MFT

Managed File Transfer. The product category that transports files in a secured, audited and traced mode.

Definition

MFT (Managed File Transfer) is a software product category that secures file transport between systems, guaranteeing: encryption (TLS, PGP, S/MIME), authentication (certificate, SSH key), receipt acknowledgements, logging, scheduling, error recovery, alerting. MFT products typically support SFTP, FTPS, AS2, OFTP2, HTTPS, and expose a central operations console.

Origin

The MFT concept emerged in the 2000s to replace the unsecured FTP scripts of previous decades. Historic leaders include: Globalscape EFT, IBM Sterling File Gateway, Axway SecureTransport, Progress MOVEit, GoAnywhere MFT, JSCAPE. Gartner has published a dedicated MFT Magic Quadrant since 2012. MFT is today a key component of modern B2B gateways and the EDI ecosystem.

Example in context

A bank uses an MFT to exchange EBICS and SWIFT files with its corporates. Each day thousands of files transit in both directions: CFONB statements, SEPA transfer orders, DEB files. The MFT applies for each flow the security policies (corporate's PGP key, EBICS client certificate, allowed time window), generates an acknowledgement for each reception, and archives the whole set in a digital vault for 10 years.

Related terms

• SFTP — protocol commonly supported by an MFT.
• AS2 — EDI protocol often integrated into MFTs.
• B2B gateway — neighbouring product category, broader than MFT.