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- MFT Popularity Set to Soar in 2025 | GSA
< News MFT Popularity Set to Soar in 2025 3 Feb 2025 Managed File Transfer (MFT) software continues to be a popular addition to corporate IT systems, based on the last global market research. Washington-based Market Research Intellect (MRI) valued the MFT software and services market at US$12.6B in 2024, and now projects CAGR of 9.97% to a value of US$22.3B by 2031. It attributes this growth to “the increasing need for secure, efficient, and compliant data transfers across enterprises as organisations handle larger volumes of sensitive data”. MFT solutions provide secure mechanisms for exchanging files internally and externally while ensuring regulatory compliance. The rising adoption of cloud technologies, and the integration of automation and real-time monitoring, have further propelled uptake of MFT solutions, offering greater flexibility and scalability to businesses. MRI said that industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, where data security and integrity are paramount, are increasingly relying on MFT software to mitigate risks associated with traditional file transfer methods. Additionally, the growing trend of hybrid and remote workforces is fuelling the demand for cloud-based MFT solutions. According to MRI, the MFT software and service market is being shaped by “the increasing complexity of data security requirements and the need for compliance with industry regulations. “MFT facilitates secure, automated, and efficient file transfers, addressing critical pain points such as data breaches and downtime,” they said. Notwithstanding the popularity and growth of MFT solutions, perceived challenges such as integration with legacy systems, and the usual concerns about the scalability of new solutions in large organisations, might cause some to delay their adoption of MFT technologies. That’s why, at Generic Systems Australia, we use and recommend GoAnywhere MFT , the world’s leading MFT solution. It’s renowned for its easy implementation, robust performance and extensive enterprise systems integrations. MRI categorises MFT software as “a key solution for secure file management”. So if you’d like to explore further how MFT can help protect your data and make your organisation more efficient, please feel welcome to contact me for an obligation-free chat. At Generic Systems Australia , we’re your local experts in MFT. Previous Next
- Why LOCAL Support Matters | GSA
< News Why LOCAL Support Matters 15 Apr 2025 When you’re researching which software solution to invest in, it’s easy to become fixated on the minutiae of product features and technical specifications. Sure, these are important. However, experience has taught many Australian and New Zealand businesses the value of a further consideration that’s equally as important – the availability of local customer support and technical expertise. A key question to ask – especially for those of us operating businesses in a distant time zone on the far side of the planet – is: “Who do I turn to if there’s a problem?” Because that’s the moment when the value of true local customer support becomes really apparent! Beyond FAQs, Reddit & Chatbots FAQs, social media forums and chatbots can be helpful. But when it comes to IT systems, this kind of self-service can only help you so far. In a crisis, having genuine local human expertise and support available is invaluable . This is particularly true when it comes to integrative solutions such as Managed File Transfer (MFT). These often require expert configuration to integrate with the other software your organisation depends upon for daily operations. While the best MFTs can have your team up and running quickly for even complex, multi-step workflows, some scenarios – for example, establishing a disaster recovery environment, or setting up hybrid file transfer approaches – may require MFT vendor support. That’s why the breadth and depth of local support should be a key consideration when choosing an MFT solution. The Tyranny of Distance Access to local expertise and support is even more important for Australian and New Zealand businesses, operating as we do in what the rest of the world views as a smaller market in remote location and time zone. That can lead some vendors to – deliberately, or by omission – deprioritise customer support for Australian and New Zealand businesses. (How many times – either as consumers or business owners – have you needed support during our local business hours… only to realise that overseas customer support and technical support personnel are still sound asleep, or clocked off for the weekend?) A vendor which provides “boots on the ground” in Australia and New Zealand - ready and willing to service local customers’ needs – is a real advantage. Beyond Emergencies The value of having human experts available locally extends far beyond those critical moments when IT systems have failed. Professional services – such as end user training, and knowledge transfer to your IT own support personnel – are also valuable advantages. Key Customer Support Questions for Software Vendors Here are some important support questions I recommend you ask a software vendor when assessing which software solution will be best for your organisation: What hours do you provide customer support? Are technical experts available locally ? Are your technical staff expert in this specific