Search Results

< News The Value of 3rd-Party Reviews 7 May 2025 Third-party review sites can be a valuable source of insight for IT teams tasked with selecting the best software solution for their organisation. Reputable and long-established sites such as PeerSpot , SoftwareReviews , G2 , and Capterra can help identify which solutions are most widely used and highest rated within your industry. This can in turn help you proceed quickly to a decision on which solution(s) to trial. Reliable Reviewers Whether you’re looking for Managed File Transfer (MFT) solutions or other software, it’s best to prioritise reviews on sites which have established themselves as trustworthy over the test of time and thousands of peer reviews. These sites capture the opinions of real product users sharing their real-life experiences – positive and negative. In fact, Gartner’s 2024 annual study of 2,499 software decision makers found that customer reviews and ratings were the most used information source by buyers, above personalised product demos, user guides, and case studies. More than a third of software buyers described reviews as “extremely important” to their purchase. Are Reviews Trustworthy? It’s illegal in Australia and New Zealand for businesses to create fake or misleading reviews or arrange for others do so. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission suggests the following red flags may indicate that a review is fake: · a spike in highly positive or negative reviews over a short period of time; · many reviews written from the same email or IP address; · similar reviewers’ names; · generic reviews without specific detail about the business or product; and · reviews written in similar language as other reviews for the same business or product. Thankfully, the trusted third-party sites I listed above have processes in place to weed out dubious software reviews. They also publish the measures they take to assure the validity of the reviews they receive. Other Sources of Insight Beyond peer reviews, here are some other useful resources to consult when selecting the right software solution for your business. · Case studies : Demonstrate how businesses are using the solution; · Product videos : Illustrate solutions’ features and benefits; · Webinars : Subject matter experts demonstrate the configuration and use of the solutions; and · Written Resources : Provide a variety of reader-friendly explanations and examples Local Advice and Guidance At Generic Systems Australia, we have decades of experience installing and supporting the world’s premier MFT , GoAnywhere, across Australia and New Zealand. Founded in 1993, we’re proud to count among our clients some of the region’s most iconic brands. Leveraging our unique skills and readily available local support, they rely on us to make their IT systems more secure and efficient, in turn, making their teams more productive. A long-term partner of Fortra (formerly Help Systems, and Linoma Software, the original authors of GoAnywhere MFT), our in depth understanding of GoAnywhere’s capabilities - including Advanced Workflows, data translation, auditing and compliance, automation and security - enables us to devise optimal deployment solutions, provide rapid Proofs of Concept, and move ahead quickly with implementation. In fact, we have exclusively managed GoAnywhere deployments for some of the region’s largest multinational corporations and Government departments, as well as small- to medium-sized businesses. Our Australia-based technical experts provide clients with the reassurance that local help will always be on-hand. If you’re exploring how to boost your efficiency and bottom line by leveraging Secure Managed File Transfer technology, please feel welcome to contact me for an obligation-free discussion. Or, if you’d prefer to read more, you can check out the many resources on our Generic Systems Australia website, including our exclusive Local MFT Buyer’s Guide . At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in MFT. Previous Next

< News Increased 3rd Party Data Sharing Increases Data Theft Risk 29 July 2024 The inability to track, control and report sensitive content shared with external contacts is a substantial risk for modern enterprises. And that risk appears to be rapidly escalating, as two-thirds of organisations each exchange sensitive data with more than a thousand third parties. These are some of the key findings from a survey conducted recently by Kiteworks, a US-based data security firm. Sensitive Content Kiteworks defines “sensitive content” as the wide variety of content commonly targeted by cyberthieves. It’s content which poses a significant threat to an organisation once bad actors get their hands on it. Sensitive content includes the data of customers and employees — personally identifiable information (PII), protected health information (PHI), and payment card industry (PCI) data. It also includes an organisation’s intellectual property (IP), legal communications and documents, financials, mergers and acquisitions data, and other types of private and confidential information. Kiteworks says that the key problem with sensitive content is how it does not stay in one place. During daily operations, it is shared not only among employees, but also with partners, suppliers, contractors, legal counsel, accountants, auditors, and more. More Comms Channels = More Risk Efficient organisations are always searching for more “frictionless” ways to move their data. However, as their number of communication channels with