Managed file transfer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A managed file transfer (MFT) application is a software product that provides organizations with a holistic solution to their file transfer needs. The responsibilities of a MFT suite include securing the data by encrypting the transmission channel or the data itself, managing trading partners and the way they are authenticated, automating transfers to ensure that service level agreements are met, and monitoring and reporting file transfer activity for accountability. Many managed file transfer applications also provide additional security features such as using DMZ gateways to stream the data through the DMZ to a backend server so that no sensitive data resides in the DMZ. Other common features include integration and customization capabilities.
Businesses choose MFT suites to reduce their operational costs. For example, checkpoint restart features eliminate the need to retransmit a file from the beginning if a connection breaks up. Automatic notifications on successful and unsuccessful file transfers immediately let organizations know what is happening to their data reducing the delay to find problems and take corrective action. Another major business driver for companies is regulatory compliance such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, Gramm-Leach Bliley Act (GLBA), and Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Typically managed file transfer applications are installed as software. Some vendors also provide managed file transfer solutions on a dedicated appliance.
