If you need to send files to people at your company or collaborate with a 3rd party, then try our File Transfer Management software. Our easy to use solution will ensure that everyone has the right version of a file and that nobody is waiting around for content. We can help you keep track of who has what and when they are supposed to get it by integrating with other systems.
In this guide, we review the aspects of File Transfer Management Software, managed file transfer vendors, managed file transfer open source, and scheduled file transfer software.
File Transfer Management Software
Sending and receiving files is one of the most important things you can do as a business. This can be especially true for companies that have remote employees or if your business is a B2B company and/or does not do face to face meetings with clients. Without the proper software, it is easy for files to get lost in transit or arrive at the wrong place at the wrong time, which means wasted time and lost opportunities.
What is file transfer management software?
File transfer management software is a type of software that helps you send, receive and track files. It can be used to send files via email, FTP or other methods.
It can also be used for internal file transfers or for file transfers to customers, suppliers and partners.
File transfer management software features
File transfer management software is a system that helps you send, receive, and track files. You can use it to send files to clients, vendors, and partners. The software can help you manage your file transfers by tracking the status of each file. It also allows you to set up rules and filters to automate file transfers based on criteria such as sender or recipient email address.
File transfer management software options
There are several options for file transfer management software.
- You could use a folder synchronization tool like FolderSync, which allows you to keep a local copy of your cloud storage and sync files between it and your computer.
- If you’re using Google Drive or Dropbox for business, then one of these services’ desktop clients may be the best choice for handling large file transfers. Google has a great one called Drive File Stream that costs $9 per user per month (or as much as Office 365 Business Essentials), while Dropbox offers its own desktop app at no charge to all users.
- If you’re looking for something with more features than what’s available in Windows Explorer or Finder on macOS, consider WinZip Self-Extractor (Windows), BoxCryptor (Windows & macOS), SyncBack SE Personal Edition (Windows), Syncovery Pro Personal Edition (Windows) or Cloudberry Backup Personal Edition (Windows). Each one provides some way of organizing files into “folders” based on their content rather than their location on your hard drive—for example: four different folders might contain three different PDFs and two photos taken from two different cameras but all stored under the same parent folder in Dropbox’s website interface because they’re related by being captured within minutes of each other.
How much does file transfer management software cost?
There are a few factors that determine the price of file transfer management software, including:
- The features you need. If you’re looking for one-click sharing, for example, this will increase your costs.
- The number of users in your organization who need to use the tool. A free version might come with limitations on how many people can use it at once—but if there’s no limit on how many people can access the tool and how often they’re using it, then paying up front or on a monthly basis may be more worthwhile than opting for an unlimited tier (although even these usually have some cap).
- Your bandwidth consumption and storage needs. If you need to send out large files or work with very high volume transfers, then storage space will be another factor to consider when setting up a package plan that works best with those requirements.
What are the benefits of using file transfer management software?
File transfer management software can help you to improve your productivity, collaboration and security.
- File transfer management software will reduce the costs of your business by automating the file sharing process and removing the need for multiple platforms to handle different types of data.
- This means that you will be able to send files quickly and securely with one system across all devices, thus increasing productivity as well as improving collaboration between employees who work remotely in locations such as home offices or traveling sales staff.
- The software also reduces errors in sending files because it is easier to use than emailing documents one at a time. By using an FTP client, you can upload files directly from any application without having them stored locally first which makes them susceptible to being lost if anything happens during transmission or storage issues occur later on down the line – such as when someone deletes them by accident!
File transfer management software helps you send, receive and track files.
File transfer management software helps you send, receive and track files. It makes tracking the status of your files easier than ever before by giving you a central location to view all of your file transfers at once.
managed file transfer vendors
Shopping for managed file transfer software vendors? This comprehensive buyer’s guide shows you the best option for your organization.
What is MFT software? Managed file transfer software is a program or service that manages the secure transferring of data and files from one person to another via a network. Many large enterprises use this software rather than FTP or HTTP.