external parties grows, so too does the potential opportunity for bad actors to intercept and steal the data. That escalating risk is borne out by Kiteworks’ analysis. They found that organisations with more than seven communication tools experience ten plus data breaches, which is 3.5 times higher than the aggregate of those experiencing one to ten breaches. File Size Limits Exacerbate Risks The file size limits imposed by many content communication tools are a key contributor to the risks of moving data. Frustrated employees simply trying to do their jobs will sometimes use insecure and unauthorised consumer-grade file sharing services to bypass organisational limitations. Even for those employees who always follow the rules, the resulting workarounds can trigger significant waste of staff time. More than 30% of organisations surveyed by Kiteworks needed to implement workarounds due to file size limits for email, file sharing, and managed file transfers over 50 times per month. Around 10% said they must do so over 100 times per month. IT Teams Stepping Up Switched-on IT teams are increasingly focused on addressing their organisation’s need to protect sensitive content. A popular solution is to unify communication tools and channels to secure sensitive content communications. Their primary drivers for change may vary – from protecting intellectual property and corporate secrets to mitigating litigation, avoiding regulatory violations and protecting their brand reputation – but the way they are addressing these risks is similar… Control Through Consolidation Consolidating communication tools onto a single platform needs to be a foundational element of an organisation’s cyber defences. By reducing the number of disparate tools used for content communication, they can significantly lower the risk of data breaches and improve operational efficiency. Kiteworks’ survey shows that organisations with fewer communication tools experience fewer breaches. Tool consolidation significantly enhances security. MFT Consolidates, Automates, Improves Efficiency Managed File Transfer (MFT) software is a powerful technology which comprehensively addresses the risks and challenges of moving information within an organisation, and with external suppliers, partners and customers. MFT simplifies the complexities of data transfer by offering centralised control, encryption, and auditing capabilities. A significant advance on traditional approaches, MFT provides enhanced security protocols, ensuring data privacy during transmission and storage. And it does so via a user-friendly interface, which is easy to use for even non-technical employees. In addition to consolidating the plethora of disparate data exchange channels employees create during an organisation’s evolution, MFT technology provides an array of organisation advantages: Security: MFT employs robust encryption algorithms, reducing the risk of data breaches during transit. Features like Access Controls, and Multi-factor Authentication, safeguard sensitive information from unauthorised access. No Size Limit Straitjacket: The best MFT solutions enable organisations to set file size limits appropriate to their teams’ needs. They also offer “persistence protocols” which ensure large files are fully transmitted to their intended destinations. Efficiency: MFT automates repetitive tasks. This not only reduces human error, it saves significant staff time. Through scheduling of file transfers, monitoring of progress, and automatic error-handling, it enables a significant boost to operational efficiency. Compliance: In industries with strict regulatory requirements, MFT helps companies meet compliance standards (e.g. HIPAA and GDPR) by automatically maintaining detailed logs and audit trails. Scalability: Through its ability to handle large file transfers and an ever-growing number of users, MFT is able to grow in sync with an organisation's needs, while maintaining superior performance. Collaboration: In addition to improving business processes within an organisation, MFT facilitates seamless collaboration with external partners, suppliers, and customers, fostering strong relationships built on shared trust and reliability. The Best MFT At Generic Systems Australia, we recommend the industry’s class-leading MFT solution, GoAnywhere MFT . GoAnywhere is consistently declared by independent experts to be the best-in-class MFT solution. Besides achieving the highest overall score in the MFT category, GoAnywhere is also ranked highest for Vendor Capability Satisfaction, including the key dimensions of: • Business Value Created • Breadth of Features • Quality of Features • Product Strategy and Rate of Improvement • Useability and Intuitiveness • Vendor Support • Ease of Data Integration • Ease of Customisation • Availability and Quality of Training, and • Ease of Implementation GoAnywhere MFT's combination of versatility, security, ease of use, and budget-friendliness has propelled it to the top of the MFT market. Gain Expert Local Advice At Generic Systems Australia , we’re Australia’s and the Asia-Pacific region’s experts on MFT in general, and GoAnywhere in particular. If you’d like an obligation-free discussion about how we could help you keep your organisation’s sensitive content safe, please feel welcome to get in touch . We’re always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, and even offer a free Proof of Concept. Previous Next

