FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software transfers files between a computer and a server over the internet. It is built on a client-server model architecture, in which one computer acts as the server to store information and the other acts as the client to send or request files from the server. Companies leverage these tools to transfer large files or large amounts of data between multiple stakeholders. In particular, webmaster teams use FTP to transfer web pages, web application files, and images to their web server; additionally, IT teams utilize FTP solutions to transfer data back to disaster recovery, or DR, sites.
FTP solutions are similar to managed file transfer (MFT) software in that both types of tools facilitate the transfer of files and data. However, they do not utilize the same server. Furthermore, while FTP is a traditional File Transfer Protocol, SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is an alternative which adds a security layer in the file transfer process through encryption and authentication features.
To qualify for inclusion in the FTP category, a product must:
Allow file sharing between remote machines over a network
Use the TCP/IP protocol to transfer files
Allow the transfer of files over an established data connection between client and server