solution? How many times have your technical staff deployed your solution to A/NZ businesses? What training do you offer? Can it be customised? Is it interactive or demonstration-led? Can I review a course outline before purchasing sessions? Is certification available for my team? What professional services are available, and how do you deliver them? Is Migration Assistance available? How are customer issues prioritised within your Customer Support team? What is the process for submitting a Support Request? Is there a Customer Portal available for downloading the latest updates, release notes, and documentation? Learning from Others’ Experiences The experiences of fellow customers can help bring the advantage of local support into sharp focus. Browsing third-party review sites such as G2, Software Reviews, and Capterra, you’ll find many reports from MFT customers about their dealings – positive and negative – with various MFT vendors’ support services. They make for thought-provoking reading! In addition, here are some expert reports and summaries comparing MFT offerings and customer service arrangements. Info-Tech Managed File Transfer Category Report : The Info-Tech Research Group evaluated the most popular managed file transfer software and vendors in the market – GoAnywhere MFT, MOVEit, IBM MFT, and more. Their detailed analysis includes a deep dive into vendor satisfaction for ease of vendor support, implementation, and product strategy. The report also provides head-to-head comparisons of leading solutions. G2’s MFT Grid Report : This report provides an analysis of providers in the MFT arena and covers satisfaction ratings, feature comparisons, market presence data, and more. G2 MFT Reviews Software Reviews PeerSpot Reviews The Best MFT, with the Best Local Support 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
- Outdated Protocols Leave Precious Data Vulnerable | GSA
< News Outdated Protocols Leave Precious Data Vulnerable 30 Oct 2024 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. Previous Next
- Make Email Attachments Safe | GSA
< News Make Email Attachments Safe 3 July 2024 Email attachments continue to be the single biggest threat to your organisation’s cyber security. In 183 million phishing simulations conducted by Proofpoint customers this year, almost one in six recipients of a suspicious phishing email failed to protect their organisation’s valuable data. Employees either clicked a malicious link, performed a bogus password reset, or downloaded malware or ransomware. With such a high and persistent risk of cyber incursion, organisations increasingly require more from their file transfers than standard email attachments can provide. They need a smarter, more reliable way to send files, stay secure, and meet the needs of their clients, compliance mandates, and industry regulations. Managed File Transfer (MFT) future-proofs an organisation’s ability to send and receive files quickly, breaking free of the constraints of email attachments, and maintaining cyber security. Problem: Size Caps Most email applications cap the size of email attachments to 25 MB. That may have been “big enough” a couple of decades ago… but no longer. Now, a single high-resolution image can easily exceed 25Mb. Sending an entire folder typically requires zipping it to condense its contents. However, splitting ZIP files into chunks less than 25Mb is a time-consuming hassle. Problem: Insecure Even when successfully sent, email attachments pose ongoing security risks. They can be forwarded to unintended users. Worse, a single recipient with an infected device can infect the attachment with malware and spread it to others. On top of that, there’s always a possibility that an employee could send an email to the wrong person, or mistakenly send sensitive information outside of their network, causing compliance issues for your organisation. Problem: Indiscriminate If an attachment message originates internally, the protocol to keep sensitive data safe (or how to determine what sensitive data is) is often not widely disseminated or used. Encrypting attachments, one effective mechanism, can be tricky for casual users and implemented inconsistently, undermining its reliability as a whole-of-organisation solution. Problem: Degraded Performance Too many attachments can clog your inbox archive and slow backup processes. Some file types such as DLLs, JARs, and SOs may be completely blocked by email systems, disrupting business processes. Unpacking endless ZIP files also depletes available server resources. GoAnywhere MFT to the Rescue Email attachments have their place. But too often they’re a far from ideal way to move data, failing to provide the efficiency, agility, speed, and protection companies need when sending the files that underpin their business. That’s where GoAnywhere MFT can help. Solution: No Size Limits Providing a secure alternative to emailing files, the Secure Mail module in GoAnywhere MFT enables employees and other authorised users to easily send files. It’s much more secure than traditional email, and doesn’t limit file sizes or types. GoAnywhere not only frees your organisation from file size constraints, it also includes accelerated file transfer technologies which speed files to their destinations. Patented UDP file transfer technology enables even the largest files to be sent without incident from anywhere in the world. GoAnywhere’s MFT agent also helps ensure large batch files get