MFT vs SFTP: Which is the Best Secure File Transfer Solution?

SFTP and MFT are both solutions for secure file transfer, with their own sets of pros and cons.  But when deciding which one is right for you, how do you know what to look for? We break down the differences between MFT and SFTP so you can decide which option is best for your needs. 

What are SFTP and MFT? 

Before going into details and comparisons, it's important to know what the two things are. 

SFTP stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol, which is a method to securely send files between two systems. At its most basic level, SFTP lets two systems--a local and remote host--communicate and transfer data between one another with powerful encryption that adds another layer of security to file transfers. 

MFT stands for Managed File Transfer, which is a platform that facilitates a transfer between different systems. An MFT platform not only transfers, but it can also act on files like running workflows to download, rename, and move any files that are uploaded to a specific folder. The specific functions will depend on the platform, but think of MFT as a one-stop shop for all things related to transferring files. 

You can probably see that comparing SFTP and MFT is like comparing apples and pears; sort of similar but hard to directly compare. MFT can use the SFTP protocol as a method to transfer files, so SFTP can be part of MFT but doesn't have to be. 

Don't worry, we'll explain in more detail so it all makes sense. 

How does SFTP work?

You may have heard of FTP (File Transfer Protocol), the original method to transfer files. FTP was an easy way to transfer files to or from a local host. The problem? It was unencrypted, which became more of a problem as technologies advanced. Enter SFTP, or Secure File Transfer Protocol, the new go-to method for sending files safely over the internet. While they have a similar name, FTP and SFTP are actually two entirely separate protocols. 

Think of SFTP like an unbreakable tunnel for your files. Files travel through it safely while outsiders can't get a glimpse of what's inside, let alone break in and steal the files. An SFTP server is one end of the tunnel, pushing or pulling files through the tunnel safely.

SFTP uses Secure Shell (SSH) encryption, a method to securely send commands over a network. SFTP supports both password and key-based authentication and isn't isolated to a single operating system. Simple file transfers is probably the most common use of SFTP, but it also has file management capabilities like the ability to copy or rename files and folders. 

For a more in-depth look into SFTP, see our article What is SFTP? 

What exactly is Managed File Transfer (MFT)?

MFT can refer to many different solutions, but one way to think of it is the Swiss Army knife of file transfers. In most cases, your MFT platform will be what you use to manage the entire file transfer process, not just moving the files between the source and destination. 

While MFT will almost always include SFTP, it also has support for other transfer protocols such as FTP, SCP, and Rsync. This gives wider flexibility because a platform might only support one of these, but you can then move files between systems that support other ones. For instance, you can use MFT to pull files from system that supports FTP connections only, then push to another system that supports SFTP only, using MFT as the bridge between the two. 

Managed File Transfer works as a central dashboard for file transfers, one place to decide what to move, where to move, and how to move files. You can specify a transfer protocol, and many will integrate with your existing systems without any code. Once connected, you can automate transfers between your systems and perform file actions like renaming, encrypting, and deleting files all from the MFT dashboard, sometimes without having to write a line of code. 

MFT is a technology platform that encompasses all aspects of file transfer, including moving, protecting, and updating files. For more details, see our article What is Managed File Transfer? 

Comparing MFT and SFTP

The best secure file transfer solution for your organization will depend on what factors are important to your business. Some important things to consider are how well they work with your existing systems, the level of security you need, and what you need for file transfer automation capabilities. 

How well do SFTP and MFT work with your existing systems?

In order to transfer files, your systems have to support the protocol you use. SFTP is one of the most widely supported protocols, so you're able to connect to many systems with it. In some cases this may involve custom scripting or a few steps to find out how to make the connection, but from there, it's relatively straightforward. For instance, you can connect to SFTP via the command line and run transfers and file actions directly from there. 

Any good MFT platform will support SFTP, so it has all the same capabilities plus some. Connections are usually simpler, and often come pre-built for the most popular applications, with support for connecting via API for custom integrations. MFT will usually be able to update file metadata like changing the name or adding the encryption, along with making a copy and moving/relocating the file. However, it won't make a change to the file data itself like updating rows in a CSV. For that, you'd need an ELT/ETL application--which tends to come at a significantly higher cost. 

MFT typically offers more flexibility and integration options. It's designed to work with various systems, making it easier to transfer files over the internet between different platforms.

How do MFT and SFTP stack up in terms of security?

When it comes to keeping your data safe, both SFTP and MFT are highly secure for the transfer operation itself. However, SFTP vs MFT for security involves other elements as well, as you can see in the table below. 

SFTP encrypts both commands and data, providing a secure channel for file transfers. However, an MFT solution takes security a step further by providing data loss prevention tools and support for multiple secure protocols. Audit trails tend to be more comprehensive and easier to read as well, without having to configure advanced options or parse logs. 

