Secure Alternatives to FTP
AS2
AS2, part of the Applicability Statement family, is one of the top file transfer protocols for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) information. AS2 uses a secure TLS layer to secure data in transit and gives users the option of using a digital certification for authentication.
Learn more about AS2
HTTPS
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure version of HTTP, offering certificate authentication, encrypting a website’s inbound traffic, and using a TLS encryption layer for data integrity and privacy. HTTPS protects the identity, account details, payment information, and other sensitive details on behalf of web visitors.
Learn more about HTTPS
SFTP and FTPS
Secure Shell (SSH) File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) and File Transfer Protocol over SSL/TLS (FTPS) are two of the better-known secure protocols.
|
SFTP |
FTPS |
Port for secure FTP |
Uses only port 22. |
Uses multiple port numbers; one for the command channel, and an additional port on the data channel for every file transfer request or directory listing request. |
Authenticating connections |
Choice to use a user ID and password to connect to an SFTP server or to use SSH keys with or instead of passwords. |
Uses TLS/SSL to encrypt server connections and X.509 certificates to authenticate the connections. |
Authentication |
Algorithms like AES and Triple DES are used to encrypt transferred data. |
Speed |
Control and synchronization packets are sent on the same channel as data packets, which may cause SFTP to be slightly (but not significantly) slower than FTPS. |
Was designed to be more speed-friendly, with the control and data channel running asynchronously. |
Implementation |
Considered the easiest secure FTP protocol to implement. |
Can be difficult to patch through a tightly-secured firewall. |
Related reading: SFTP vs. FTPS: What’s the Best Protocol for Secure FTP?
What is FTPS?
FTPS allows you to connect securely with your trading partners, customers, and users. To verify authenticity, FTPS uses a combination of user IDs, passwords, and certificates. FTPS uses TLS to encrypt server connections, X.509 to authenticate connections, and AES and Trip DES to encrypt file transfers.
Related reading: What is FTPS?
What is SFTP?
SFTP, which stands for SSH File Transfer Protocol or Secure File Transfer Protocol, works over the Secure Shell (SSH) data stream to establish a secure connection and provide organizations with a higher level of file protection. Unlike FTPS, SFTP only needs a single port number (port 22) to establish a secure connection. SFTP solutions work in Windows, Linux, and most other major platforms.
Related reading: How SFTP Works
How Secure is SFTP?
Is SFTP secure enough for you? While SFTP solutions do not require two-factor authentication, you do have the choice to require both a user ID and password, as well as SSH keys, for a more secure connection.