Secure FTP

Secure FTP or SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is a technical term synonymous to the SSH File Transfer Protocol. SSH stands for Secure Shell, and is a network protocol wherein a secure channel in the network is used to transfer data.

In the past, the preferred means of transferring and manipulating data over the Internet was via the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). However, as the need for security grew, the limitations of FTP in that field were raised by critics. For one, file contents and even passwords transferred through this protocol were simply sent as clear text, making such valuable information vulnerable to rogue individuals while in transit.

Contrary to what the name implies, Secure FTP is not a modified version of FTP. Instead, it is an entirely new protocol designed from the bottom up. Furthermore, security is not actually provided by the protocol itself, relying on the underlying protocols such as SSH 2 to do so.

One of Secure FTP’s most desired features is its capability to resume interrupted transfers. This is best appreciated when you are transferring very huge files, within the Gigabyte range. Imagine downloading a 1 GB file up to 90% until the connection fails. With Secure FTP, you only have to wait until the connection goes back and you can promptly resume download.