to their destination with auto-resume and integrity checks, ensuring all of your message gets there in one piece, despite any network connectivity issues along the way. And if a network connectivity issue prevents the file being successfully transferred, GoAnywhere’s comprehensive alerts ensure you’ll know immediately. Solution: Secure Encrypted Sends Encryption is built into GoAnywhere. Any files sent are automatically encrypted end-to-end using one of a range of encryption protocols, including Open PGP, SFTP, FTPS, AS2 or AS4, and ZIP with AES. GoAnywhere also enables password protection for the attached downloads in case they are sent to the wrong recipient. Additionally, Secure Folders provide a place where your team can safely collaborate. Solution: Bottleneck Buster Lag, inefficiencies and other performance inhibitors are nullified GoAnywhere’s load balancing . Managed transfers help maximise uptime, and clustering functionality distributes files across your network, so they get there in the fastest time and with the least amount of disruption. Solution: Seamless Integration with Inbound Protection By combining GoAnywhere MFT with Clearswift in our Threat Protection Bundle , organisations can create layered cyber defences which enable their teams to receive and share information securely without impairing their productivity. It seamlessly integrates MFT with advanced threat protection and adaptive data loss prevention to keep your sensitive data secure. Not only does it prevent malware from entering your organisation, 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. The SFT Threat Protection Bundle can also automatically detect and - if you configure it to do so - prevent employees from sharing sensitive information. If you’d like to discuss how your organisation’s file transfers can be made more secure and efficient, please feel welcome to contact me, Bradley Copson (mail to:bradley@gensys.com.au). I’m always happy to have an obligation-free discussion, explain how simply we can transition you from outdated software and approaches, and offer you a zero-cost Proof of Concept. At Generic Systems Australia , we’re your local experts in secure Managed File Transfe r. Previous Next
- Strong Growth in Cyber Security Workforce Projected | GSA
< News Strong Growth in Cyber Security Workforce Projected 6 June 2025 Australian Cyber Network’s recently released State of the Industry 2024 report contains some interesting reading about the composition and qualifications of Australia’s cyber security workforce. Continued Growth, Changing Composition According to ACN, the nation’s cyber security workforce has continued its rapid expansion, reflecting both increased demand for cyber security professionals and the evolving nature of cyber threats. In 2024, it reached 137,453 professionals, up 9% over the previous year. However, within the overall growth, there’s been a shift in how cyber security roles are structured, and the priorities being placed by organisations on different skill sets. For example, 41% of the total roles are dedicated cyber security positions which explicitly require security expertise, and the remaining 59% are related roles, where cyber security is a significant but not exclusive aspect of the jobholder’s responsibilities. Within the dedicated category, 36% require deep technical expertise. These include Cyber Security Engineers, Penetration Testers and Security Architects. This indicates that, while cyber security expertise is becoming more specialised, a growing number of professionals across all sectors are required to integrate security skills. Functionally, the cyber security workforce remains heavily concentrated in Database Administrators and ICT Security Specialist roles (54%), followed by Software and Applications Programming (24%) and ICT Management (22%). Among the roles requiring deep technical expertise, Cyber Security Engineers, Penetration Testers and Developer Programmers dominate, with 81% within the Software and Applications Programmers category. These figures suggest that cyber security remains deeply embedded within the software development and data security domains, reinforcing the importance of integrating security considerations into the early stages of software engineering and IT infrastructure development. Gender Diversity From a gender diversity perspective, Australia’s cyber security workforce remains heavily male-dominated, with only 25% women. However, that’s an 8% increase since 2021, so progress is being made. ACN attribute the improvement to sustained efforts by industry groups, government initiatives and corporate programs, as well as the work of organisations dedicated to fostering a stronger, more connected community for women in cyber security. Workforce Projections ACN projects the cyber security workforce to grow significantly through to 2029, albeit at a reduced rate. By 2029, they expect the total workforce to grow to 193,000 roles, with slightly higher growth in dedicated roles. They believe that, while demand will remain strong, the acceleration seen in previous years may stabilise. Overall, the data reveals that cyber security analysts and engineers are driving the bulk of workforce expansion, highlighting industry demand for both frontline detection and incident response capability as well as technical implementation expertise. Skills Still In High Demand State-by-state forecasts reveal that, while Australia’s cyber security workforce