Outgrown WinSCP? Automate File Transfers with Diplomat MFT
Move to secure, proven Diplomat MFT with expert migration support—no downtime, no data loss, no more emergency patches.
Security-First Architecture – Designed with enterprise security as the foundation
Guided Migration Process – Step-by-step migration framework with technical support to ensure a smooth transition from your current solution.
Proactive Security Model – Regular updates without emergency patching cycles
EASY INTEGRATION
Our customers rely on us to integrate and work with their existing healthcare, accounting, HR, financial, and other business software solutions for their secure file transfer needs. Book a personalized demo or get a quote from one of our MFT experts today!
WinSCP vs Diplomat MFT
Why organizations move from WinSCP to managed file transfer
WinSCP is a free, open-source SFTP and FTP client that’s been a staple of IT departments since 2000. For ad-hoc file transfers — uploading a config file, downloading logs, moving data between servers — it’s excellent. The dual-pane interface is intuitive, it supports SFTP, FTPS, SCP, and WebDAV, and the price is right. But as transfer volumes grow and compliance requirements tighten, WinSCP’s limitations become apparent.
The tool was designed for manual, interactive use. Automation exists through scripting and Windows Task Scheduler, but anyone who’s debugged a WinSCP script knows the pain: credential storage issues, session isolation problems when running under service accounts, and brittle batch files that fail silently. There’s no central visibility into what’s being transferred across the organization, no audit trail for compliance, and no encryption at rest — files sit unprotected on endpoints before and after transfer.
Diplomat MFT addresses these gaps with purpose-built automation. Transfers run on schedules without scripting, PGP encryption protects files at rest, and comprehensive audit logs satisfy compliance requirements. Rather than managing dozens of WinSCP installations and hoping scripts don’t break, IT teams get centralized control over file transfer operations — with transparent pricing starting at $1,149/year.
Compare Diplomat MFT with WinSCP
Diplomat MFT offers these advantages over WinSCP *
| FILE TRANSFER SERVER | DIPLOMAT MFT ENTERPRISE | WinSCP |
|---|---|---|
| Central Management Console | ✅ | ❌ (Individual installations) |
| Scheduled Automation | ✅ (Built-in scheduler) | ❌ (Requires scripting + Task Scheduler) |
| PGP Encryption at Rest | ✅ | ❌ (Transport encryption only) |
| Auto-Rotating PGP Subkeys | ✅ | ❌ |
| Audit Trail & Compliance Reporting | ✅ | ❌ (Basic session logging only) |
| High Watermark File Detection | ✅ | ❌ |
| Email Notifications & Alerting | ✅ | ❌ (Requires external scripting) |
| Edge Gateway / DMZ Architecture | ✅ | ❌ |
| SFTP Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| FTPS Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| FTP Support | ✅ | ✅ |
| WebDAV Support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cloud Storage Integration | ✅ | ✅ (S3, WebDAV) |
| 24/7 Support | ✅ | ❌ (Community forums only) |
| Published Transparent Pricing | ✅ ($1,099 - $10,499/year) | ✅ (Free, open-source) |
| Zero CVEs (20-Year Track Record) | ✅ | ❌ (CVE-2021-3331, CVE-2024-31497) |
*Research based on publicly available information as of January 2026. WinSCP is a free, open-source client application — this comparison reflects the difference between manual file transfer tools and managed file transfer platforms
Diplomat MFT Security & Migration ROI Calculator
Calculate your cybersecurity risk exposure using IBM breach cost research and configurable probability assumptions. Compare migration costs vs. breach impact with full transparency.Your ROI Analysis
Based on your inputs and industry dataANNUAL RISK EXPOSURE
YEAR 1 MIGRATION COST
3-YEAR NET BENEFIT
📐 How We Calculate This
Breach Cost: From IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024 ($4.88M average; $9.77M healthcare). Breach Probability: Heuristic estimates based on common exposure patterns—these are not published research figures. Use "Advanced Options" to input your own rates if known. Net Benefit: 3-year risk reduction + labor savings − total 3-year cost (Year 1 + 2 renewal years).Current State vs. Post-Migration
| Metric | Current State | Post-Migration |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Breach Risk | - | - |
| Weekly Admin Hours | - | - |
| Compliance Automation | - | Automated |
| Vendor Support | - | Highly rated on G2 (as of Jan 2026) |
See What Diplomat MFT Can Do For Your Organization
You've seen the potential risk reduction and cost savings—now take the next step.