< News Surge in Scanning Suggests Targeted Hack Attack Imminent 8 July 2025 A recently detected increase in attempts to hack MOVEit Managed File Transfer underlines the importance of promptly patching your enterprise software. Threat intelligence Firm GreyNoise has warned of a “notable surge” in hackers scanning MOVEit MFT systems. Scanning Surge GreyNoise said that the surge in attacks started on May 27. Since then, the volume of scanners has remained between 200 and 300 per day - a 20-30 times increase over usual levels. They suggested attackers may be probing for unpatched systems or possibly preparing a coordinated mass attack. The Australian Signals Directorate – Australia’s premier cyber crime combatants – advises that applying patches to applications is critical to ensuring the security of systems. “Once a vulnerability in an application is made public, it can be expected that malicious code will be developed by malicious actors within 48 hours, sometimes within 24 hours,” they said. Obviously, applying multiple patches in a production environment may not only be time consuming, it may well impact production system uptime and even create greater potential for compounded problems during the process. Alternatives Some organisations have been completely replacing their existing Managed File Transfer (MFT) systems with the MFT independently recommended as the world’s most advanced – Fortra’s GoAnywhere. GoAnywhere offers two key security advantages over lesser Managed File Transfer solutions. Firstly, it includes an advanced Threat Brain . This aggregates security intelligence from across Fortra’s deep portfolio of cybersecurity solutions and external providers to continuously identify and block IPs with malicious intent. Threat Brain enables GoAnywhere to quickly and proactively block threats before they infiltrate your organisation. Secondly, rather than merely patching its software, Fortra frequently releases complete updated versions. Upgrading the software to a new version is as simple as downloading the latest version from the Fortra customer portal, briefly stopping your existing version, and then installing it. Local Expertise Available At Generic Systems Australia we’ve helped dozens of Australian and New Zealand organisations transition to GoAnywhere quickly, simply and inexpensively. If you’d like to discuss how we can help you, please feel welcome to contact me . I’m always happy to have an obligation-free chat and even provide an obligation-free proof of concept. At Generic Systems Australia we’re your local experts in secure Managed File Transfer. Previous Next

< News Relieve Your Compliance Burden with MFT 6 July 2026 Most organisations are feeling the strain of increasing data transfer, storage and privacy compliance. Compliance failures are expensive - financially, operationally, and reputationally. Missteps can lead to fines, investigations, and long‑term damage brand damage. A common weak point is the movement of files. Thousands of sensitive documents flow through your environment every day. Even small gaps in process or security can create major compliance exposure. A modern Managed File Transfer (MFT) platform removes that pressure by giving teams a secure, governed way to move data. How File Transfers Create Compliance Risk Sending sensitive information through outdated or ad‑hoc methods - email attachments, legacy FTP, or unapproved tools - creates risk. These approaches typically provide little visibility into who accessed or moved data, depend on manual steps that introduce human error, use weak encryption and lack strong authentication, access control, and IP‑based restrictions. Without governance, every transfer is a potential compliance violation. How MFT Strengthens Compliance A secure MFT solution delivers the controls regulators expect: encryption, access management, auditability, and automated workflows. These capabilities ensure sensitive data is protected both in transit and at rest, while giving IT teams complete oversight of every movement. Solutions like GoAnywhere MFT help organisations align with compliance frameworks by standardising how data is handled across systems, users, and external partners in five ways: 1. Strong Encryption & Secure Transfer Protocols MFT platforms use hardened encryption and secure protocols to protect data end‑to‑end: AES, TLS, SSH and other modern encryption standards Secure protocols such as SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS, AS2, AS3 and AS4 Protection for data both in motion and at rest These controls form the foundation of compliant file movement. 2. Centralised Access Control & Authentication Compliance frameworks demand strict control over who can access sensitive information. MFT helps enforce this through: Role‑based access control Multi‑factor authentication Granular permissions aligned to least‑privilege principles Centralised identity management ensures only authorised users can interact with regulated data. 3. Comprehensive Audit Logging & Reporting Regulators expect organisations to prove how data is handled. MFT provides: Immutable, tamper‑resistant logs Full traceability of access and transfer activity Automated reporting to support audits This visibility is essential for many compliance regimes. 4. Workflow Governance & Policy Automation Automation reduces human error and enforces consistent handling of sensitive data. MFT enables: Repeatable, policy‑driven workflows Built‑in rules for retention, monitoring, and exception handling Business logic that ensures transfers follow regulatory requirements Governed automation keeps processes compliant at scale. 