The world still runs on files, and well-run organizations rely on secure, automated managed file transfer (MFT) solutions to get those files where they need to go (and receive the ones you need from your partners). But there are challenges to establishing end-to-end encryption automation for reliable workflows to send, receive, host, and retrieve the data you need to accomplish your mission.
To help you identify the challenges you may be facing (and avoid bad decisions if you’re evaluating MFT solutions) we took a quick inventory of the most common pain points associated with the necessary process of getting data from Point A to Point B. Whether an internal transfer or across the scope of an organization’s Information supply chain, there are a lot of things that can go wrong.
Let’s look at nine common pain points and examine the features and capabilities you need to solve them.
File Security
When file security is vital to your operation, you need real end-to-end encryption for file transfers. That’s why organizations need to pay attention to file transfer workflow security. Over the last few years we’ve seen cybercriminals exploit MFT software vulnerabilities (GoAnywhere, MOVEit, Aspera, Titan, and ShareFile, to name a few) to the dismay of tens of thousands of user organizations and millions of individuals. Every exploitation of an MFT vulnerability should be a reason to review your file transfer workflows and information supply chain security—and close the gaps you find. For example, the breaches mentioned were because of vulnerabilities in software architecture (most often in web-facing administrative tools and browser-based user interfaces). A managed file transfer solution like Diplomat MFT ensures end to end encryption by automating PGP, and we are the only MFT vendor to have automatic PGP encryption for browser-based transfers.
Compliance Gaps
End-to-end encryption is required, but it is not enough for compliance. You need proof. That’s why Diplomat MFT by Coviant Software captures MFT logs and enables on-click reporting as required for security audits and for compliance with data security and privacy regulations (HIPAA, GLBA, SOX, GDPR, etc.). And we also include threat intelligence to protect against risky file transfer requests and align with zero trust security strategies. Diplomat MFT also synchronizes with LDAP to ensure consistent access policy enforcement, includes multi-factor authentication and support for authenticator applications, and it boasts a secure architecture that has never been breached in more than twenty years.
Application and Service Integration
A good managed file transfer solution integrates easily in a hybrid cloud environment, and Diplomat MFT makes it easy to move files between your cloud service and storage assets, and the business applications you rely on every day. With support for standard security and operational protocols like SFTP, PGP, and REST API, Diplomat MFT works with ERP, CRM, business services and applications, and trading partner systems to ensure broad interoperability. This is especially important for organizations with hybrid cloud IT infrastructure and need a compatible file transfer solution to send and receive files between assets and end points located on-premises and in the cloud. Our customers praise Diplomat MFT for integrating with a “wide spectrum of applications” making it easy for them to establish automated file transfer workflows that save them time, effort, and money, while reducing the risk of costly errors associated with manual file transfers.
Enterprise Scalability
When you invest in an MFT solution, you want to know it can handle all the file transfer jobs you need today and have the scalability to grow as your organization and needs expand. That goes well beyond merely having the raw capacity to move bigger files. It includes maintaining a streamlined, automated, and secure information supply chain with the flexibility to adapt to changing regulatory requirements—including when file transfers cross international boundaries. Diplomat MFT Enterprise Edition has what it takes to easily tackle your biggest file transfer tasks in terms of file capacity, job complexity, and scheduling with all your internal endpoints and external digital trading partners and with the features needed to support secure file transfer best practices associated with the most stringent laws and regulations like HIPAA, GDPR, 
GLBA, SOX, and more.
Failure Alerting
A reliable file transfer automation solution like Diplomat MFT does not operates in a static environment. Network services go down, destination servers are taken offline, endpoints are added and changed, and other incidents may occur that interfere with a file transfer – and often at the most inconvenient time. That is why Diplomat MFT automatically alerts the user when a file transfer failure occurs, and provides you with the data you need to troubleshoot the issue quickly. With other MFT products you might not know something went wrong until a customer or partner asks, “where’s that file?” Then you have to pore over file transfer logs to figure it out.