Diplomat MFT gives you enterprise-grade security, complete visibility, and powerful automation—without the complexity and vulnerabilities of legacy systems.
Ready to protect your data and reclaim your IT team's time?
MFT Migration Service:
Here’s an Overview of How It Works
Our MFT Migration Service provides a structured approach to help you seamlessly transition from your existing file transfer solution to Diplomat MFT. Many of the world’s largest organizations in industries like healthcare, financial services, retail, and more trust Coviant Software with their most sensitive file transfers. You can, too.
Step 1: Initial Discussion
In a 1–2-hour virtual session, our MFT experts meet with your team to understand your current file transfer setup. We identify which file transfer workflows should be migrated, and how you can do it easily and effectively.
Step 2: Deliver Tailored Migration Plan
We review what we’ve learned and prepare a clear, actionable Statement of Work (SOW)—outlining timeframes, required resources, and what you can expect.
Step 3: Review & Decide
You evaluate the SOW at your own pace. Need more clarity? We’re happy to consult further—at no cost.
Step 4: Fast, Professional Delivery
Once approved, we can quickly start assisting with your migration. We keep in close contact throughout the process, with regular updates and zero guesswork.
Step 5: Final Review & Sign-Off
We walk through the results with you to ensure everything meets expectations. Only when you’re satisfied do we consider the job done.
If you have questions, please reach out to schedule a discussion and quick demonstration of Diplomat MFT. Or you can take Diplomat MFT for a free 15-day test drive with no obligations.
Understanding the features and benefits of the technologies
WinSCP supports file transfers via SFTP, SCP, FTP, FTPS, WebDAV, and Amazon S3. As a client application, it connects to existing servers running these protocols rather than hosting transfers itself. The tool is particularly popular for SFTP connections to Linux servers, where it provides a graphical alternative to command-line tools like scp and sftp. Generally, SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is the safest and most secure protocol to use. Diplomat MFT supports FTPS, SFTP, and FTP but not WebDAV or SCP. Not supporting these legacy protocols is part of focusing on the secure, widely-adopted standards that enterprise file transfers actually require.
Employs SFTP and OpenPGP encryption for highest security
Calendar exclusions prevent transfers on bank holidays
Reducing risk of human error by automating transfers
Robust scheduler for easy configuration of transfer times
Full audit trails, file archiving, and notifications
Integrates with various protocols (SFTP, FTPS, AS2, HTTPS)
What does “Enterprise” file transfer really mean?
The term “enterprise” implies a product has the features, capacity, and job management capabilities to handle the demands of the largest organizations. With managed file transfer software, that means automating the largest file transfers to an extensive digital supply chain, doing it securely and reliably, and keeping pace no matter how your needs expand. It also means including enterprise-class features such as full auditing, alerting, data archiving and retention, directory management integration, PGP encryption management, and 24×7 support. WinSCP is a capable file transfer client, but as a client application it wasn’t designed to deliver any of this. And so, if you’ve been relying on WinSCP scripts and manual transfers and need an MFT solution that has been proven in the most demanding enterprise environments — and is ready for more — take a look at Diplomat MFT. You’ll be glad you did.
What's new in Diplomat MFT?
Key Diplomat MFT enhancements include:
Secure, Browser-Based File Transfers: Allows your partners to simply use a standard web browser. Just send a URL and login credentials. No third-party tools, no software, no training needed.
Automated PGP Browser-Based File Transfers: Mandate PGP policy across your entire information supply chain, removing complexity and enhancing security.
Threat Intelligence: Real-time blocking of malicious IP addresses with automated threat detection to prevent intrusions and advanced persistent threats.
IP Access Rules: Granular control to block high-risk IP addresses, ensuring only trusted users and networks have access.