appears sizeable on paper, with many states showing a healthy current supply of workers including jobseekers, supply is not keeping pace with projected demand. Across most jurisdictions, the number of workers per vacant job is steadily declining, signalling increased pressure on talent pipelines. States like Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, despite having the largest supply pools, will still show significant tightening in their job markets by 2029. South Australia and Queensland, with some of the highest worker-to-job ratios today, are projected to see those gaps narrow. ACN says this trend underscores the urgent need to build new entry pathways, accelerate training and retain talent, or risk a widening disconnect between workforce availability and industry needs across the country. Previous Next
- Hidden Cost of "Free" File Transfers | GSA
< News Hidden Cost of "Free" File Transfers 1 Nov 2023 The Hidden Cost of "Free" File Transfers With 329 million terabytes of data being created each day, the ability to transfer files quickly and dependably has become a core business process for every business. Surprisingly, some businesses continue to entrust this critical dependency to free file transfer software. But is this software truly “free”…? A study by Aberdeen Group identified hidden costs that businesses incur using “free” file transfer mechanisms. In fact, 80% of files sent through e-mail attachments or “free” file transfer services ended up costing organisations money in the long run. How…? It’s taking longer to move a lot of data around. For example, as our businesses are finding new ways to make use of the high-resolution cameras in our smartphones, video files growing exponentially in size. HD video – with files measured in gigabytes - is already the standard. But 4K videos – typically hundreds of gigabytes– will soon be the norm. Moving high-res movies around finds employees spending more time than ever before simply waiting for file transfers to complete. When your team is sitting around waiting for a file to arrive, there’s a significant reduction in their productivity. If it takes them 3 hours to send a file, that’s 3 hours where both they and their collaborator are without the file needed to work effectively. Multiply the number of hours by the salaries of both professionals in question and the “free” file transfer isn’t free anymore. How often have you tried to send a file, only to have the transfer crash out midway? It’s not just frustrating, it’s a further waste of time. When file transfers fail, the non tech savvy among us need to seek the help of their IT department. So, not only is their time being wasted, but there’s a labour cost in resolving the problem. Aberdeen’s study estimated that resolving each stalled file transfer required a cumulative 11 hours of team time. Even when files successfully transfer, there remain significant cybersecurity risks when sensitive files are sent via free services. In Aberdeen’s study, free service transfers were twice as likely to result in security breaches compared to those conducted with professional Managed File Transfer software such as GoAnywhere . Major security issues took an average of 16 business hours to resolve and cost companies millions of dollars. When files are too big to send as email attachments, employees turn to “free” transfer tools. However, the time spent finding such tools could have been better spent on their core responsibilities. There’s not only a better way to move data around your business and its supply chain… it’s also a more cost-effective way. Aberdeen’s study found that businesses which invested a little in a professional Managed File Transfer solution had a median return of almost 500 times their investment. When it comes to Managed File Transfer solutions, there is one acknowledged industry leader – GoAnywhere MFT . GoAnywhere automates and encrypts data between an organisation’s employees and with its trading partners, protecting from unnecessary vulnerabilities while vastly improving file transfer speed and quality. If you’d like to discuss how GoAnywhere MFT could improve your organisation’s productivity and bottom line, please feel free to contact me ( bradley@gensys.com.au ), or read more at the Generic Systems Australia website. Bradley Copson, Business Manager, Generic Systems Australia Previous Next
- The GoAnywhere Customer Who Didn’t Panic | GSA
< News The GoAnywhere Customer Who Didn’t Panic 20 Aug 2025 In Douglas Adams’ much-loved work of science-fiction whimsy, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the Babel Fish is a small yellow fish inserted into a person's ear to provide instant translation of any language. Described by The Guide as “probably the oddest thing in the universe”*, the Babel Fish is a neat (if somewhat slimy) solution to the pervasive galactic challenge of interspecies communication. It reminds me how GoAnywhere MFT once solved a customer’s pressing “payslip-up”. “But the plans were on display…”* Our customer, a leading provider of human services who employs thousands, had installed a new payroll system. This system, like the outdated system it was replacing, produced employee payslips as PDF files. These were subsequently distributed to employees via a separate Human Resources system. Installation, testing and initialisation of the new payroll system had all gone according to plan. Until, that is, the first pay run was performed. “Have you any idea what these strange symbols are?”