For many, MFT and SFTP are a package deal. You can’t seem to have a managed file transfer solution without relying on an SFTP server to secure your file transfers. But this leaves a lot of people wondering—is managed file transfer only useful for SFTP file transfer automation?
The reality is, MFT is far more than just an SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) client with automated file transfer scripting. Innovative managed file transfer solutions like GoAnywhere MFT can accomplish tasks beyond sending and retrieving encrypted files. How? By remaining active and engaged with those who use MFT for file transfer and workflows.
When GoAnywhere MFT releases an update, the new version consists of enhancements and updates that speak to the interests of our users. GoAnywhere’s development team works tirelessly to create a rich product that responds to the detailed, often unique use cases customers present to us so they can stay on top of requirements and regulations in healthcare, manufacturing, banking, and other industries.
Here are just a few examples of the use cases we’ve received from our community:
SOAP/REST Integration
A user has an application that collects information from a customer-facing website. Instead of creating processes or scripts that compile the data they want, they can use GoAnywhere Advanced Workflows with SOAP or REST connectivity to access the web server, retrieve the information, translate it into XML, and send an XML data transfer to their trading partners. Advanced Workflows that are paired with the right connectivity speed up this process, as they don’t require the manual work and programming knowledge necessary to create comparable scripts in-house.
ICAP for AV and DLP Scanning
A user needs to scan incoming files for viruses before passing them to a workflow for further processing. With GoAnywhere, he or she can use ICAP-enabled antivirus tools to scan these files and quarantine or delete any malicious content found in the process.
ICAP integration also allows GoAnywhere to forward files to a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) server. This helps an organization automatically inspect files for sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or personal health data, before they leave the private network. If the DLP server believes the file content are sensitive, GoAnywhere MFT will block the transfer from completing and send the admin an alert.
Remote Agent Support
An organization has multiple remote offices. These offices run on independent networks but don’t have a secure way to transfer files between them. In response, GoAnywhere can easily deploy local agents on servers at these locations, allowing each office to exchange files with a central deployment of the product. And for organizations that have migrated part of their environment to the cloud, GoAnywhere Agents can reside in cloud infrastructure, like Amazon EC2 or Microsoft Azure, as well as on-premises.
Secure Forms
A user needs to create forms that collect information and accept file attachments in a secure HTTPS session. With GoAnywhere Secure Forms, he or she can define the form needed, send it to a web user, then take the completed request and launch a project workflow that sends the files and form data to the administrator for processing.
What other functionality do we offer for GoAnywhere users? Explore our list of licensed modules.
These four use cases are a small look into what a feature-rich managed file transfer solution can do. If you look beyond MFT as an SFTP automation solution only, you’ll see there are many features and relevant use cases that make GoAnywhere MFT a powerful tool in any organization’s arsenal.
Of course, not every IT team needs the features that can come with an advanced MFT solution. Out of 10 users, half may have simple requirements that are fulfilled by SFTP automation. But the other half may want a toolset that is more cutting-edge or complex—and GoAnywhere MFT serves both user types equally.
Managed file transfer is expanding rapidly, becoming more and more than just SFTP every day. Still don’t believe us? Request a free trial of our MFT solution to explore its offerings for yourself. You might just be surprised at how versatile and feature-rich managed file transfer actually is!
