Secure Your Out-Of-Office Work with MFT and Secure Mail

Though the holiday season is fast approaching, for too many business owners and corporate warriors, “holidays” aren’t a complete reprieve from keeping the business running. 

Many will find themselves reviewing confidential documents in hotel rooms or transferring files from a cafe or pool deck.  The ability to work anywhere is an expected aspect of our connected modern business lives.  

However, this convenience comes with a hidden cost beyond work/life balance.  Public wi-fi and mobile hotspots may be convenient, but they’re also prime targets for cybercriminals.  

Unsecured networks in holiday destinations can expose sensitive data to serious threats.  But a Managed File Transfer (MFT) solution with a Secure Mail module can ensure your files remain protected no matter where you work. 

The Hidden Risks of Public Networks 

Unsecured connections are more than just slow—they’re dangerous. Common risks include: 

• Rogue access points that mimic legitimate Wi-Fi 

• Man-in-the-middle attacks intercepting communications 

• Packet sniffing and eavesdropping on data streams 

• Session hijacking to steal credentials 

• Malware injection during transfers 

• Credential harvesting for identity theft 

Real world data proves these aren’t just hypothetical risks. NordVPN recently reported that 70% of Australians use public Wi-Fi on smartphones, with a significant number connecting for work, especially while commuting or working remotely.   

Surprisingly, many do so without a VPN, putting their work and their employers’ data at risk. 

VPNs Aren’t Enough 

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt traffic, but they don’t secure the entire file transfer process. VPNs cannot enforce role-based access controls, provide file-level auditing and reporting, authenticate users with precision or guarantee compliance with data protection standards. 

A VPN may protect the connection, but only MFT ensures the files themselves are transferred securely and in compliance with regulations. 

How MFT Protects Remote File Transfers 

Solutions like the industry-leading GoAnywhere MFT are designed to safeguard sensitive data even when you and your employees are working off-site. Key features include: 

• Secure protocols: SFTP, HTTPS, AS2, and FTPS ensure uncompromised transfers. 

• Encryption: AES-256, TLS, and SSL protect files both at rest and in motion. 

• Authentication controls: Prevent unauthorised users from initiating transfers. 

• Role-based access: Limit data visibility to only those who need it. 

• Auditing and logging: Create compliance-ready audit trails and visibility into file activity. 

• Automation: Schedule or trigger transfers to reduce human error and eliminate risky manual uploads. 

Secure Mail Completes the Protection 

GoAnywhere’s Secure Mail Module enables your employees to send messages and files as secure "packages" on an ad-hoc basis.  

Recipients get an email with a unique link to each package, allowing them to download the message and files through a secure HTTPS connection. It’s a great, secure alternative to regular email, plus there are no file size or file type restrictions. 

Best Practices for Remote File Transfer Security 

Whether you’re uploading contracts from a hotel room, or signing off on the quarter’s accounts, using email or free cloud storage could expose that data to attackers.  

By using MFT, however, that transfer will be encrypted, authenticated, and logged—removing risk from the equation. 

More broadly, it’s always best to prefer secure Wi-Fi or personal hotspots over public networks, avoid free cloud storage services, and avoid using USB drives for confidential files. 

Work from Anywhere Without Compromising Security 

Flexibility doesn’t have to mean vulnerability. With GoAnywhere MFT, employees can securely send and receive sensitive files from anywhere in the world—whether working from home or halfway across the globe. Automated, encrypted transfers protect data and provide peace of mind.  

Local Experts 

At Generic Systems Australia, we’re Australia’s and New Zealand’s experts in Managed File Transfer.   As one of Fortra’s top ten partners globally, we have decades of experience helping local companies install and leverage the world’s leading MFT solution. 

Let me know if you’d like an obligation-free chat about how MFT could secure your remote workers’ file transfers.