* In what The Hitchhiker’s Guide may well have cited as “a practical demonstration of the principles of infinite improbability” employees didn’t receive their payslips. It was soon realised that the problem had occurred because the PDF payslips produced by the new payroll system were formatted differently to the PDFs previously produced by the old one. (The old system had output the PDFs as individual PDF files for each employee, compressed into a zip file. The new system output one PDF file for each employee and, further complicating the situation, the new payslips varied in number of pages.) These PDF formatting changes rendered the output from the new payroll system unreadable by the Human Resources system - a problem which had somehow been overlooked during testing. “The consequences of not knowing any of this stuff are particularly terrible”* This failure of inter-systems communication wasn’t just a problem for the employees, who had understandably grown accustomed to keeping tabs on their earnings, but it created a looming compliance problem for the business. Australia’s Fair Work Act is vexingly inflexible when it comes to the timing of providing employees with payslips. (This is in marked contrast to the famously flexible relationship with time enjoyed by The Guide’s author Douglas Adams, particularly as relates to deadlines). Failure to fix the problem quickly would expose the business to financial penalties, legal consequences and potential union action. “Don’t Panic!”* Heeding the single most important piece of advice in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , our customer didn’t panic. Instead, they called me to ask whether Generic Systems Australia could help solve their predicament. And - thanks to their installed GoAnywhere Managed File Transfer solution – we could! The Babel Fish* Faster than a Vogon invited to a poetry recital**, our Solutions Architect revised the customer’s GoAnywhere automated file transfer process. GoAnywhere was already collecting the PGP-encrypted PDF from the new payroll system via SFTP, decrypting it, and transferring it to the customer’s Human Resources system. He added to that automated transfer process new logic which split the PDF pages, correctly formatting the output and allowing for payslips of varying page lengths. GoAnywhere was, in effect, performing the role of a computerised Babel Fish. And, thanks to GoAnywhere’s easy to use drag-and-drop interface, it took our Solutions Architect less than half a day to set up the workflows. He didn’t even need a towel***. “If you ever need help again…”* There’s no need to go to the ends of the universe**** to get expert help on file transfers and translations. At Generic Systems Australia , we’re Australia and New Zealand’s experts in helping business take advantage of every one of GoAnywhere’s many capabilities. We’ve assisted hundreds of organisations to automate their data flows, making their file transfers resilient, secure and reliable, and boosting their efficiency. If you’d like to discuss how we can boost your organisation’s efficiency, please feel welcome to contact me . I’m always happy to have an obligation-free chat and explain how easily we can transition you from your current approach to a galaxy-leading level of productivity. At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in data transfer. _______________________________________________________________________________________ * A direct quote from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy . ** In The Guide , Vogon poetry is described as the third worst in the universe, surpassed only by the poetry of the Azgoths of Kria and the late Paula Nancy Millstone Jennings. It's so bad, it's often used as a form of torture, causing physical pain to the listener. *** The Guide describes a towel as the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have - not just useful for practical purposes like warmth, sunbathing, or even as a weapon, but also with significant psychological value. A hitchhiker who knows where their towel is is seen as someone together and capable, as it implies they also possess other essential items. **** The Guide describes Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, as being enclosed in a time bubble and offering a unique floorshow featuring the end of the universe. Previous Next
- How to Secure Online Data Acquisition with Secure Forms | GSA
< News How to Secure Online Data Acquisition with Secure Forms 3 Feb 2026 Whenever you ask someone to complete a form online, you’re asking for their trust. They’re handing over details that your organisation needs. In return, they expect your organisation to handle those details in confidence and with care. From payment methods to sensitive medical histories, people want assurance that their information won’t fall into the wrong hands. Earn Trust with Secure Forms Using HTTPS to transmit form data is a solid baseline. However, there’s an even stronger and more structured alternative - Secure Forms. An add‑on module for GoAnywhere Managed File Transfer , Secure Forms not only protect the information being submitted but also streamline how that information moves through your business. Secure Forms offer far more than encrypted submissions. You gain control over how forms look, how they’re accessed, and how the collected data flows into your internal systems. Public or private URLs, automatic