What is Encrypted File Sharing?
Whether you’re sending data back and forth for edits or accessing a shared document, file security is important. Encrypted file sharing is a method of securely exchanging data either internally or externally by encoding data and protecting its transmission.
Data encryption uses algorithms to scramble the contents of files so that they can’t be read without the decryption key, while collaboration solutions employ various methods to keep a close eye on access and security permissions.
Related Reading: User Sharing and Collaboration: Security Concerns, and Risks
Why Use Encryption?
Without using a file encryption tool, your files are much more at risk. This can open your business to a data breach, make complying with regulations more difficult (or entirely impossible), and risk the integrity of the data you’re sharing.
6 Common Options to Encrypt Files
Whether you’re sharing data via transfer or collaborating concurrently, encryption can help you keep sensitive data safe. Here are six common options for file encryption in motion and at rest.
1.ZIP with AES
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a block cipher implemented globally. It’s a standard across industries, including for governments, because it’s easy to implement in hardware and software and difficult to break. Three main block ciphers are used, each of which uses different key lengths for encryption and decryption: AES-128 encryption uses a 128-bit key, while AES-192 and AES-256 use longer (192 and 256, respectively) key lengths. The longer the key length, the stronger the protection.
2. PGP/GPG Encryption
PGP, GPG, and Open PGP are encryption methodologies used for encrypting, decrypting, and authenticating digital files and online communication. Open PGP, as well as PGP/GPG encryption tools, use a combination of hashing, data compression, symmetric private-key cryptography, and asymmetric public-key cryptography to keep data secure.
Use our Free Open PGP Encryption Tool
3. SFTP
SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), a popular protocol used for sending files, encrypts usernames and passwords, as well as the actual files sent. The connection is encrypted over the SSH data stream, and encryption algorithms like AES and Triple DES are used to securely move data.
4. FTPS
Like SFTP, FTPS (FTP over SSL) is a more secure version of FTP, and is a popular choice for transferring encrypted file securely. FTPS allows users to connect securely to trading partners, customers, and users. When file transfers are sent, they are exchanged using FTPS and can be authenticated through FTPS-supported methods like passwords, client certificates, and server certificates.
5. AS2
Most commonly used within business and retail, AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) uses digital certificates and encryption standards to protect critical information while it’s in transit across systems, networks, and locations. AS2 messages can be compressed, signed, encrypted, and sent over a secure SSL tunnel. AS2 is one of the most streamlined protocols, which makes it stand out. It offers end-to-end encryption, user authentication, and validates file integrity throughout the file sharing process.
6. Use MFT for your Encrypted File Sharing
MFT, short for Managed File Transfer, is a type of file transfer tool that, beyond file transfers and encryption, handles management, security, automation, and more. MFT is an attractive option for many organizations because these solutions can typically handle multiple types of file transfer protocols and encryption methods. This flexibility allows organizations to employ one centralized solution to cover all their inbound and outbound file transfers from various trading partners, no matter their requirements.
Related Reading: 7 Scenarios: Which Encryption Solution to Use and When
How to Choose the Best Encryption for Your Needs
There are three major components that dictate how secure the encryption methodology is: how well the encryption security matches the data sensitivity, the strength and complexity of the scrambling algorithm, and the key length. Common private key lengths are 128 and 256 bits, while public keys are 2048 bits.
Encryption and features such as speed tend to have a tradeoff. Encrypting and decrypting take time, so some processes use less-robust encryption to maintain speedy transfer or access times. Which types of encryption you select will hinge on a number of key factors, such as:
- The sensitivity of your data
- How you plan to transmit data in and out of your organization
- File size and whether any large files need to be compressed
- When files need to be encrypted: at rest before they are sent, during transmission, or both?
- Whether your connection or channel needs to be encrypted?
- Any additional or standard encryption methods that your trading partners or others require. For regulated industries, encryption standards to meet compliance obligations can sometimes be very specific.
The above factors must be considered before choosing to send encrypted files. One popular option that provides flexibility for various industries and trading partners and needs, as well as robust encryption options at rest and in transit is managed file transfer.
Related Reading: The Ultimate Checklist for Purchasing File Encryption Software
GoAnywhere Delivers Encrypted File Sharing Solutions
GoAnywhere MFT is a centralized, easy-to-use solution for transferring sensitive data. If you’d like to see it in action, schedule a 15-, 30-, or 60-minute demonstration of encryption in action.
Or give it a try today to start locking down your sensitive data immediately.