5. Secure Partner & Third‑Party Integrations Compliance doesn’t stop at your network boundary. MFT ensures external exchanges follow the same strict rules: Enforced security standards for B2B transfers Encryption and authentication for partners Reduced supply‑chain exposure Secure integration with third‑party systems and APIs This creates end‑to‑end governance across your entire ecosystem. Control, Clarity, and Consistency Across industries, compliance frameworks share a common goal: protect sensitive information through disciplined, transparent processes. Whether it’s cardholder data, personal information, or financial records, regulators expect organisations to demonstrate strong security, clear auditability, and tightly managed access. Managed File Transfer delivers these capabilities in a single, governed platform - helping organisations maintain a secure, trustworthy environment for every file’s journey. Local Help to Shoulder the Load At Generic Systems Australia , we have many years of experience helping Australian and New Zealand IT teams meet compliance requirements with the industry’s leading MFT, GoAnywhere. From the initial scoping of organisations’ legacy data transfer approaches, through zero-cost Proof of Concepts and hassle-free Migration Services , we help companies stay focused on running their business without disruption as we transition them to more secure approaches. Please get in touch if you’d like an obligation-free discussion about how GoAnywhere can help your organisation. Previous Next

< News Data Tsunami as Black Friday Sales Surge 10 Nov 2025 Data transfer traffic has already begun to surge across Australia ahead of this month’s highly-anticipated Black Friday sales event. Now the biggest sales splurge by Australians annually, Black Friday bargains are expected to generate a record $6.8B before they wind up on December 1. Adding to the momentum this year is consumer confusion over the start date (technically, November 28, the Friday after the American Thanksgiving holiday) and savvy retailers who are getting in early offering bargains. Data Transfer Tsunami The surge in sales will in turn create a tsunami of data transfers, as businesses transact, process orders, and share e-commerce files with their supply chain partners. For some businesses – those still using outdated file sharing technologies like email and FTP – this will be a hugely stressful period. They’ll need to be hyper vigilant for lost orders, failed file transfers, and man-in-the-middle hack attacks. Other businesses - those taking advantage of modern, automated file transfer technologies such as Managed File Transfer (MFT) - will weather the data tsunami with ease. MFT will comprehensively address the risks and challenges of moving information, both within their organisation, and with external suppliers, partners and customers. Through centralised control, encryption, automation and auditing, MFT will provide the security, efficiency, reliability and scalability that FTP and email never could. “Cyber Trust” Consumer trust in retailers’ e-commerce transactions will be an even more important factor in eventual sales numbers this year. High profile hacks of consumer data over the past 12 months are leading consumers to question the security of a company’s systems before handing over credit card and other information. Companies will need to be able to provide reassurance – and proof – that transactions and personal data will be secure. Companies with MFT will be better able to provide that reassurance, keeping a clean history as responsible guardians of customer data. Surf the Tsunami At Generic Systems Australia , we’re Australia’s and New Zealand’s experts in deploying MFT solutions. We routinely help retailers and their supply chain partners effortlessly stay on top of their file transfers, seamlessly scaling up to meet the heightened demands of sales surges like Black Friday, Boxing Day and the like. If you’d like to discuss how we can help you, please feel welcome to contact me . I’m always happy to have an obligation-free chat and explain how simply we can level up your file transfer approaches. I can even arrange a simple, zero-cost Proof of Concept. Previous Next

< News ASD warns on supply chain partner cyber risk 14 May 2026 The ASD recently warned that errors and vulnerabilities among supply chain providers can pose a real strategic threat to your organisation. In fact, it's a leading cause of data breaches.  When partners rely on spreadsheets, email attachments, or bespoke scripts, even small mistakes - wrong file versions, incomplete data, mis‑formatted payloads, missed deadlines - can cascade into operational failures. A Managed File Transfer (MFT) solution reduces your exposure to these kinds of errors. It replaces ad‑hoc, manual, and inconsistent file‑exchange practices with a single, governed, and automated data‑movement framework. Standardised protocols, automatic validation and end‑to‑end visibility across every transfer secure your data, regardless of your partners' internal security. Files are checked, encrypted, logged, and monitored in real time, ensuring that corrupted or non‑compliant data is caught before it enters core systems. At Generic Systems Australia, we're a global leader in implementing the world's best MFT - Fortra's GoAnywhere. We've helped dozens of Australian and NZ organisations harden their supply chains. And we're right here in Australia, ready to share our expertise with you. Previous Next