PGP Enforcement Rules: Automatically removes files that aren't PGP encrypted, preventing exposure of sensitive information and ensuring data protection compliance.
SFTP Connections Report: Complete visibility into file access for compliance audits and security monitoring with full transparency.
Syslog Logging: Centralized monitoring of all system logins to identify suspicious activity across the entire network.
Zoho WorkDrive Transport Type: Easy integration and automated file transfers to Zoho WorkDrive, reducing manual work and errors.
Expanded RegEx: More flexibility in organizing file names and file types, reducing manual sorting and errors.
Connection Map Report: Visual documentation of data flow for compliance (HIPAA, etc.) showing connections between systems made by Diplomat MFT.
Granular Permissions and Custom Roles: Fine-tuned access control for improved security and regulatory compliance with role-based security.
Support for SSO (Single Sign-On) for Administrators: Simplifies administrator login, centralizes user management, and reduces administrative overhead.
If you have questions, please reach out to schedule a discussion and quick demonstration of Diplomat MFT. Or you can take Diplomat MFT for a free 15-day test drive with no obligations.
Years of experience
Individual transfers per day
Terabytes transferred per day
Concurrent jobs
Years of experience
Individual transfers per day
Terabytes transferred per day
Concurrent jobs
Choose from 3 Editions
We have three editions of Diplomat MFT to suit varying business requirements and budgets.
Standard
Billed annually $3,999
Not available on Standard. Optional add-on with Professional, included in Enterprise. Encrypts every browser upload before it leaves the partner’s machine.
Not available on this plan- Edge Gateway Network-edge component that handles inbound transfers safely without exposing internal systems to the public internet.
- SFTP server
- Web Transfer Portal Browser-based upload/download interface for ad-hoc transfers by external users — useful for partners who don’t use SFTP. PGP encryption for Web Transfer is available as an add-on on Professional and included on Enterprise.
- Up to 25 automated workflows Called “transactions” in Diplomat MFT — defined transfer jobs such as nightly ERP exports, partner SFTP feeds or cloud sync workflows. Each is one transaction regardless of how many files it moves.
- Up to 5 File Transfer Server accounts Called “transfer server users” in Diplomat MFT — external accounts that authenticate to your SFTP or Web Transfer server. Typically the partners and customers sending files to you.
- Up to 5 keys per type Cryptographic keys for PGP, SSH and SSL — each type has its own slot count.
Professional
Billed annually $8,499
Every browser upload encrypted at the partner’s browser, before it leaves their machine. No Kleopatra, no key management, no partner training. Just compliance enforced where it matters.
Add-on · $2,999/year- Everything in Standard, plus:
- 1 Remote Agent included Lightweight component installed at remote sites (offices, stores, customer environments) to securely move files back to the central Diplomat MFT instance.
- 1 Cloud Storage Connector included Connects Diplomat MFT directly to cloud storage such as S3, Azure Blob, SharePoint Online, Google Cloud Storage and others (without custom scripting).
- Up to 100 automated workflows Called “transactions” in Diplomat MFT — defined transfer jobs such as nightly ERP exports, partner SFTP feeds or cloud sync workflows. Each is one transaction regardless of how many files it moves.
- Up to 25 keys per type Cryptographic keys for PGP, SSH and SSL, with each type having its own slot count. Professional gives you up to 25 of each, a deciding factor for teams scaling beyond basic partner exchanges.
- Up to 25 File Transfer Server accounts Called “transfer server users” in Diplomat MFT — external accounts that authenticate to your SFTP or Web Transfer server. Typically the partners and customers sending files to you.
- Up to 3 admin accounts with concurrent access support Three administrator accounts on Professional, with all three able to be signed in to the web admin at the same time. Standard supports one admin only. Enterprise has unlimited admin accounts with concurrent access.
- Defined Partners Reusable partner profiles bundling endpoints, credentials and routing rules — set up once, reuse across many transactions.
- Synchronization
- Calendaring, file monitoring, advanced source options
Enterprise
Billed annually $12,999
Every browser upload encrypted at the partner’s browser, before it leaves their machine. No Kleopatra, no key management, no partner training. Just compliance enforced where it matters.