Enterprise File Transfer
The term MFT (managed file transfer) is used to describe the process of transferring digital files between two or more systems over a network. Managed file transfer solutions are typically cloud-based solutions that are designed to provide more secure and reliable file transfers than traditional FTP (File Transfer Protocol). These solutions can improve overall file transfer success rates and security. They also often provide other features such as encryption, data compression, logging, auditing, and archiving. MFT solutions can be used to transfer large files and folders between systems, as well as data between applications and databases.
Why Is Managed File Transfer So Important for Enterprise Businesses?
File transfer is an integral part of enterprise business in our data-driven world. Just moving files from one place to another is not enough, however. Enterprise businesses call for advanced tools to schedule and secure their file transfers, and to gather insight from how their people interact with that data.
Initial file transfer protocols, namely FTP, did not come complete with security features. Protocols like FTP filled the gap by building an FTP solution with end-to-end encryption so that data transmitted over public networks couldn’t be read if intercepted.
At the enterprise level, however, several additional considerations play into file transfer:
How Managed File Transfer Works
MFT is a type of technology that securely exchanges files between different users, systems, and organizations. MFT ensures that the files are transferred with high security and reliability, typically using encryption and digital signatures.
The MFT workflow typically involves generating a secure connection between the sender and recipient systems and establishing an appropriate security protocol to protect the transfer. The file is then uploaded to the MFT system by the sender, who is usually provided with a confirmation of the file transfer upon successful completion. The MFT system then verifies the authenticity of the file against the sender’s digital signature and authenticates the recipient against the set parameters. Upon authentication, the file is transferred to its designated recipient, and the process is completed.
MFT also adds additional features such as automated notifications, logging, and scheduling to ensure secure, reliable, and repeatable file transfers. This makes it easier for organizations to manage their secure file transfers, as well as track, audit, and report on the status of those transfers.
managed file transfer open source
Quick and secured file transfer is crucial for every business. Using secure managed file transfer (MFT) software can help you.
For any company, file transfer among its team members and other stakeholders is an inevitable part of the business process. Especially if the organization deals with IT, it should ensure fast and secure file transfer to keep up with its changing business requirements.
While there are various file transfer and file sharing modes, managed file transfer solutions have become quite popular in recent times. Here, you will learn about secure managed file transfer, its features, and the top managed file transfer software applications.
What is Managed File Transfer?
Managed file transfer or MFT is a trustworthy and efficient mode of secure file transfer. MFT tools encrypt your file or data using Open PGP, AES ciphers, or other protocols before sending it to the recipient.
It is considered to be superior to other file transfer methods and protocols such as file transfer protocol (FTP), secure file transfer protocol (SFTP), and hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP.) MFT is suitable for transferring compliance-protected, sensitive, or high-volume data.
For this reason, companies that belong to retail, manufacturing, healthcare, banking, telecommunication, and insurance prefer this method over other technologies.
Difference Between MFT and Other File Sharing Options
Take a look at how MFT is different from other popular file transfer protocols:
Benefits of Using Managed File Transfer Solutions
Visibility
It is possible to mitigate damage by anticipating and overviewing risk factors. MFT offers operational visibility over issues like failed transfers that help you with proactive issue resolution and compliance with SLA.
Scalability
With global business expansion, the file transfer requirements of a company are likely to go up over time. As a result, you will need more file transfer bandwidth and new file sharing modules. MFT solutions can help you keep pace with the growth of your company.
Security
For any company, avoiding failed file transfers and data breaches are some of the best ways to retain its reputation. MFT provides companies with a preventive security strategy. Also, it protects your data during the file transfer and at rest through features like real-time monitoring and validation security policies.
Budget-Friendly Customization
Data and file sharing requirements vary from company to company. There are various managed file transfer software apps in the market that offers a customizable solution. Users can go for the MFT tool that suits their budget.
Compliance
Your company has to abide by some legal and industry-specific rules and compliances depending on the industry. These might include Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) 🩺and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS.)
