Outdated Protocols Leave Precious Data Vulnerable

Business today is critically dependant on highly interconnected systems. The ability to transfer files securely between those systems is crucial to operational integrity and efficiency.

That’s why secure file transfer solutions, which protect against unauthorised access and interception, foster trust among stakeholders, and help ensure compliance with regulatory standards, are becoming a must-have for responsible IT departments.

Surprisingly, there are still businesses who rely on outdated, insecure file transfer protocols such as FTP and email. It’s making them vulnerable to cyber criminals, who can exploit their lack of built-in protective security measures.

Open to Interception

FTP, for instance, lacks built-in encryption. Data travelling via FTP is vulnerable to interception and eavesdropping by malicious actors. This susceptibility compromises the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information.

Compounding this vulnerability is the transmission of user credentials in plain text during the FTP login process. Usernames and passwords, transmitted without encryption, can easily be intercepted by anyone with access to network traffic. This opens the door to unauthorised access across an organisation’s network, systems and sensitive data.

Using FTP scripts and batch files in automated processes significantly exacerbates the inherent security risks of FTP. The scripts themselves often contain plaintext user IDs and passwords, providing an easy-to-read roadmap for hackers and malicious software to exploit sensitive information.

Even when the FTP server is secure, leaving credentials exposed in scripts widens an organisation’s “attack surface” and compromises its security.

Compliance Risk

Compliance with regulatory standards is another key concern.

Industries such as healthcare and finance are subject to increasingly stringent data security and privacy regulations. However, with its inherent vulnerabilities and lack of encryption, traditional FTP falls well short of meeting these compliance standards, exposing organisations to regulatory scrutiny and penalties.

The risks extend beyond interception to full unauthorised redirection of data. Improperly configured or intercepted FTP connections can lead to data being redirected to unintended destinations, exposing sensitive information to unsanctioned parties and increasing the likelihood of data breaches.

Moreover, traditional FTP lacks comprehensive logging and auditing capabilities, making it challenging for administrators to track and monitor file transfers. Without proper records, it’s even more difficult to identify and address security incidents or ensure compliance with security policies and regulations.

The Cost of Outdated Protocols

Vulnerable file transfer protocols may come at a huge cost to businesses - financially and operationally. Financial loss, reputational damage, loss of customer trust, legal penalties and compensation cases add the initial business disruption.

The fallout from a breach may also require substantial resources for investigation, remediation, and recovery efforts, furthering the business disruption and loss of productivity.

Securing File Transfers

Managed File Transfer (MFT) software provides a comprehensive solution to address these modern challenges. It enhances data security through advanced features such as encryption, secure protocols, and identity authentication, ensuring sensitive data remains protected during transmission. Compliance with regulations is also facilitated by MFT’s auditing capabilities and detailed logs, helping businesses mitigate regulatory risks and build customer trust.

MFT also boosts an organisation’s efficiency and productivity. It automates file transfers, integrates seamlessly with existing systems to eliminate any need for manual intervention. That in turn cuts the risk of human error and accelerates time-to-market.

Scalable, Flexible, Centralised

Scalability and flexibility are other benefits of MFT, supporting increased data volumes, new file formats, and emerging technologies. On-prem MFT can be easily supplemented by cloud-based MFT, offering virtually unlimited scalability.  Centralised management and visibility further streamline operations by providing a unified platform for managing file transfers, and detailed insights into transfer status and performance.

By addressing the evolving needs of modern businesses, MFT has become a critical element of IT infrastructure in today’s competitive digital landscape.

Local MFT Expertise Available

Generic Systems Australia are experts in helping companies deploy Managed File Transfer. We’ve assisted hundreds of organisations across Australia and New Zealand to secure their file transfers, keep cybercriminals at bay and improve their operational efficiency.

If you’d like to discuss how we can help you, or check out GoAnywhere – the award winning MFT used by thousands of organisations worldwide - please feel welcome to contact me.  I’m always happy to have an obligation-free chat and explain how simply we can transition you from outdated protocols and approaches. 

I can even arrange a simple, zero-cost Proof of Concept.