Secure and reliable file
transfer is essential for every modern business. For decades, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) has been the
standard, but as security and compliance needs grew, protocols like SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol), FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS), and WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning) emerged
to offer additional features. There is also FTP over HTTPS which enable fully
supported FTP on an encrypted connection that is supported on all networks. FTP
Worldwide offers all four of the following options.
FTP (File Transfer
Protocol)
FTP transfers files over a TCP/IP network. It’s fast and widely supported, making it useful for transferring files that do not need to be encrypted.
•
✅Pros: Simple, efficient
for large files.
•
❌Cons: Sends data in plain
text, insecure for sensitive information.
💡 Best for: Quick, non-sensitive transfers.
FTP over HTTPS (File
Transfer Protocol over Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
This is a secure method to transfer files securely using a web browser. Files and folders and be dragged and dropped to upload files without any special software. It’s fast, widely supported and encrypted. It is the default used for FTP Worldwide
•
✅Pros: Simple, requires no
extra software and uses port 443 so it is supported on any corporate network
•
❌Cons: The connection can
time out before the file completes uploading for very large file uploads.
Customized timeout options are available for higher plans
💡 Best for: End Users uploading folders and files.
SFTP (Secure File Transfer
Protocol)
SFTP, developed by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), encrypts both data and credentials using SSH (Secure Shell).
•
✅Pros: Strong encryption,
firewall-friendly.
•
❌Cons: Slightly slower.
💡 Best for: Sensitive data like healthcare, finance, or intellectual
property.
FTPS (FTP over SSL/TLS)
FTPS enhances FTP with SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security) encryption.
•
✅Pros: High security,
supports explicit and implicit encryption.
•
❌Cons: Requires custom
ports.
💡 Best for: Compliance-driven industries (e.g., PCI-DSS).
WebDAV (Web Distributed
Authoring and Versioning)
WebDAV uses HTTPS to allow users to access their online files via a mapped network drive using their local operating system’s File Manager tool
•
✅Pros: Uses standard ports
(443) so a corporate network will not block the port
•
❌Cons: Very large files
are incompatible with WebDAV
💡 Best for: Convenience of using a mapped network drive.
Conclusion
Each protocol offers unique strengths. FTP suits basic transfers, SFTP and FTPS meet strict security standards, FTP over HTTPS and WebDAV require no additional software and are easy to use.
At FTPWorldwide, we deliver secure, scalable solutions including all five options
described above.
