What is secure file transfer?
Secure file transfer enables you to protect data during transit using authentication, access control, auditing and encryption when sharing files within your own network or across various networks.
This is especially helpful for businesses, when it comes to complying with industry standards and policies.
Why you need secure file transfer for email security
Secure file transfer is an essential part of an email security strategy, but when it comes to large email attachments, secure file transfer is also a battleground between users and IT administrators.
As the size of documents, images and presentations continues to grow, users need the ability to share large files with colleagues, customers and partners. Because large file attachments to email can quickly fill up mailboxes and degrade email server performance, IT administrators must place limits on the size of email attachments.
Consequently, users often turn to third-party file sharing services when they need to transfer large files to recipients outside the organization. This creates nightmares for security administrators, as these outside services can’t offer a truly secure file transfer. A file shared through a third-party service may not be scanned for malware or other email security threats, and it certainly won’t be checked for compliance with the organization’s content control and data leak prevention policies.
Mimecast provides a highly secure and easy-to-use solution with Large File Send.
Securely transfer files with Mimecast
As a leader among secure email providers, Mimecast provides an email security, email continuity and email archiving system that enables organizations to manage email more easily while eliminating the risk, complexity and cost usually associated with email management solutions.
Mimecast Large File Send lets users send an email with attachments up to 2 GB in size directly from their regular mailbox application. At the same time, this secure file transfer solution lets administrators apply security measures and enforce compliance and data leak prevention policies, while removing the adverse impact of large file attachments on email infrastructure. Mimecast’s secure file transfer solution lets employees receive large files as well, giving users a bi-directional sharing mechanism that overcomes the size limits placed by an external sender’s organization.
To initiate a secure file transfer, users can create an email as usual, attach a document up to 2 GB in size, press Send — Mimecast does the rest. The attachments are uploaded to the Mimecast cloud, scanned for malware and checked for compliance with content and data leak prevention policies, and then stored in a secure AES encrypted archive. The email recipient receives a notice with instructions for logging onto a secure web portal to access and download the attachment.
Features of secure file transfer services from Mimecast
The secure file sending solution from Mimecast is a cloud-based secure email service for employees to send and receive files up to 2 GB directly through their preferred email application. All files are subject to security retention policies and kept within company control.
With Mimecast’s solution, sending large files through email is as easy as attaching a file and pressing send. Messages and attachments are shared via the Mimecast cloud, removing traffic from your email system to improve stability and performance. This secure file sending solution also enables employees to receive large files from external contacts through a bi-direction sharing mechanism that overcomes size limitations of both the internal and external email systems. All email is subject to policy related to security, compliance, archiving and data leak prevention, while comprehensive management and reporting functionality delivers greater control and visibility over file access.
Benefits of secure file transfer methods with Mimecast
With Mimecast’s secure file transfer technology, you can:
- Protect attachments with encryption, password protection and custom expiration dates.
- Apply content control and data leak prevention policies for all email attachments.
- Keep large file traffic off of email servers.
- Make file audit tracking fast and easy, using a central administration console.
- Apply a comprehensive set of e-discovery and compliance features.
- Archive files sent and received according to email retention policies.
Secure File Transfer FAQs
Why is secure file transfer important?
More confidential information is being shared online than ever before. Threats to steal that information are also more prevalent than ever. Secure file transfer ensures the privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of sensitive information.
What are secure file transfer protocols?
SFTP, FTPS, and HTTPS are the file transfer protocols that are considered secure. These methods use secure file encryption to protect data when it is being transferred.
What are the best practices for secure file transfer?
Organizations need to take the time to learn best practices for secure file transfer in order to help reduce their cyber risk. Organizations need to provide employees with secure file transfer solutions, so they don’t use unsecure third-party tolls instead. A secure file transfer solution should:
- Protect attachments with encryption, password protection and custom expiration dates.
- Apply content control and data leak prevention policies for all email attachments.
- Keep large file traffic off of email servers.
- Make file audit tracking fast and easy, using a central administration console.
- Apply a comprehensive set of e-discovery and compliance features.
- Archive files sent and received according to email retention policies.
What's the most secure way to transfer files?
Leveraging protocols and technologies that prioritize data protection throughout the entire transfer process enables you to securely transfer files.
Widely recognized secure File Transfer Protocols, such as SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol), FTPS (File Transfer Protocol Secure), and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) are among the most secure methods. These protocols utilize advanced encryption techniques, authentication methods, and secure channels to safeguard files during transmission, ensuring the highest level of confidentiality, integrity, and protection against unauthorized access.
Utilizing robust, safe and comprehensive secure file transfer solutions, such as Mimecast's Large File Send, further enhances security by incorporating encryption, access controls, and compliance measures, providing organizations with a robust and user-friendly solution for secure file transfers.