IncludedWhat's included
Critical Outage (P1) response for all hours outside the Premium Support coverage. Coviant Software designates multiple senior team members highly qualified to provide in-depth technical support to serve as on-call contacts for these critical outage responses around the clock on every day of the year, with authority to draft in additional resources if required.
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- 5 Remote Agents included Lightweight components installed at remote sites (offices, stores, customer environments) to securely move files back to the central Diplomat MFT instance.
- 5 Cloud Storage Connectors included Connects Diplomat MFT directly to cloud storage such as S3, Azure Blob, SharePoint Online, Google Cloud Storage and others (without custom scripting).
- PGP for Web Transfer included Automatic PGP encryption applied to files uploaded through the Web Transfer Portal. Partners upload through the browser, and files are encrypted before they touch your storage. Available as an add-on on Professional, included on Enterprise.
- Proactive Threat Intelligence included Proactive Threat Intelligence blocks file transfer attempts from known-bad sources before they reach your environment, using continuously updated reputation feeds. Not an intrusion-detection or scanning product; the protection is at the connection layer.
- Advanced Authentication (SSO + LDAP + TOTP) included Single Sign-On (SSO) via SAML, LDAP authentication, and web admin TOTP two-factor authentication, bundled. Authenticate users through Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace or directly against your LDAP directory. All are included on Enterprise.
- Unlimited workflows, users, keys Workflows are called “transactions” in Diplomat MFT. Defined transfer jobs such as nightly ERP exports, partner SFTP feeds or cloud sync workflows. Enterprise removes the cap entirely.
- RBAC, webhook invocation, multiple destinations Role-Based Access Control — granular permissions controlling what each administrator can see and do.
- Pre/Post-job processes
- 24×7 Critical Outage Response
- Paging notifications
Try Diplomat MFT for yourself
Every evaluation is different. That's why we build yours around your requirements — not a one-size-fits-all process.
Share your requirements with us
Every organization has unique file transfer challenges. In a short call, our team will learn about your specific protocols, endpoints, compliance needs and integrations — so we can shape your entire evaluation around what matters most to you.Watch a tailored demonstration
No generic walkthroughs. We'll demonstrate Diplomat MFT configured to your environment and workflows, so you can see exactly how it addresses your requirements before you invest any time in setup.Start your trial and evaluate with expert guidance
We cut the learning curve. Our team helps you install and configure a full-featured trial tailored to your requirements — so you spend your time validating, not troubleshooting. Your trial is time-limited, not function-limited.Decide with confidence
Once your evaluation is complete, we'll review the results together against your original requirements. You'll have everything you need to make an informed decision — with no obligation to purchase.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the key differences between WinSCP and Diplomat MFT?
WinSCP is a free file transfer client designed for interactive, manual use. You connect to a server, drag files between panes, and disconnect. Automation is possible through scripting, but you’re essentially building your own solution from scratch using batch files, PowerShell, and Windows Task Scheduler.
Diplomat MFT is a managed file transfer platform designed for automated, auditable operations. Transfers run on schedules you define through a web interface — no scripting required. Files can be encrypted with PGP before transfer and decrypted on arrival automatically. Every operation is logged with full audit trails for compliance reporting. Where WinSCP gives you a tool, Diplomat MFT gives you infrastructure.
The practical difference shows up at scale. One person transferring files occasionally? WinSCP works fine. A team managing hundreds of scheduled transfers across multiple systems with compliance requirements? That’s where WinSCP scripts become a liability and managed file transfer becomes essential.
Our WinSCP scripts work fine. Why would we switch to something we have to pay for?
Scripts work until they don’t. The most common WinSCP automation failures happen silently: a credential expires, a service account can’t access the registry where session settings are stored, Pageant isn’t running in the right Windows session, or a path with spaces breaks the batch file. You discover the problem when someone asks why yesterday’s data never arrived.
Diplomat MFT eliminates these failure modes by design. Credentials are stored securely within the platform, not in scripts or registry keys. Transfers run under a dedicated service with proper permissions. When something does fail, you get email notifications immediately — not days later when a business process breaks. The platform also provides visibility: a dashboard showing all scheduled jobs, their last run status, and any errors. With WinSCP scripts scattered across multiple servers, that visibility doesn’t exist.