< News Five Indications Your Organisation Could Benefit from an MFT 20 May 2025 Data is the lifeblood of a modern business. Your ability to safely store and move data is fundamental to your daily operations. Your efficiency in moving and using data determines the overall speed at which your business operates. So it’s worth taking a few moments to consider how to potentially improve the way your team currently stores, protects and moves your valuable organisational data. Are they still relying on outdated file transfer protocols like FTP? Are they trusting your data to a hodge-podge of risky ad-hoc cloud dropbox-style services? Are they relying on years-old hand-coded file transfer scripts? There’s a better – safer, more robust, faster, more efficient, fully automated – way: Managed File Transfer (MFT). Here are five key indicators that your business may be ready to benefit from an MFT solution. Using Outdated Ways to Send Data? A surprising number of organisations still rely on outdated protocols and clunky scripts to move precious data around. However, these legacy methods increase the risk of human error, take time away from more critical tasks, and are difficult to maintain. An MFT is easy to use, easy to audit, requires little maintenance, and removes manual tasks from your stretched IT team’s To Do list. Increasingly Targeted by Cybercriminals? Your IT team can tell you how many cybercrime incursions they’re seeing daily. The number may shock you! With hackers escalating their efforts to extort your business and customers, it’s more essential than ever to secure your data and maintain a ‘circle of trust’ with your supply chain partners. An MFT solution, such as GoAnywhere MFT, employs the latest encryption algorithms to reduce the risk of data breaches during transit. Features like Access Controls, and Multi-factor Authentication, safeguard sensitive information from unauthorised access. New Government Regulations? In response to the impacts of escalating cybercrime on businesses and citizens, governments are imposing ever greater requirements on businesses to ensure they protect consumers’ personal data. From health data (hospital records, test results), to banking data (debit and credit card numbers, bank account details), to identity data (home address, government id), businesses that fail to take responsible measures to protect sensitive data face growing sanctions. Worse, a breach may not only cost your organisation time and money to remediate, it may also ruin your reputation. An MFT solution helps ensure your file transfers comply with regulatory requirements. Features such as auditing, reporting, role-based access, secure protocols, centralised security controls, encryption, and key management protect employee and consumer data from security mishaps. Cloud Dependencies? Many organisations have moved business processes to the cloud, and regularly exchange files with trading partners there. But transfers to and from the cloud – especially those over public telecommunications networks – require extra protection. From streamlining and automating cloud file transfers to platforms like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, to integrating with popular web and cloud services like SharePoint and Google Drive, using an MFT makes working with partners in the cloud smooth, reliable and safe. Evolving Network Conditions? Research shows that a single hour of system downtime can easily cost a medium-sized business a six-figure sum. As organisations and trading partners become increasingly integrated, it’s critical that file transfers are performed without delay or disruption. Whereas a document containing a batch of important transactions may once have been delivered over several hours, today’s fast pace of business requires it to take mere seconds. An enterprise-calibre file transfer solution should have a high availability plan in place. The right solution will provide active-passive and active-active (i.e. clustering) methods for organisations who need to keep their processes running no matter the situation at hand. Clustering provides the best high availability by running multiple servers simultaneously. Therefore, if one goes down, file transfers and workflows will continue to run on other servers so communication with your trading partners won’t be interrupted. The Leading MFT If any of these indicators ring true for you, it may be time to consider upgrading to an MFT solution. The acknowledged leading MFT, GoAnywhere, is an all-in-one solution, automating and encrypting file transfers from a centralised dashboard. GoAnywhere saves businesses time, money, and reputation. Local Expert Help At Generic Systems Australia we have decades of experience installing and customising MFT solutions to suit the needs of Australian and New Zealand businesses. If you’d like to explore how MFT can boost your organisation’s security and efficiency, please feel welcome to get in touch . I’m always ready to have a broad-ranging, no-obligation discussion. If you’d like, I can even organise a quick proof-of-concept to demonstrate how MFT can be easily tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in Managed File Transfer. Previous Next