What can SFTP and MFT do to automate your workflows?

If you need to perform regular file transfers, automation can save you time and reduce errors. 

SFTP automation

SFTP automation can handle basic transfers, which is enough if you only need to move a couple of files occasionally. You can use scripting to automate these processes, which are usually automating SFTP using CLI based on parameters you can configure. While you can schedule these to happen regularly, you'll be limited on what you can schedule without additional software. 

MFT automation

One of the main benefits of using managed file transfer is the ability to automate transfers. Because MFT supports multiple protocols and tends to have native connectors, you can often build complex, multi-step workflows to transfer and act on files on a regular schedule or based on an event like a new file uploaded to a specific folder.

With many solutions, you can set detailed criteria like only triggering when an uploaded file matches a naming format or was added by a specific user. You'll also get more detailed error handling and notifications, so you can be aware of successes or failures and reduce disruptions. 

Overall, MFT's automation capabilities give you a clear advantage. You can automate more file transfer processes, reducing manual intervention and the risk of errors. 

What are some other key differences between MFT and traditional file transfer methods?

Understanding the differences between MFT and traditional methods like FTP or SFTP is crucial for making the right choice.

1. Management capabilities: MFT provides a centralized platform for managing all file transfer activities, whereas SFTP requires separate management tools to keep track of and update configurations. 
2. Complexity: Setting up simple SFTP transfers is relatively simple, especially for one-off transactions. But as you get into more complex transfers or want to run regular transfers with file actions, MFT becomes simpler to use and manage. 
3. Compliance: Both SFTP and MFT will be compliant with many standards. However, many MFT solutions are often built with compliance in mind, offering features that make it easier to meet regulatory requirements.
4. Scalability: MFT is designed to scale with your business, handling increasing volumes and complexity of file transfers more easily than SFTP alone. You can often clone and update working automations to apply to new scenarios as well. 
5. Cost: SFTP on its own is free to use. There may be costs associated with setting up a server, but in general it will be much cheaper than a full managed file transfer platform. 

In most areas, MFT pulls out ahead, and often by a wide margin. And the more complex the file transfer needs, the greater the difference between the two, with MFT becoming more and more powerful as usage grows. 

If MFT is more powerful, why ever use SFTP? 

It's true that MFT offers more capabilities, better security, and increased flexibility compared to SFTP (and sometimes includes SFTP itself). So why would you ever use a basic SFTP server over an MFT platform? 

Typically, SFTP is the stronger choice in two categories: complexity and price. 

Some MFT servers require reading through pages of documentation, go through complex onboarding, and configure advanced infrastructure just to get started. They'll typically require stronger devices to power, and take some time to get up and running properly. SFTP is built in to most devices by default, and all you need to do is find out how to connect, which can be done using something like an SFTP client that has a graphical interface. When you have the connection details, you can get started in minutes. For simple file transfers that don't happen often, SFTP can be the easier option. 

While MFT is much more capable, that capability comes at a price. Expect to pay several times more for MFT than for an SFTP server, sometimes 10x or more. When you need everything that comes with a managed file transfer platform this is a good investment. But if you only need to move a couple files every few days, you'll be paying a lot more for to accomplish the task and the extra benefits of MFT probably won't be useful to you anyway. 

MFT vs SFTP: Making the right choice for your organization

Choosing between SFTP and MFT is about finding the right solution to support your business operations and file transfer needs. 

SFTP offers a solid, secure method for transferring files. It's a great choice if you have a businesses that needs simple file transfer capabilities and you have a smaller budget.  

MFT provides a comprehensive platform for managing all aspects of file transfer. It's ideal for businesses with complex workflows, high security and compliance needs, or those looking to automate and optimize their file transfer processes.

With the right tool, you can get more than something that can move files from one place to another. Choosing the right tool can impact your data security, operational efficiency, and ability to scale. If you plan on scaling and growing your business, chances are your file transfer needs will scale as well, and managed file transfer can be better long term. The problems would be if MFT is out of your budget or too complex to invest time into learning.

But what if you could get all of the power of managed file transfer without the complexity, all for the cost of a simple SFTP server? That's where Couchdrop comes in. 

Try Couchdrop for a simpler MFT platform

With Couchdrop, you get enterprise-grade file transfer features without the enterprise-grade difficulties.  Couchdrop connects to dozens of platforms, and gives you both an SFTP server and an MFT platform, so you never have to choose between one or the other. All this without needing to write a line of code, set up virtual machines, or update config files. Couchdrop does it all for you. 

Get the power of managed file transfer without enormous costs and fast and easy setup with Couchdrop. Try Couchdrop free for 14 days, with no credit card or demo required. Sign up now to get started.