The cost question is really about risk. What’s the business impact when a critical file transfer fails silently? For many organizations, $1,149/year is cheap insurance.
Can Diplomat MFT do everything WinSCP can?
For core file transfer protocols, yes. Diplomat MFT supports SFTP, FTPS, and FTP — the same protocols most organizations use with WinSCP. It doesn’t support WebDAV or SCP, but those are rarely used for business-critical transfers.
Where Diplomat MFT exceeds WinSCP is automation and security. PGP encryption happens automatically based on policies you define — no manual key management or external tools. Scheduling is built-in with dependencies, retries, and notifications. High watermark file detection lets you poll remote servers for new files without deleting the source. These capabilities either don’t exist in WinSCP or require significant custom scripting to implement.
What Diplomat MFT doesn’t do is interactive file browsing. It’s not a replacement for the WinSCP GUI when you need to manually explore a server’s directory structure. Many organizations keep WinSCP installed for ad-hoc troubleshooting while running Diplomat MFT for scheduled production transfers.
How difficult is it to migrate our existing WinSCP scripts to Diplomat MFT?
You don’t migrate scripts — you replace them with configuration. Each WinSCP script typically defines a source, destination, file pattern, and schedule. In Diplomat MFT, you create a transaction that captures the same information through a web interface: where to connect, what credentials to use, which files to transfer, and when to run.
The migration process is really an audit. Document what each script does, identify which transfers are still needed, and recreate them as Diplomat MFT transactions. Organizations often discover redundant or abandoned scripts during this process — transfers that were set up years ago for projects that no longer exist.
For the transfers that do migrate, Diplomat MFT’s interface is designed for IT professionals familiar with file transfer concepts. The learning curve is minimal. Most teams complete migration in days, not weeks, and immediately benefit from centralized visibility into operations that were previously scattered across multiple servers and scripts.
WinSCP is free and Diplomat MFT costs money. How do we justify the expense?
Calculate the hidden cost of “free.” How many hours does your team spend maintaining WinSCP scripts, debugging failures, and manually verifying transfers completed? What’s the business impact when a transfer fails and nobody notices? Can you produce audit logs showing exactly what was transferred, when, and by whom for your compliance team?
WinSCP’s cost is operational overhead, not licensing fees. Diplomat MFT’s cost is transparent: $1,149/year for Basic, $2,899/year for Standard with PGP encryption, $10,999/year for Enterprise with Edge Gateway and 24/7 support. Those prices include the platform, updates, and support — not per-transfer fees or hidden charges.
The justification usually comes down to reliability and compliance. If file transfers support critical business processes, the question isn’t whether you can afford managed file transfer — it’s whether you can afford the consequences when manual processes fail.
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY
G2 is the largest and most trusted software marketplace. More than 90 million people annually—including employees at all Fortune 500 companies—use G2 to make smarter software decisions based on authentic peer reviews.
Scott J.
Diplomat MFT has been a powerful workhorse for all of our enterprise file exchange for many years. No other enterprise application we use comes with the same level of support we receive from Coviant.
Eric D.
Director of Information Technology
The support is fantastic. I had to contact them on a few occasions – as it turns out, not for issues with Diplomat MFT but issues with one of the FTP partners. Coviant support stuck with me and went above and beyond to troubleshoot and figure out the issue.
Dave L.
Manager of Information & Technology
Diplomat MFT is a solid data transfer product, its easy to set up, and easy to use. I like the way the transaction builder is laid out. It’s so easy to understand what values it wants.
Adah B.
Extremely robust platform for managing our enterprise file transactions. Every upgrade provides us with additional useful tools to streamline our business processes.
Stephen H.
IT BI Analyst SE
I find the sftp file transfers to be the most helpful tool of Diplomat MFT. No need for programming, the interface is customized already and users only need to fill in the boxes.
Jeff M.
The interface and GUI are very straightforward. The options are simple and labeled so anyone can understand how to set up and configure. The ability to test something without actually sending something is also beneficial.