< News Phishing Surges on the Back of QR Codes 17 July 2025 New research published by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) shows that phishing attempts have surged to levels not seen since late 2023. QR codes are increasingly the attack vector of choice. Each day, millions of emails are sent containing QR codes that lead consumers to phishing sites and malware. Q1 Lowlights · APWG observed a total of 1,003,924 phishing attacks in the first quarter of 2025 - the largest number of attacks per quarter since late 2023. · Attacks against the online payment and financial sectors grew in Q1 2025, comprising 30.9% of all attacks. · The total number of wire transfer Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks increased by 33% in Q1 2025 compared to the previous quarter. Most Targeted Industries The SaaS/Webmail sector was the most targeted industry by cyber attackers in Q1 2025, making up almost 18% of the total attack volume. The financial industry also continues to be a highly attractive sector for cyber threat attackers, with Payment, Banking, and Crypto contributing to approximately 33% of all phishing attacks in Q1 2025. QR Codes Popular QR code attacks occur when an adversary leverages QR codes to social engineer a user, such as redirecting a victim to a phishing website or to download a malicious attachment. QR codes are becoming an increasingly popular phishing tactic due to the various features they offer. Cyber attackers have been observed taking advantage of QR code features in the following ways: · The availability of free QR code generators facilitates phishing attacks due to decreased financial costs of infrastructure, and free services tend to have less resources dedicated to takedowns of legitimate service abuse and other malicious activity. · Attackers can combine QR codes with URL shorteners to obscure the true destination of the URL and thereby direct victims to malicious sites. Certain industries tend to be more prone to QR code attacks, such as Retail & Wholesale, as consumers have adapted to relying on QR codes to access these services. Burgeoning BEC APWG member Fortra tracks the identity theft technique known as “business e-mail compromise” (BEC). BEC was responsible for A$4.3B in losses in 2024 according to the IC3. In a BEC attack, a threat actor impersonates an employee, vendor, or other trusted party in an email communication and attempts to trick an employee into sending money, privileged information, or some other asset. · During the first quarter of 2025, gift card scams were once again the most popular scam type, making up more than half the total number of attacks. · The total number of wire transfer BEC attacks observed by Fortra in Q1 2025 increased by 33% compared to the previous quarter. · The average amount requested in wire transfer BEC attacks in Q1 2025 was A$65,000. · 72% of BEC attacks in Q1 2025 were launched using a free webmail domain. · Remcos RAT was the most common malware payload Fortra observed in Q1 2025. Protection Against Phishing Our SFT Threat Protection Bundle enables your organisation’s email system to automatically detect and prevent phishing links and other malware from entering your organisation. Combining the layered strengths of GoAnywhere MFT and Clearswift, it means your team can receive and share information securely, without impairing their productivity. Seamlessly integrating managed file transfer with advanced threat protection and adaptive data loss prevention, SFT Threat Protection not only prevents malware from entering your organisation, but it also prevents employees from losing or mishandling data. For example, if an employee knowingly –– or unknowingly –– attempts to share any files containing malware, those files are sanitised by having the malicious elements automatically removed. It can also automatically detect and –– if you configure it to do so –– prevent employees from sharing sensitive information. Local Help on Hand Generic Systems Australia has decades of experience helping Australian and New Zealand organisations protect themselves against phishing and other cyber attacks by leveraging the power of the world’s leading MFT solution. Our Migration Service makes the transition even easier for organisations who prefer to use their resources building their businesses rather than improving their IT plumbing. If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how we could help you simply and affordably adopt an advanced MFT solution, please feel welcome to get in touch with us. At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in Secure Managed File Transfer. Previous Next

< News Secure Your Out-Of-Office Work with MFT and Secure Mail 11 Dec 2025 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. Previous Next

< News Fast OR Safe...? File Transfers can be both! 17 Mar 2024 Sending files externally...? Now it can be both Safe AND Easy! There was a time when ensuring your organisation’s file transfers were safe was a hassle… time-consuming, inconvenient, and requiring specialised technical skills. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Ensuring your precious data can be safely shared within your organisation and with your external trading partners need no longer be complicated. In fact, the best data technologies save you time and money, and make data exchange easy . Here’s how. The Fast and the Fraught Hitting “send” is an everyday routine for most employees. Sending files to suppliers and customers is as easy as a couple of mouse clicks. However, each of these thousands of daily data transactions is a potential target for cybercriminals. The more ad-hoc and varied the file transfers, the greater the risks. Too often, organisations only realise their need for a more robust approach after they’ve experienced a costly data breach. Other times, data vulnerabilities become apparent when organisations want to start trading with partners who employ more stringent data