Everyone has a friend or family member who is a notorious cheapskate. They like to call it being a part of the do-it-yourself movement, but it’s really just about being tight with a dollar. When you visit with them, they’ve got the family car on ramps, hood up, in preparation for an oil change. Or they’ve just come back from the hardware store with a trunk full of new tools and materials in preparation for a home improvement project that they saw someone do on one of those television shows. Thing is, they spend a lot of money for the stuff they need, but they don’t really have the time or skills needed to do the job right.
How Hard Could it Be?
Watching an instructional video on YouTube helps, but when they step back in satisfaction and examine what they’ve accomplished, it doesn’t look as good as the one that guy did on the show that inspired them in the first place. Yeah, it’ll get the job done, just don’t look too closely at the fit and finish. And fingers crossed that the seal on the oil filter set correctly, or that the oil pan plug isn’t cross-threaded. Also, when you add up what you spent on tools, materials, and time… sometimes it’s better to let a professional do the work.
We see that a lot in the world of managed file transfer. Lots of DIYers who think they can save a buck by cobbling together a few open-source tools and low-cost services to get the job done. After all, there are a lot of tools available for sharing files. How hard could it be?
Free vs. Secure and Reliable
One popular tool we see a lot standing in for secure managed file transfer (MFT) software is FileZilla. FileZilla is a free, open-source FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client that is used for executing file transfers between computers. It is a great option for personal use, or even for smaller businesses that have an occasional need to transfer files. FileZilla is easy to use and provides basic file transfer functionality, but for sharing business critical information or data like protected health information (PHI) regulated under HIPAA, or other personally identifiable information (PII) protected by the Federal Trade Commission and other government agencies, it doesn’t stand up. That’s because FileZilla lacks the advanced security features of secure MFT software. FileZilla does not support OpenPGP encryption, doesn’t support advanced automation and monitoring capabilities, and doesn’t capture processes needed for auditability.
Another major security drawback to FileZilla is that its server component lacks the ability to connect with an edge gateway, meaning it must be placed in an internet-facing location, such as a company’s DMZ. That makes all the unencrypted data passing through it vulnerable. That is why there is a robust market for secure, commercial MFT software, like our own Diplomat MFT, designed for businesses that need to transfer sensitive, confidential, or regulated files. Diplomat MFT includes security features such as automated file encryption (in transit and at rest), role-based access controls to ensure that only authorized users can access the files, alert notifications, and data capture for audit. The Diplomat MFT Edge Gateway sits in the DMZ with Diplomat MFT tucked safely in the back-end network, without any files or credentials stored on the server in the DMZ.
Diplomat MFT Plays Well with Others
Diplomat MFT integrates with enterprise systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) systems, enabling seamless data exchange between applications. Additional endpoints include cloud storage such as Amazon S3, Azure Blob, and Google Cloud Platform. And Diplomat MFT can tackle enterprise-scale file transfer requirements with a scheduler that can easily manage thousands of tasks, while a simple file transfer solution like FileZilla may struggle to handle high volume file transfer requirements.
Diplomat MFT is no-code easy to install and use, with a single pane of glass view of all file transfers, and various reporting options, making it easier to manage file transfers and ensure compliance with regulations. And with Diplomat MFT’s ethical pricing, and industry-best customer and technical support, it doesn’t make sense to DIY your MFT with FileZilla.
No Strange Noises
When you change your own oil, you don’t want to see the Check Engine light come and hear strange noises while you are doing 75 on the highway and the next exit is miles away. And you don’t want to learn that the DIY file transfer solution you told the boss you could build is leaking data, and the strange noises are customers and partners calling to ask where their files are. At three in the morning. On your day off.
Get in touch with us to schedule a no-obligation demonstration and learn how we can support your secure, managed file transfer needs. Our customers have relied on us for two decades. You can rely on us, too.
