Remote offices and employees have changed the way we work and the technology we work with. While remote work and satellite offices open up a whole new talent pool, allow employees greater freedom, and boost employee morale, there are some negatives. The biggest issue we’ve seen with remote employees relates to security and the secure transfer of documents and data.
Your remote employees will require the same access to your data and software as those working in office, but this can open up a can of worms when it comes to protecting sensitive information related to your business.
This is where file server products come into play. FTP servers and Managed File Transfer (MFT) allow your employees to share documents and data freely, even when they’re not in the same location.
FTP vs. MFT
FTP servers perform two main tasks: get and put. By this, we mean that you can put files on the FTP server or get files from the FTP server. The only caveat is that you want to be sure these are not sensitive documents, since FTP servers are known to be less secure. However, if you’re simply looking for a way to upload non-confidential reports or documents or permit your clients to download documents that don’t require heavy protection, then FTP can be a quick and cheap solution for your business.
If you are dealing with confidential information or any documentation that falls under regulatory compliance, using an FTP server won’t be enough. Credit card data, medical records, or government documentation can all fall under a range of regulatory compliance, such as HIPAA or PCI. In this case, you will want the more robust and secure Managed File Transfer.
While you will see a considerable increase in price and implementation complexity, Managed File Transfer software offers a significantly more secure method of transferring files with other added benefits.
Benefits of MFT
Managed file transfer services provide advanced business needs when you have sensitive information that needs to be protected. MFT solutions do more than simply encrypt your files, they also offer support for secure protocols and the refusal of unsecure
connections, perimeter security, hacking detection with automated shutdown, support of security policies requiring complex and expiring passwords, and support and compliance of current regulations and privacy standards.
Beyond this impressive list of security protocols, MFT also offers a variety of automation, compliance, auditing capabilities and High Availability environments. You can also find many managed file transfer services that offer even more features, such as workflow, data loss prevention and more.
What this means for your remote employees
An MFT solution will allow your employees the security to work quickly and be comfortable in the knowledge that they are protected by the same rigorous standards as those applied to your in-office team. This will prevent any data loss or damaging data breaches that could negatively affect your company and put your customers and employees at risk.