What Is Managed File Transfer (MFT)?

Offered as both a software and a service, Managed file transfer (MFT) is a technology platform that helps organizations manage various file transfer needs and requirements, many of which include data security, operational efficiency, governance, and compliance. With an MFT platform, users can develop a more layered approach when it comes to their data security strategy.

Managing file transfers and their various requirements can be extremely time-consuming and inefficient, when managed without an MFT platform. File transfer requirements have quickly evolved over the years. Some organizations may move high volumes of data, others may manage sensitive and compliance-protected data, while other organizations may have extremely complex file transfer workflows to manage.

The MFT platform provides secure and controlled data access to SMB and enterprise users. When businesses choose the right MFT software and MFT vendor, they can efficiently manage their data and data processes with security, authentication, and integration.

In short, an MFT platform can help a business accomplish multiple data-related objectives, unlike a standard file transfer protocol (FTP) that is only able to move files from one location to another.

Organizations often choose MFT because the platform can:

Help Support Compliance Requirements

If you are tasked with meeting compliance requirements, then an MFT platform can help, especially when compared with the standard file transfer protocol. Compliance requirements from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH), EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), among many others, all require security-supporting policies and processes.

Securely Manage Sensitive Data

MFT software supports the secure management of sensitive data. Whether it is proprietary data, employee or patient information, or credit card data, MFT minimizes endpoints that are commonly vulnerable when data is in motion.

Enhance Operational Efficiency

MFT also offers efficiency and scalability benefits. It helps companies keep business operations in motion, even as their file transfer workflows grow in size, complexity, and volume. When strict SLAs are in place, MFT keeps data moving, instead of being stifled by inefficient processes or an inflexible IT infrastructure.

Protecting data in today’s highly regulated and growing data landscape requires a proactive approach. It means evaluating your existing system of data management and security policies and practices to ensure that you meet current and upcoming compliance regulations and mandates. At the same time, it also means that you must reduce or eliminate system vulnerabilities that are often a result of inadequate security practices and system inefficiencies.

MFT can be beneficial to your organization if you are dealing with any of the following common data integration challenges:

• Interoperability failures
• Data downtime
• Minimal scalability
• No control or visibility over your data or IT infrastructure

In addition, if your IT Infrastructure requires communication and engagement with any of the industry-standard protocols (i.e., FTP, FTPS, HTTP, HTTPS, AS2, and SFTP), then you might benefit from MFT technology.