Why Do I Need a Managed File Transfer Solution?

With data breaches and cyber-attacks seemingly now a daily occurrence, it’s no surprise to see technologies that can help secure sensitive data increasing in popularity and deployment. One such technology is Managed File Transfer – a software solution to automate the encryption, decryption, and transfer of files between internal departments, customers, and partner organizations, as well as remote automated systems for payroll, pension and invoicing.

Encryption is of course mandatory for organizations who need to comply with regulations such as HIPAA or SOX, and there are free encryption tools readily available on the market that can be used to encrypt, decrypt, and send sensitive data, so why use a managed file transfer solution? Over and above encryption, what other benefits do they bring?

The Benefits of Managed File Transfer

As the name suggests, managed file transfer (MFT) solutions provide organizations with complete management and oversight of the process from start to finish. They automatically encrypt and send files without user intervention, which is a huge advantage for any organization, but especially ones that share large volumes of data on a regular basis such as healthcare organizations or those working in professional services. Another key feature is the ability to control the type of data users can send and receive. This is useful when handling PII or classified sensitive data, as it ensures the data is not incorrectly exposed or does not end up in the wrong hands. Also, the ability to monitor, audit and report on the data being transferred is of significant value to organizations in helping meet their data privacy requirements

On top of making sure the right data reaches the right person, organizations also need to ensure the files transferred from one system to another do not contain any malicious content. MFT solutions can be easily integrated with data loss prevention (DLP) tools so that the risk of malware and other advanced persistent threats are eliminated. DLP solutions also sanitize files of hidden metadata and ensures that only certain file types are transferred. This is reassuring if you are a public-facing organization on the receiving end of data, such as local government organizations receiving planning applications or financial institutions receiving loan or mortgage applications.

GoAnywhere MFT and Clearswift

Recognizing the synergy between MFT solutions and DLP tools, Fortra acquired Clearswift at the end of 2019. Since then, our customers have recognized the benefits of using GoAnywhere, Fortra's MFT solution, with our Secure ICAP Gateway. The two together create a collaboration platform with award-winning levels of automation, management, and security – one that’s easy to set up and administer and can be hosted either on premise or in the cloud.

In today’s cybersecurity world, data is a valuable commodity and organizations need to do all they can to ensure it is handled correctly and is well protected. MFT solutions help facilitate this need and in doing so are fast becoming an essential part of an organization’s cybersecurity strategy.