Lack of Automated Partner File Transfer Management
All organizations rely on an extensive information supply chain, and it’s not unusual for large enterprises to send and receive files between thousands of different external vendors, partners, and government agencies every day. A lack of automation, protracted onboarding, and a lack of support for standard protocols like SFTP can result in unreliable file transfers, a lack of security, and may prevent you from even doing business with many large financial institutions. Many smaller organizations also lack the resources and expertise to invest in, onboard, and maintain a secure, reliable MFT solution. That’s why Diplomat MFT from Coviant Software makes it easy, including the industry’s only browser-based file transfer solution with automated PGP encryption. You make it available and they can use it with no training or onboarding. Diplomat MFT is fully automated, and boasts rock-solid security, making it easy to centralize all your file transfer needs from a single solution, and to do it with confidence.
Blind Spots & Low Visibility
When sending and receiving digital files, there is often a security mandate dictating that strict security practices are in place. Whether the data is related to matters financial, healthcare, personal, or intellectual property, ensuring security every step of the way is vital to protecting people, your reputation, and for avoiding fines and legal repercussions. If your file transfer system doesn’t capture and archive the logs necessary to prove compliance, you’re out of luck. Diplomat MFT logs and captures all MFT events and enables one-click reporting so you are ready should an audit be necessary.
Lack of Support
Organizations that choose the do-it-yourself file transfer route may think they are saving money, but what they fail to consider is that, once their process is up and running, the work has only just begun. Technical standards change; bug fixes and vulnerability testing is an ongoing process; maintenance requires extensive documentation; ad hoc and event-driven transfers are error prone; and innovation in support of greater security and efficiency takes time and resources. And when something goes wrong, there’s no organization to stand behind the product; there’s no expert ready to step in to solve a problem. What’s more, DIY processes are often difficult to use and become more challenging over time. That undermines security and efficiency by increasing the likelihood that operators will make mistakes that put data security in jeopardy. Coviant Software stands behind its products with award-winning customer and technical support, an ethic of continuous improvement, and a track record of more than twenty years or security and reliability.
High Cost
Whether it’s the hidden costs associated with a DIY file transfer system, or the steep costs some MFT vendors charge (plus licensing and consumption model surprises, unpredictable price increases, and other added fees), some organizations feel priced out of the market and choose to use “free” software to get by. Coviant Software believes a secure, reliable managed file transfer solution shouldn’t be prohibitively expensive or unnecessarily complex. Our Diplomat MFT family of products is easy to use, fully automated, and boast rock-solid security—at an ethical price. And with three editions (Basic, Standard, and Enterprise) to meet the needs of any organization, Diplomat MFT is proven secure and reliable in some of the world’s most challenging file transfer environments. We know you’ll come to rely on us, too.
Complexity
Products that are complex and difficult to use encourage risky workarounds and increase the chance of operator error. That’s why it is important to automate all essential functions so you can “set it and forget it.” And for those instances when a human is required—like set-up and ad hoc transfers—Diplomat MFT makes it one-click simple to establish secure file transfer workloads and automate every aspect required to send, receive, host, and retrieve the files that your organization depends on to operate.
At Coviant Software we put a lot of thought into making Diplomat MFT the most reliable, secure, and easiest to use managed file transfer solution on the market—not to mention the best value MFT solution available. We listen intently to our customers. We follow trends in our corner of the tech industry. We pay attention to what’s happening in cybersecurity, and we track changes to the regulatory landscape that affect information security and data privacy. And before we add or change anything, we ask ourselves two questions: does it solve a problem our customers are grappling with, and does it make sense for our product?
Over the years that evolutionary process has kept Diplomat MFT at the leading edge of innovation among the products in our space. And, importantly, it has kept our customers out of the news when cybercriminals attack MFT software and processes. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a demonstration.