Top 7 Essential Tips To Achieve Truly Secure FTP

 

Although plain FTP or File Transfer Protocol has been the solution of choice to transfer data for several decades, it has left many businesses at stake for the breaching of data. If you want to ensure that your servers are both compliant and secure, this post is going to help you by giving top 7 tips to ensure the secure File Transfer Protocol Hosting for business.

1.      Use Strong Hashing And Encryption

The encryption cyphers are being utilized by the secure FTP hosting sites for the protection of data while it has been transferred. This cypher is the complicated algorithm that carries data and its key and creates encrypted data for the transmission. The most important thing you must do is the disabling of the outdated or older ciphers and only utilize the strong ciphers such as TDES or AES.

2.      Disable Standard FTP

If you are running the standard FTP on your server, it needs immediate disabling. The FTP is nearly 3 decades old and this is why, it can’t withstand the modern security threats. The FTP is lacking integrity and privacy and this is making it easy for hackers to get the access to the data during transmission. Thus it is recommended to switch to secure and affordable FTP hosting services which ensures data protection.

3.      Implement the IP Whitelist and Blacklist

The IP whitelist only allows the particular IP addresses to access system like your trading partners. The drawback here is that it only works well if the partner is also using fixed IPs. The IP blacklist includes the elimination of wide IP addresses from system access either permanently or temporarily. Such as, if you wish to block some countries from accessing, you can have auto-blacklisting of FTP server for certain attack types such as DoS attacks.

4.      Utilize Strong Passwords

The passwords must be at least 7 characters in length, having both alphanumeric and numeric characters and it also carries one special character. Always ensure that the admin passwords are changed after every 90 days.

5.      Lock Down Administration

You must ensure the tight control of your affordable FTP server administration. The admin duties must be restricted to the particular user’s number and needs them to utilize multi-factor authentication. Rather than storing passwords on server, keep them safe in the LDAP server or in the AD domain.

6.      Implement File And Folder Security

The trading partner must only have the access to their required folder. Such as, only because the partner requires permission for download from a folder, it doesn’t mean that they require full access to the folder. The requirement of uploading files to the folder doesn’t necessitate the access of read to folder. Encrypt the files when at rest and retain the FTP customized file sharing server only as long as it is required.

7.      Use Good Account Management

It is very doubtful to make up the OS-level user accounts for trading partners as it enables the pathway for earning the access to other server resources. Moreover, the credentials of the user must also be kept privately from FTP application. There is no need to allow the shared accounts of anonymous users.

 

 

 

 

FTP vs SFTP: An Ultimate Guide for Secure Transfers

The transfer of files between customers, partners and systems in an efficient yet secure way is beyond technical necessity; rather it is a business compulsion. Companies whether they are SMEs or larger in size, typically relies on the file transfer protocols to transfer or move the data, and the choice among the protocols highly impact the operational efficiency, compliance and security.

Two most notable file transfer protocols are FTP - File Transfer Protocol and SFTP – Secure File Transfer Protocol. Though they sound similar and also have comparable purpose but there is a huge difference among them, particularly when it is about their compliance and security requirements.

What is FTP?

FTP is among the most traditional technologies needed for transfer of files over internet. Whether it is intended for use by a beginner or a professional, understanding the FTP is most critical. This protocol has been a key player in file sharing infrastructure within the businesses as well as for personal use. Usually, FTP is carried out through client – the application which generates connection – and the server – the software which facilitates the remote destination transfer. Once a connection is established among client and FTP server, data can be transferred among the two systems. Affordable FTP hosting helps in transfer of files and it connects to the destination remotely for the renaming, modification and deletion of files and directories. In standard form, FTP transmits data in plain text, including passwords, usernames and actual file manner. It means that if further security measures are not taken, these files can easily be intercepted and read by the malicious actors.

What is SFTP?

Though FTP is highly powerful but it is also vulnerable and can be risky for the businesses. In result, another secure form of FTP has been developed named SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) hosting services that have similar features but it offers additional protections. SFTP utilizes SSH (Secure Shell) protocol that needs authenticity. Conventionally, this authentication is carried out using password and username combination or by making the use of keys. With the SSH, client establishes the contact with server, which in turn sends back the encryption key. Then, one secure channel is opened among the two and then the data can easily be transferred. As the encryption key is used, if the data gets intercepted, it will not be readable. SSH usually utilizes Blowfish or AES encryption and needs some authentication method before transferring the data.

Key differences between FTP and SFTP:

There is significant difference among the two and it primarily lies around protocol design, connection handling and security. Primarily, FTP operates directly over the TCP or IP whereas, the Secure FTP hosting services operates as the subsystem of SSH protocol and it leverages the security features.

Considering security, FTP transmits data in plain context including file content and credentials, which puts it at risk of interception whereas SFTP encrypts all the traffic including the file data and authentication credentials which provides strong protection against the breaches of data.

The model of connection is also different as FTP utilize separate data and control channels which require complicated firewall configurations and multiple ports, whereas, SFTP streamlines the strategy by utilizing single encrypted channel for both data and commands which enhances the security and simplifies the network configuration.

Another major difference lies in authentication mechanism. Affordable FTPhosting relies on the plain text of username and password authentication while SFTP supports various authentication methods including public key authentication, passwords and multifactor options, offering robust security options.

Thus, if you want to keep your data secure, SFTP is the right answer but if you want to transfer files speedily, then SFTP might be slower due to security built within the protocol. One other limitation of the SFTP is that it highly relies upon SSH which needs authentication. Thus, if user wants to utilize secure FTP hosting services anonymously, FTP is the way to go.