safeguards... particularly in industries where there are strict data compliance requirements, such as healthcare, finance, transportation and defence. Failure to adhere to an industry's data security regime can lead to hefty fines and sanctions for both parties to the transaction. Solving for Ease AND Security Solutions such as managed file transfer (MFT), data loss prevention (DLP), data classification, and email security can automatically secure your organisation’s data, while simultaneously keeping your business humming. Better still, by automating thousands of routine file transfers, the best solutions increase an organisation’s efficiency by saving employees’ time and enabling them to focus on higher value-added work. How to Get Started In our experience, few organisations begin with a completely clean slate and zero data protection measures in place. Usually, some enterprising individuals will have independently employed varying degrees of security using free or low-cost consumer file transfer tools. Other employees may believe – incorrectly – that they’re securing their data by simply applying files’ “read-only” settings. A few may have gone a step further and narrowly limited who has access to their department's data. Unfortunately – aside from the inherent risks of using multiple incomplete and incompatible security approaches – siloed security measures like these can also inadvertently remove resources that knowledge workers need to conduct business. As a result, organisational efficiency is impeded, with critical information becoming too slow or difficult to access. A Holistic Approach to Data Exchange At Generic Systems Australia we help organisations embrace a whole-of-business approach which reduces risk and makes data more secure while keeping your business operations and relationships running smoothly and efficiently. A good starting point is considering the impact security policies and practices have on your customer and vendor relationships: How would a data breach impact your business’s reputation, bottom line and supplier relationships? Do the policies and tools you currently use hinder your employees’ effectiveness, efficiency and productivity? Could new technology speed up the actual delivery of critical information? Could new technology be simple enough to use that most employees could readily adopt it? The Human Factor The best data security measures are invisible and automated . We’ve found that the less organisations need to rely on employees to change their behaviour, the better the risk mitigation. But even so, educating employees on data security should be an element of an improved approach. Start by explaining why you need to put in place the new policies or tools. Employees who understand the high stakes of data theft and compliance breaches are much better disposed to taking ownership of managing data transfer risks. Then focus on education. By equipping your various department heads and business process owners with knowledge about secure data exchange approaches, you can help them make the right choices when they liaise with their various supply chain partners. A multi-phase approach, leveraging middle managers and key influencers in your organisation to champion best practices, is often best. Automatically Securing Everyday Data Ideally, we want our employees to be able to safely send and receive emails and attachments without the need for them to take any additional, time-consuming steps. MFT, DLP, data classification, and email security make that possible through advanced levels of automation. In combination, these technologies examine each data transfer event and thoughtfully apply policies such as encryption, auditing, user and recipient validation, redaction, etc. This way, employees do not have to manage any of those activities, and the data transfers are performed quickly, efficiently and securely. As workforces and their workplaces become physically more dispersed – sometimes in the office, sometimes from home, sometimes from a local café – this automated approach becomes more and more beneficial. Not only does it accelerate and streamline the process of transferring data, it also reduces the risk of human error. Out of Sight, Out of Mind? Data exchange is like the human circulatory system - unseen, but absolutely critical to your organisation’s ongoing vitality. Protecting and enhancing it is both necessary and worthwhile. At Generic Systems Australia, we’ve observed that moving to a more automated, secure and efficient approach can sometimes be stalled by the very “bloat” we discussed earlier. Taking out the too-many tools which have sprung up across an organisation’s silos can seem too complicated and time-consuming to tackle. However, there is an easy and relatively inexpensive way forward… A centralised tool, such as the class-leading GoAnywhere MFT with its dashboard-style interface, can provide a holistic approach. Rather than having separate tools for encryption, auditing, reporting and automating file transfers, GoAnywhere can handle it all. It even scales as your business grows. If you’d like to discuss making your organisation’s data transfers safer and easier, adding to your organisation’s productivity and bottom line, please feel free to contact our Business Manager, Bradley Copson, ( mail to: bradley@gensys.com.au ). He’ll be more than happy to offer you an obligation-free discussion, no-cost trial, or Proof of Concept. At Generic Systems Australia, we're your local experts in Secure Managed File Transfer. Previous Next