Streamlining Government File Sharing with MFT

Efficiency: It’s a goal that’s permeating conversations in government circles at all levels lately (and other industries as well). Whether that aim is eliminating cumbersome processes or error-prone legacy systems, nearly every department and entity (including contractors working with government entities) are aiming for a more streamlined way of doing more with less – less effort, fewer personnel, and more limits placed on other resources.

Efficiency and Security Needed for File Transfers

Streamlining how sensitive files are exchanged is no exception to the efficiency goal. After all, the information held by government entities is often comprised of personal or highly sensitive information. Financial details, personally identifiable information (PII), such as that found in agencies like Social Security, Health and Human Services, and Housing, as well as highly confidential information exchanged by various military branches, all require both security and efficiency to enable reliable, complex communications and data exchanges.

And to add another element that can impact efficiency, government compliance requirements such as FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards), FISMA (Federal Information and Security Management Act), HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), and PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) all impose governance around file movements that can impact efficiency without the power of automation and streamlined processes.

Without a process or technical solution that simultaneously addresses security, compliance, and efficiency, the data exchange process for government agencies at any level can get severely bogged down. A secure file transfer solution can address these needs with a user-friendly application on-premises or in the cloud.

Why File Transfer Efficiency is Critical

Sheer volume. The number of files exchanged across federal, state and local government agencies is extremely challenging to determine due to the vast and varied nature of operations. Files are exchanged between departments, between agencies, and to and from the public at large for everything from passport applications to Social Security payments, to community health initiatives to billion-dollar purchases for military equipment.

A few glimpses of the volume of information exchanged just within federal agencies show a small hint of this scale:

• Digital Retrievals: In 2024, the Government Publishing Office’s platform, GovInfo, saw 1.7 billion downloads of related information. This was an increase of 47 % from 2023.
• Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Inquiries: The latest data from FOIA shows the agency processed more than 1.1 million requests to retrieve and share files and documents in 2023.
• Federal Payment System (ACH) Transactions: Electronic payments sent among and between government agencies and the public numbered 1.848 billion to the tune of $8.533 trillion in 2024. Again, showing the sheer scale of transactions handled annually,

The volume and scale of data exchanges in government — from the general public requesting records to electronic financial transactions to inter-agency file exchanges — simply can’t be overstated.

How Does MFT Streamline File Transfers?

A robust MFT solution can strip the complexity and cumbersome nature from legacy or even manual file transfer processes. GoAnywhere MFT, specifically, can improve efficiency through:

File Transfer Automation

By automating and eliminating manual processes on multi-step workflows, government agencies can both streamline the process and reduce the all-too-real risk of human error that comes with human intervention on repetitive file exchanges.

In addition, MFT automation can:

• Automatically encrypt data using FIPS 140-2 compliant AES, Triple DES and TLS algorithms
• Manage recurrent file transfers, especially high-volume transfers
• Monitor folders on premises and in the cloud
• Send emails and SMS alerts when triggered events occur
• Test and debug automatic file transfer workflows

Built in Controls

Controlling how files get exchanged with automation and built-in controls is a key benefit of robust MFT. A user-friendly admin console with one-click ease means government personnel can focus on higher priority initiatives instead of repetitive manual processes.

• Centralize file transfer processes to control file access and add efficiency
• Automatic re-tries help ensure file transfers are completed, even if the network experiences difficulties during transmittal.
• Built-in scheduling lets users manage exactly when specific files should move between systems or between trading partners.
• Require authentication for all users so only intended parties can access data

Plus, users can get even more control by setting the level of proactive protection against bad actors with Threat Brain. This built-in feature is unique to GoAnywhere and aggregates indicators from Fortra’s deep portfolio of cybersecurity solutions to continuously identify and block IPs with bad reputations or malicious intent before those threats enter the MFT environment.

On-demand Webinar: Streamlining the Exchange of Secure Data

File Acceleration Streamlines Remote Location File Transfers

GoAnywhere MFT can address the needs of the military or other agencies needing to exchange files from remote locations, sites with poor connections, or even ship-to-shore situations with accelerated file transfer capabilities for quick and easy collaboration even in challenging conditions.

File acceleration solutions such as GoAnywhere and FileCatalyst from Fortra use UDP-based technology to allow for file transfers at speeds hundreds of times faster than traditional FTPs with a file sharing speed that exceeds 10 Gbps.

This high-speed file transfer addresses issues traditional file transfer solutions can’t, such as using bandwidth more efficiently and executing file transfer processes more accurately, especially important with very large file transfers or long-distance exchanges.