encryption for uploaded files, and seamless workflow integration all come standard. Why It’s Worth Upgrading Choosing a purpose‑built Secure Forms solution doesn’t just improve protection - it boosts efficiency across your processes. With GoAnywhere Secure Forms, you can: Build tailored forms for authenticated users or open access Let users upload supporting documents as needed Support drag‑and‑drop file attachments, automatically encrypted with AES‑256 Define your preferred media types Add Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and Threat Protection Embed forms directly into your website Use Advanced Workflows to route submitted data into platforms like Salesforce or other business systems Trigger email notifications when submissions are received Insert submitted data straight into a database table. How Secure Forms Work At Generic Systems Australia we have years of experience designing custom Secure Forms for organisations. Or, you can DIY… Build and configure: design a form with the fields and options your process requires. Then share access through either a public or restricted URL, giving you full control over who can submit information. Complete and protect: Users fill out the form and attach any necessary files. Every uploaded item is encrypted automatically using AES‑256, ensuring sensitive content stays protected from the moment it’s submitted. Submit and automate: Once the form is sent, GoAnywhere triggers the workflow you’ve defined. This removes manual steps and ensures the information moves quickly to the right system or team. Customisation Without Compromise Secure Forms are built to adapt to your needs. You can fine‑tune nearly every element, from field labels to file‑upload rules, giving you complete control over the data you collect. You’re able to: Configure fields, dropdowns, tooltips, and default values Accept a wide range of file types Submit forms via SOAP or REST APIs, or directly through a URL Display personalised confirmation messages and provide downloadable follow‑up files (such as PDFs) Redirect users to additional forms after submission Enable or disable submission notifications Set limits on file size, type, and quantity Receive alerts via email or SMS Transform submitted data as needed Allow users to save drafts and finish later. Trust the Secure Forms with a Track Record Recognising GoAnywhere’s advanced capabilities, some software vendors have recently sought to emulate the tried-and-tested Secure Forms approach within their less fully-featured MFT solutions. However, trust is established over a long time. GoAnywhere’s Secure Forms were introduced 2016, and so benefit from a decade of refinement and successful implementation. Here to Help Whether it’s designing and implementing your Secure Forms, or talking more broadly about how MFT can help your business become more secure and efficient, Generic Systems Australia is here to help. No need to do deal with hands-off multinationals and their odd time zones - we’re right here in Australia, right now, ready to help. Previous Next
- Ditch Your File Transfer Scripts | GSA
< News Ditch Your File Transfer Scripts 10 Sept 2024 More and more companies across the Asia-Pacific region are realising they have a pressing need to eliminate their use of outdated file transfer scripts. A Key Vulnerability A recent survey found that our region is on the frontline, subject to more cyber attacks than any other. 72% of local organisations experienced four or more cybersecurity incidents in the past year - 20% more than the global average. Manual scripts – often written by employees to reduce the repetitive burden of manually transferring files – are a key vulnerability. Not only are file transfer scripts risky, they’re also inefficient and prone to failure. MFT: safer, more efficient Managed File Transfer (MFT) is a powerful technology which comprehensively addresses the risks and challenges of moving information, both within an organisation, and with external suppliers, partners and customers. It simplifies and secures data transfer by providing centralised control, encryption, enhanced security protocols and auditing. Unsurprising then that more and more IT departments are using MFT to replace their outdated manual file transfer scripts. Reasons to Ditch Scripts Scripts don’t play well with new tech. For example, cloud-based computing environments require file transfers to be integrated with cloud-based solutions, and platforms such as Azure and AWS. Scripts lack advanced features. For example, automating file transfers – say, with FTP - requires you to add a second solution, which is time-consuming and complex. Scripts are also challenged to detect and implement automatic “re-try” features in the event of failure, or prevent employees mishandling sensitive data. Scripts are time consuming. Developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting scripts takes time, distracting valuable IT staff from more important tasks. Worse, if the author of a script isn’t available when it fails, bottlenecks can occur in your workflow. Scripts don’t offer built-in reporting. Logging needs to be manually added to scripts. Accessing those logs – say, when you need to prove audit compliance, or meet other regulatory reporting requirements – is time consuming and difficult, requiring an effective filter and search tools. Scripts aren’t secure. As explained above, scripts don’t offer the security features necessary to keep cyber