are designed to enable the secure transfer of files between employees and systems. There are many managed file transfer solutions to choose from, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. They include:

IBM Sterling File Gateway

IBM Sterling File Gateway is a popular choice for businesses across various industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail. It offers robust security features such as encryption, authentication, and access controls to ensure that data transfers are secure at all times. It also features a centralized management console that allows for easy configuration and monitoring.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Understanding Secure Managed File Transfer (MFT):
   Secure MFT solutions go beyond simple secure file transfer protocols. Businesses should implement secure MFT solutions to ensure data security and protect against supply chain attacks.
2. Key Priorities for Secure MFT Solutions:
   Secure MFT solutions should include compliance features like audit logs and reporting, file transfer visibility, and security features and integrations.
3. Vetting Criteria for MFT Solutions:
   Prioritize end-to-end encryption, user-friendly interfaces, scalability, high availability, redundancy, and robust reporting tools. Also consider TCO, vendor support and integration and automation capabilities.
4. Comparison of Top MFT Solutions:
   IBM Sterling File Gateway, Axway Secure Transport, Globalscape Enhanced File Transfer, GoAnywhere MFT, and Kiteworks MFT are among the top secure MFT solutions available in the market.
5. Key Features to Look for in MFT Solutions:
   Automation capabilities, comprehensive security measures, data visibility, and usability are essential features to consider when choosing an MFT solution.

One of the key benefits of IBM Sterling File Gateway is its scalability. It can handle large file transfers with ease and is capable of managing multiple connections simultaneously. Additionally, IBM offers extensive support options, including phone and email support, as well as a community forum.

IBM Sterling File Gateway, however, has received complaints for being challenging to set up and configure. The software requires significant technical expertise, making it less accessible to smaller organizations without significant IT resources.

Axway SecureTransport

Axway SecureTransport is another popular secure managed file transfer solution that offers advanced security features like encryption, authorization, and compliance monitoring. It is a highly customizable solution, allowing businesses to configure workflows and policies to meet their specific needs. Axway SecureTransport also integrates with popular business applications, including SAP and Salesforce.

One of the key benefits of Axway SecureTransport is its ease of use. The software features a user-friendly, web-based interface that allows for easy configuration and management. It also offers comprehensive reporting and monitoring tools to help businesses stay on top of their file transfer activities.

Globalscape Enhanced File Transfer

Globalscape Enhanced File Transfer is a powerful secure managed file transfer solution that offers advanced security features such as encryption and authentication. It also features a user-friendly interface that allows for easy configuration and management. Additionally, Globalscape Enhanced File Transfer offers integration with popular business applications such as Microsoft SharePoint and Salesforce.

One of the key benefits of Globalscape Enhanced File Transfer is its flexibility. It offers a range of deployment options, including cloud-based and on-premises solutions. It also allows for customization of workflows and policies to meet specific business needs.

GoAnywhere MFT

GoAnywhere MFT is a secure managed file transfer solution that offers advanced security features such as encryption, authentication, and access controls. It also features a user-friendly web-based interface that allows for easy configuration and management. GoAnywhere MFT offers integration with popular business applications such as Microsoft SharePoint, Salesforce, and Google Drive.

One of the key benefits of GoAnywhere MFT is its automation capabilities. It offers a comprehensive set of automation features that allow for the creation of complex workflows and schedules. Additionally, GoAnywhere MFT offers extensive support options, including phone and email support, as well as a community forum.

Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer

Kiteworks MFT is a secure managed file transfer solution that offers advanced security features such as encryption, authentication, and access controls. It also features a user-friendly, web-based interface that allows for easy configuration and management. Kiteworks secure MFT offers integration with popular business applications such as Salesforce and Microsoft SharePoint.

One of the key benefits of Kiteworks MFT is its collaboration capabilities. It allows for secure file sharing and collaboration with internal and external users. Additionally, Kiteworks MFT offers extensive support options, including phone and email support, as well as a community forum.

What to Look for in a Secure Managed File Transfer Solution

Priorities are one thing, but implementation and dedication are another. When you are picking out a managed file transfer solution, consider some of the following features:

1. Automation: One of the biggest benefits of an MFT system over traditional secure file transfer software is automation. Enterprise businesses with huge file transfer needs often need automated batch transfers, automatic reporting and logging, and regular checkups and security checks. Automated MFT systems should come complete with automation across these different aspects.
2. Security: The phrase “it goes without saying” no longer applies to security in a post-Orion world. The truth is that risk assessment and management has been fundamentally altered because of supply chain attacks. Different systems and different levels of data can interact in ways you’ll never expect, and your MFT vendor should be able to consider that as part of their security strategy. Your MFT solution, and really any software solution, must live up to the highest of security standards. Some straightforward security features your MFT should include are:
   1. Encryption for data transfers and storage, email and other communications, and other end-to-end transfers
   2. Hardened virtual appliances
   3. Multi-factor authentication
   4. Antivirus
   5. Hardened storage for encryption keys
3. Consolidation and Governance: An MFT shouldn’t feel like a series of disparate functions and data views. Ensure that your vendor’s product consolidates things like security, management, data governance, and other tools in a single interface or system.
4. Visibility: While this has been mentioned once before, don’t discount the importance and necessity of transparency with your data. When you don’t know what’s happening with your data, bad things happen. Visibility includes access to data via secure dashboards and automated reporting and logging.
5. Usability: Usability means a few things, but in terms of enterprise-level Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and file transfer solutions, it means two specific things: interface and secure external collaboration. A solid MFT software will include easy-to-use tools to work with any feature in the platform. Likewise, it should include some secure way to collaborate easily with people inside and outside of your company through features like secure virtual data rooms (VDRs).

Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer for Enterprises

When it comes to security and compliance, the Kiteworks platform offers a comprehensive set of capabilities for sharing and storing sensitive content. Geofencing, immutable audit trails, and a defense-in-depth approach are some of the capabilities in the Kiteworks platform that differentiate it from other solutions. The MFT capabilities in the Kiteworks platform deliver robust security and compliance governance for organizations across industry sectors.

In a post-Orion hack landscape, there are several unique features that Kiteworks brings to support data-driven enterprises:

1. Compliance: FedRAMP regulations govern security, reporting, and certification requirements for cloud providers working in government spaces. Kiteworks is one of the few platforms to fully support FedRAMP compliance for cloud companies in this area.
2. Control and Security: Not only are you compliant, but your data is secure in transit and at rest. With secure transmission standards, encryption, anti-malware technology, and more, the Kiteworks MFT capability is a safe and reliable solution.
3. Tracking and Control: Kiteworks offers complete access to all data in your storage and transport system. You have full visibility and audit logs across all of your content communication channels and this governance delivers comprehensive security and compliance outcomes.

Kiteworks’ robust and comprehensive security and compliance capabilities exceed those offered by other enterprise secure managed file transfer solutions, including Axway, Globalscape, and GoAnywhere.

Learn more about the Kiteworks platform and how you can create a Private Content Network (PCN) by signing up for a custom demo.

Additional Resources

• Blog Post What Is Managed File Transfer & Why Does It Beat FTP?
• Video Head of Product Marketing Bob Ertl Explains Why Organizations Should Axe Their Axway MFT
• Press Release Kiteworks (formerly Accellion) CISO Offers Advice to Customers Impacted by Fortra GoAnywhere’s MFT Breach
• Blog Post GoAnywhere MFT Zero-day Vulnerability: What You Need to Know
• Brief Optimize Managed File Transfer Governance, Compliance, and Content Protection