Exchanging Data Securely Requires Stepped Up Data Transfer Methods
Exchanging data is easy, right? Just grab a file, attach it, and hit “send.” Then sit back and relax. Not so fast! If you want to securely exchange data and protect any sensitive data your files may contain, you need to send them with a secure file transfer solution that protects data at rest, in motion during the exchange, when it lands at its intended destination, and if a digital rights management tool is applied, wherever files eventually travel.
A secure file transfer solution (SFT), such as a managed file transfer (MFT) tool, can help make file transfers more streamlined, error-proof, and most importantly, secure, whether data is exchanged internally for collaboration, or externally with trading partners, vendors, and others.
How Does a Managed File Transfer Solution Help Secure Data Exchanges?
Secure, managed file transfer is more than just another protocol for sending files. Unlike outdated FTP, MFT can provide authentication between trading partners either with a user ID and password or one that’s encrypted and validated with an SSH key or SSH key/password combo for a higher level of data exchange security.
After the file is sent via email, uploaded to your browser, or dropped in a monitored folder, your MFT solution receives the data and secures it. GoAnywhere MFT encrypts files using FIPS 140-2 compliance AES ciphers or the Open PGP standard, among others. To protect your data during transmission, GoAnywhere uses SFTP, SCP, FTPS, AS2, HTTPS, and other protocols to encrypt the data as it’s sent to your recipient for decryption.
And to protect that data further, combining MFT with digital rights management (DRM) applies even more control and protection over sensitive data. With DRM in place, you can define exactly who has access to the encrypted files sent with MFT anywhere they travel and at any time.
Related Reading: End-to-End Rights Management Made Simple with MFT
The secure file transfer solution combination of MFT and DRM helps address two common data security issues:
- How to protect or control files once they are transferred with MFT
- How to revoke and control file access for authorized individuals, wherever the file travels
In addition, MFT can help reduce the human error risks inherent in data exchanges. GoAnywhere MFT operates from a single point of administration to automate repetitive and error-prone tasks associated with file transfers.
Related Reading: The Benefits of File Transfer Automation
Notifications and restarts, should the file transfer get interrupted, can also provide peace of mind around securing data exchanges. You’ll always know the status of a file transfer, with no surprises.
In addition to streamlining processes, audit and reporting features can help meet stringent compliance requirements for tracking any file exchange activity.
On-Demand Webinar: Meeting Compliance Requirements with GoAnywhere
How to Securely Exchange Data Via the Cloud
With popular cloud-based applications such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, etc., used more each day due to their ease of use and popularity, it’s important to remember that they have some security drawbacks. However, you can bump up the security around exchanging data via the cloud by using a managed file transfer tool with built-in cloud integrations or connectors.
Related Reading: 9 Ways to Use Cloud Integrations
How to Securely Collaborate and Exchange Data
Collaborating is a key part of the business work cycle, especially with an increasingly distributed workforce. Making collaboration easy to keep business efficient is important, but ensuring the data exchanged during file transfers remains secure should be an even higher priority. Thankfully, with secure file transfer solutions such as GoAnywhere MFT, ease and security can co-exist.
GoAnywhere MFT allows users to share files, even those super-sized ones, with the built-in security needed to protect sensitive data. An enterprise-level file sync and sharing (EFSS) service can help ensure data exchanged during collaboration efforts is shared with localized control, end-to-end encryption, and the detailed audit trails often needed for compliance requirements.
An EFSS like GoDrive features easy-to-use file and folder sharing as well collaboration benefits like file tracking, revision, commenting, media viewing, and Windows, Apple, and Android device synchronization. You can invite authorized users to work with shared folders and data files through the browser interface. It’s a great alternative to EFSS products as GoDrive provides localized control, end-to-end encryption, and detailed audit trails.
How to Securely Exchange Data by Email
Attaching a file to an email is familiar and easy but can be unsecure if not using encryption or a secure file transfer solution. GoAnywhere’s Secure Mail module allows users to easily exchange data via the familiar email routine. And unlike many email attachments sent, there are no file size or file type limitations. With Secure Mail:
- Users can send files via a browser-based interface or Microsoft Outlook.
- Senders can also choose to receive notifications and recall packages.
- Recipients receive an email with a unique link to packages allowing them to download it through a secure HTTPS connection.
- With its tracking and reporting functionality, Secure Mail is also compliance friendly.
- You can send a ”request files” email to recipients so they can send files to you securely.
Securely exchanging sensitive data in files doesn’t have to be complicated. User-friendly tools like MFT and rights management can deliver secure file transfer assurance as organizations face more pressure on protecting the data entrusted to them.
See How Easy Secure Data Exchange Can Be
GoAnywhere MFT is a secure file transfer solution that offers centralization, flexibility, and simplicity to users. Discover how GoAnywhere can help your organization secure your data exchanges today.