thieves at bay. User credentials aren’t encrypted, there’s no in-built key management, no access controls, and they’re unlikely to use up-to-date security protocols. Why MFT is Better than Scripts As well as increasing the security of your file transfers, ditching scripts offers your organisation many other compelling advantages. Centralised Control. Instead of using multiple different tools, programs, and scripts to encrypt, send, and automate your file transfers, MFT can enable all of these from a single interface. That significantly streamlines day-to-day operations and reduces wasted tool maintenance time. Automate. No matter the volume of files to be transferred across your business and supply chain, the best MFTs enable your team to spend time focusing on other things. Save Money. Clients are often surprised how many employee-hours they’re spending creating, maintaining and resolving problems with file transfer scripts. These ongoing hidden costs can really mount up. (And that’s without considering the potentially catastrophic cost to your business of a data breach enabled by an insecure script!) Flexible Scalability. The best MFTs scale fluidly – horizontally and vertically - as file transfer loads increase. They make redundant tedious and uncertain processes of buying, deploying and understanding gateways, load balancers and other expensive network devices and hardware. Cloud-friendly MFT tools also exploit new cloud and virtualisation capabilities to scale up quickly to meet demand. They can even be “failed over” to a DR site in the event of an outage. Regulatory Compliance. By logging file transfers and access across your organisation, the best MFTs ensure your compliance with legal requirements, such as data privacy and encryption. Logs are also readily accessible if you’re called on to demonstrate your compliance during an audit or need to conduct forensics after an internal security breach. The Best MFT Independent analysts agree that that GoAnywhere MFT is the industry’s leading Managed File Transfer solution. GoAnywhere not only enables your data to be moved securely - both internally and externally – it also enhances your team’s productivity. Asia-Pacific’s MFT Experts No-one better understands local MFT needs and best practices than Generic Systems Australia. Our local team has decades of experience helping businesses replace outdated and risky scripts with the world’s leading MFT solution, and our Migration Service makes the transition easy. If you’d like a no-cost, no-obligation discussion about how we could help you simply and affordably transition from risky scripts to an advanced MFT solution, please feel welcome to get in touch . Previous Next
- Cyber Security to be Top Investment for 2025: CIOs | GSA
< News Cyber Security to be Top Investment for 2025: CIOs 17 Sept 2024 Australian and New Zealand CIOs are planning to invest significantly in improved cyber security in 2025, according to a recent survey by analysts Gartner. Some 88% of the region’s CIOs and technology executives said they would invest in heightened cyber security measures. 82% said it would be their top investment priority. More Attacks, More Regulation Gartner attributes this focus to greater government regulation, coupled with some of the largest cyberattacks seen in ANZ so far. Speaking at the 2025 Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo on the Gold Coast, Gartner VP Brian Ferreira said “Organisations face greater scrutiny as they batten down the hatches to avoid becoming the next target or breaching stewardship. This continues to drive significant focus and investment towards cybersecurity and legal compliance into next year.” The uncertain economic climate businesses have operated in recently has increased executive and board scrutiny on technology investments, he said. Gartner’s survey found that increased focus on cyber security will attract investment away from previous ANZ CIO priorities of legacy infrastructure (43% of respondents), augmented reality, virtual reality and immersive technologies (17%) and next-generation compute technology (11%). Heightened Focus Consistent with their focus on cyber security, Gartner’s survey found that ANZ CIOs have a significantly heightened focus on ensuring compliance and minimising risks (92% - up from 57% last year). “As Australian regulatory landscapes continue to evolve, ANZ CIOs are also facing more stringent laws to increase stewardship obligations,” Ferreira said. “It’s incumbent upon CIOs to steer their organisations towards a future marked by digital stewardship, responsible innovation, stringent compliance and active participation in shaping regulatory norms.” Help for ANZ CIOs Generic Systems Australia has many years of experience helping ANZ CIOs and IT teams protect their valuable data with class-leading Managed File Transfer solutions. From the initial scoping of companies’ legacy data transfer approaches, through zero-cost Proof of Concepts and hassle-free Migration Services , we help ANZ companies stay focused on running their business without disruption as we transition them to more secure approaches. If you’d like a to discuss how your organisation’s cyber security can be boosted by a cost effective Managed File Transfer solution, please feel welcome to contact me . I’m always happy to have an obligation-free discussion. At Generic Systems Australia , we’re your local experts in Secure Managed File Transfer. Previous Next
