FTP vs SFTP: Which is the better File Transfer Protocol?

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Which protocol is better for file transfer – FTP or SFTP? Read this FTP vs SFTP comparison article to determine which of the two file transfer protocols is better.

Overview

On a network, a protocol is a set of rules that networked devices follow while communicating with each other. During file sharing, these rules determine whether the files you share are visible to outside parties or not.

In that regard, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) was developed by Abhay Bhushan in 1971. FTP transfers files in plain text, meaning the communication path or files aren’t encrypted.

Due to this, anyone who intercepts the file transfer can eavesdrop on the information you’re transferring.

On the contrary, the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) adds security to its file-sharing standards. Tatu Ylönen and Sami Lehtinen developed this security-enhanced file transfer protocol in 1997.

Thus, even if a malicious person intercepts an SFTP file transfer, it won’t look comprehensible to the person. That’s due to the fact that the files are encrypted for additional security.

As for user experience, you may not notice any difference between FTP and SFTP protocols as it affects file transfer. Both of them allow you to connect to your server, browse all files, and download or upload files.

Differences definitely arise in how the protocols handle file transfer security in the background. Basically, SFTP encrypts files during transmission for protection, while FTP doesn’t encrypt its files.

Are you considering setting up an FTP or SFTP server or just trying to decide which is the best to use for file transfer? It is important to understand how these two protocols work.

In the next section, you will learn how FTP and SFTP work on a network.

How FTP Works in Comparison to SFTP

Starting with FTP, it may require initial authentication before data transfer begins. This authentication involves inputting a username and password to log into the FTP server.

However, once the server grants access to the FTP client, the data in transit is no longer secure. That’s because FTP does not encrypt files, as mentioned in the previous section.

Nonetheless, FTP uses two separate channels – command channel and data channel – to transfer files. The command channel sends commands and responses such as the right port/address to connect to the server.

Meanwhile, the data channel sends the actual file when a connection has been established.

As with FTP, you may also require a username and password to log into the SFTP server. However, unlike FTP, SFTP does not use two separate channels to transfer files.

Rather, it uses a single channel called SSH (Secure Shell) to communicate between the client and server. With Secure Shell (SSH), files undergo encryption before their transmission over a network begins.

Hence, with SFTP, file transfers are way more secure because they are encrypted. This is why sending business-critical information over an SFTP rather than an FTP is better.

In a sense, using SFTP is similar to moving a device with password protection in a secure box to another destination. That way, the box guarantees safe delivery while the password ensures authentic access.

Features Comparison of FTP vs SFTP

I briefly overviewed FTP and SFTP in my first section above. I also compared how the two file transfer protocols work in the previous section.

In the following sub-sections, I will compare some of the features of FTP and SFTP.

Both FTP and SFTP Allow Remote Access to A Server

Distance is never a barrier to communication using FTP and SFTP.

An FTP server may be in a different geographical location from the FTP client. However, the client’s device will still be able to log in to the server and share or download files remotely.

Similarly, SFTP clients are capable of remotely uploading and downloading files from an SFTP server.

FTP Uses Dual Channels While SFTP Uses a Single Channel Called SSH Tunnel

As mentioned earlier, FTP allows communication via two separate channels for transferring files. These channels include the command channel and data channel.

SFTP, on the other hand, uses a single channel known as a Secure Shell (SSH) tunnel.

Both Protocols Implement Initial Security Through Username and Password

The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) performs server-side authentication before data transmission actually begins. For instance, a client computer will be required to provide a username and password.

Similarly, SFTP authenticates a client’s computer by asking for a username and password. However, it goes beyond the initial authentication.

SFTP goes ahead to encrypt the data with SSH Keys. As a brief explanation, encryption is the act of transforming a file into codes that humans don’t easily understand.

It embeds a secret key on the file, which will be used to decode it back to the original form. Thus, after initial authentication via username and password, SFTP provides additional security using encryption.

They Deliver Detailed Metadata Alongside Files

Metadata is data that provides information about a file but not the content of the file itself. These include information such as last-modified date, date of creation, title, version information, and so on.

Thus, when you transfer files through the FTP and SFTP protocols, the protocols also deliver the metadata of the files. However, SFTP ensures more metadata delivery than FTP.

Various Operating Systems Support FTP And SFTP Protocols

Mobile operating systems such as Android and iOS support FTP and SFTP. Besides, Windows and Linux PCs also support various FTP and SFTP software.

As a matter of fact, some operating systems like Linux come with built-in SFTP client software. You can access the built-in SFTP from the Linux terminal.

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Strengths and Limitations Comparision of FTP and SFTP

Having compared the features of these file transfer protocols above, let’s now compare their pros and cons in this section.

Pros of FTP Compared to SFTP

They are Ideal For Large File Downloads/uploads

FTP and SFTP are both fast for downloading and uploading large files from and to a server. Nevertheless, FTP is known for being faster.

This is because it does not spend time encrypting data or handshaking, unlike SFTP.

They Can Resume a File Transfer if the Connection is Lost

Have you ever experienced a network interruption during a file download? Then, you’ll agree that resuming the download after re-establishing your connection is better than starting afresh.

Unfortunately, some server protocols do not support the “resume” functionality. Nonetheless, both FTP and SFTP protocols can resume file download after a network interruption.

They Offer Good File Transfer Speed

The rate at which FTP and SFTP transfer files are appreciable.

Besides, the speed of both protocols ranges from hundreds of kilobytes to megabytes per second. However, this speed can be affected by some factors.

One more thing – downloading files is generally faster than uploading files.

Ability to Queue Multiple Files

FTP and SFTP support multiple downloads or uploads at a time. Moreover, when the number of concurrent downloads tries to exceed the limit, both protocols can add the excess into a download queue.

Therefore, they put files in a queue, waiting for their turn to download or upload.

Limitations of FTP in Comparison to SFTP

Unlike SFTP, FTP Doesn’t Encrypt Files

FTP transfers files in plain text without encryptions for added protection.

This enables malicious people (hackers) to eavesdrop on the files you are trying to send. Hence, SFTP is more secure for transferring files than FTP as it encrypts files before transmission.

SFTP is Generally Slower than FTP

SFTP transfers data at a slower rate compared to FTP. Why is this, though?

Well, it is because, before SFTP transfers data, it has to perform data encryption and SSL handshaking.

Compliance May be an Issue when Using FTP

Using FTP requires opening multiple channels and ports. Some instances may lead to non-compliance with governmental/regulatory standards in data communication.

Unlike SFTP, an FTP Server can be Spoofed

Spoofing is a process of redirecting a request for a resource to a website that resembles its intended destination.

Tricking a server this way may send its data to the wrong computer. This data might be used to carry out fraudulent acts by hackers.

Conclusion

At this point, we can safely conclude that using SFTP is better than using FTP, although both share some features.

However, the fast transfer speed of FTP is appreciable, even though SFTP also has a decent transfer speed. Nevertheless, no organization would sacrifice the security and integrity of its information for a negligible difference in speed.

That’s why I believe SFTP is the best transfer protocol, as it encrypts files before transmission for security. Nonetheless, not everyone transfers sensitive data over the internet.

So, if you frequently send non-sensitive but bulky files on your network, FTP is a good choice. Regardless, knowing the kinds of files you wish to send beforehand is best.

By doing so, you can choose the right transfer protocol using this guide.

I hope you were able to understand FTP vs SFTP and how they work. I also hope that you found this article easy to comprehend?

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