The modern-day MFT system is highly configured to fulfill security requirements by encrypting, monitoring the transfer, and storing vital data.
Regular Updates
If your business deals with sensitive and critical data, you need to be extra careful about sharing it with others. To keep your files secured from hackers, you should use solutions that offer regular updates. MFT tools provide updates to help you stay ahead with evolving data security requirements.
Flexibility
Some organizations prefer deploying only on-premise applications, while others use cloud-based services. Apart from these, a group of businesses uses a hybrid solution. No matter which policy you follow, you can get an MFT tool to deploy where you want.
Features of Managed File Transfer Software
Companies often opt for MFT solutions to save time, effort, money, and resources. Efficient MFT tools let you monitor and audit the file transfer process. Before choosing a tool for secure managed file transfer, check if it has the following features:
Ease-of-Use: Go for an app that improves your productivity and does not require you to write scripts for data transfer.
Extensive File Type Support: Before choosing an MFT tool, you should check how many file types it supports for transfer. It should transfer PDFs, multimedia files, XML, EDI, and email.
Security: Your MFT tool should offer optimum security (encryption) features in transit and at rest for both internal and external transfers.
Data Analytics: If you want to gather data about file transfer for HIPAA compliance, it is better to opt for tools with built-in analytics and reporting features.
Central Workflow Automation: A good MFT tool will allow you to manage and schedule file transfers from an integrated platform.
Complete Visibility: MFT software should be able to offer you 360-degree visibility, so you can see who is sharing what using the system.
To help you find the right managed file transfer solution, here is a list of top MFT software:
Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC MFT)
There are many secure MFT solutions on the market, but CIC MFT is the top pick when it comes to seamlessly connecting to partners & infrastructure and integrating with complex automated processes.
CIC MFT is an award-winning secure managed file transfer software that provides extensive features and functionality to secure your file transfer environment and govern your trading partner community. CIC MFT was built to be easy for you to use. The platform provides complete protocol support, security, end-user authentication/ single sign-on, and visibility/ dashboards/reporting.
CIC MFT is built to scale with your business needs. The technology handles deployments from small businesses all the way to multi-billion-dollar enterprises without a hiccup. Other notable platform features include:
When it comes to service options, businesses can choose from self-service, managed services, or a blended approach – ensuring complete flexibility and control over their MFT strategy.
GoAnywhere
GoAnywhere is a secure managed file transfer software that enables file transfers between persons and servers. Users can run it on Windows, Linux, IBM i OS, and AIX and have centralized control over the whole process.
This tool can perform bulk file transfers according to enterprise requirements by load balancing. Its features like an intuitive interface and complete workflow are sufficient for your organizational needs.
To ensure complete flexibility, GoAnywhere offers multiple deployment options. Moreover, you can integrate it with different cloud and web apps your organization uses. As a disaster recovery measure, this tool offers active-active automatic failover.
Progress MOVEit
Using MFT software Progress MOVEit, organizations can minimize enterprise mobility-related risks. This open-source framework comes with the necessary features, such as central access controls, data encryption, and tracking.
All these attributes ensure that your organizational file transfer complies with SLA and becomes operationally reliable. Furthermore, using its collaboration capability feature, users can transfer files with internal and external users.
Progress MOVEit supports advanced automated workflow without scripting. This platform infrastructure also offers a customized solution for mobile device management if your company has many mobile device 📱users who take part in file transfer.
Diplomat MFT
If your company is looking for a reliable MFT solution that can reduce the time and effort in file transfer, Diplomat MFT is the tool you are looking for. It allows you to transfer files with HTTP, HTTPS, email, and SMB servers among people connected through a local network.
This platform can be easily integrated with your day-to-day business processes. Also, you can automate your file transfer and have control over it if you use this MFT software. Therefore, there will be less business risk.
scheduled file transfer software
Automate your file transfer workflows to deliver files faster, with more reliability. Improve your workflows and orchestrate transfers across silos. Learn more.
File transfers are common and often critical to business operations. At least, it’d take business a lot longer to get anything done if inventory orders went through the mail. Fortunately, instead of waiting for mail carriers we can send important documents to business partners at the speed of light – almost.
Besides the limits of physics, there are a few things slowing our file transfers down:
We’ll take a look at how automation can drastically reduce at least those first two hurdles.
When To Automate File Transfer Workflows
As with any automation project, the first step is considering what to automate. The best way to do this is by listing your manual, day-to-day tasks and then ordering that list by how much time each week is spent on each task. Then approximate how long each task will take to automate.
The goal of this exercise is to determine if and when you have sufficient reason to automate existing file transfer workflows. You want to automate when existing manual tasks are taking too much of your time.
But this doesn’t mean you should wait for manual tasks to take up X amount of your time. Having the right tools can make it fairly easy to automate rules-based file transfer workflows, so that new tasks and workflows can be automated as you’re onboarding a new trading partner, or as you’re initiating a new business process. We’ll cover that more below.
Automating a workflow as you create the workflow reduces technical debt that you’ll otherwise have to deal with later down the road.
The more you’re able to reduce manual touchpoints, the more scalable and flexible your file transfer environment will become. Many organizations are seeing an increase in the need for file transfers as more processes become digitized, especially in regards to remote work file sharing.
Automating new and existing workflows will make it easier to meet business needs by reducing the manual tasks needed to manage an expanding file transfer environment, while at the same time reducing delays from manual handoffs and human error.
How To Automate Your File Transfers
Traditionally, IT teams have relied on custom scripting and command lines to schedule or automate tasks for FTP servers. Writing scripts offers lots of flexibility so long as you have the time. But as file transfer environments grow, relying on PowerShell becomes a hassle. Trading partners rely on different EDI tools, your own organization is relying on a variety of platforms, and writing scripts for each new change isn’t enough to keep pace with business.
The alternative then is to use automation software. Some SFTP vendors offer scheduling and automation, while native job schedulers (Windows Task Scheduler, Cron) usually include some basic file movements and transfer functionality. Most managed file transfer solutions do as well, albeit with more features and capabilities, enabling you to automate a wider range of tasks and to string those tasks into longer-running processes.
Automated file transfer tools are almost always programmatic, using building blocks to abstract away the underlying code. This makes it easier for users to assemble workflows that can trigger file uploads, notify users, update file names and much more.
There are typically two ways to set up your automation: you can schedule tasks or implement event triggers. For example, if you have invoices to send at the close of each business day, it might make sense to schedule a transfer to move files from a specified directory and sends them to the corresponding trading partner(s).
Generally speaking, if a transfer or task is repeated at routine intervals (every hour, twice a day, every day or every week), it probably makes sense to schedule that transfer to run on its own.
In other cases, automatic file transfers might be more sporadic, for example, receiving patient information. In order to cut down on the time it takes for an insurance company to process a patient’s claim, it probably makes sense to set up event triggers so that, as soon as a patient’s file is added to a directory, it is encrypted and sent along its way to insurance.
Orchestrating Your File Transfer Automation
Managed file transfer software, custom scripts and SFTP servers. Each allows you a certain degree of control and flexibility when automating your transfers. One of the drawbacks of these tools is that many cannot readily integrate with other applications or systems, or only handle limited file transfer protocols. This makes it more difficult to manage high-volume transfers across platforms.
Some MFT vendors offer platform-independent solutions that can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud, with REST API adapters that can quickly integrate virtually any application (SaaS). This enables users to stay ahead of business requirements, but more importantly it helps IT teams to break down silos — instead of different departments or office locations using separate file transfer software, a single MFT tool can be used to automate file transfers regardless of the operating systems being used.Still some other vendors are taking this a step further. Workload automation and enterprise job schedulers have long supported file transfers. Today, vendors are bringing these tools together to offer bi-directional integrations that make it easy to orchestrate secure file transfers with all your IT and business processes.