Whether it’s financial information, healthcare records, proprietary data, or any other type of sensitive information, the security of file transfers is critical. 

Ensuring the protection of data during transit guards against a range of issues, from data breaches and cyber threats to the need to maintaining compliance with data regulations. 

Managed File Transfer (MFT) is a reliable solution that comprehensively addresses these concerns.

Combining encryption, strong authentication and access controls, and automated adherence with various compliance standards, MFT tools create a secure file-sharing environment. 

In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of MFT’s security features and their significance in safeguarding your data during transfer.

How does MFT secure data?

Encryption is one of the biggest pillars of MFT tools, which help to protect data during transit. Even if data is intercepted by unauthorised parties, it remains secure and unreadable.

In MFT processes, two types of encryptions are traditionally used to protect your data.

  1. Data Encryption

This form of encryption secures the actual file content, rendering it unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the decryption key. Popular encryption algorithms, such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), are commonly used to provide a high level of security.

  1. Transport Layer Security (TLS)

TLS protocols help MFT tools provide secure communication channels for data transfer. By encrypting data during transmission, TLS mitigates the risk of interception, ensuring that data remains confidential and integral throughout the transfer process.

Learn more about your sensitive data, and how it’s protected by physical and network security.

Preventing risks with access controls

The secure capabilities of MFT tools go far beyond traditional encryption.

Robust authentication and access controls simultaneously prevent unauthorised access to sensitive data, minimising a wide range of risks in the process.

2-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Single Sign On (SSO) tools act as the first line of defence against potential security breaches, while Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) forms the second line. 

RBAC restricts user permissions based on their roles within the organisation. By doing so, RBAC allows users to access only the files and functions necessary for their tasks. By assigning specific permissions based on roles, RBAC helps minimise the risk of accidental or deliberate data exposure, as well as reducing confusion, data silos, and other access-based risks.

Ensuring compliance with data regulations

Maintaining compliance with regulation is critical for any organisation – especially those operating in highly regulated sectors like finance and healthcare. 

MFT solutions are designed to automatically meet these standards through a series of mandatory processes, providing an added layer of security and ensuring that organisations adhere to any relevant data protection laws.

There are a wide range of data protection regulations worldwide, but those most common, and most frequently assured by MFT tools, include HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

  • HIPAA mandates strict security and privacy measures to safeguard patient data. MFT solutions help healthcare organisations meet these stringent requirements by ensuring the secure transfer of medical records and patient information.
  • PCI DSS is vital for businesses that handle financial information. Compliance with PCI DSS is essential to ensure the secure handling of payment card data. MFT solutions can help organisations in the finance industry meet these requirements, protecting sensitive financial information from unauthorised access.
  • GDPR applies to any business handling data in the European Union. It mandates the protection of personal data, making MFT a valuable tool for compliance. It ensures that data is securely transferred and stored, reducing the risk of data breaches and GDPR violations.

Do you have a question about how our MFT tools ensure data compliance? Read through our data compliance FAQs.

MFT in action: ensuring secure, HIPAA compliant file transfers

A leader in the US medical billing market was used to handling the highly sensitive information of millions of patients in 2019 alone, facing complex challenges such as maintaining compliance with data regulations such as HIPAA in the process.

We were able to customise our cloud based MFT platform, Quatrix, to provide secure workspaces for each project and user access control. As a result, the company was able to seamlessly and securely manage and share critical data, all while ensuring HIPAA compliance throughout the process. 

In our environment, in healthcare, it is essential that data is 100% protected. It is a big, big deal. We cannot send anything by email or on platforms which are not HIPAA compliant. 

When we went with Quatrix, we got rid of everything else. We use it for all our file-sharing and storage requirements.

To learn more, read the full case study today.

Discover the power of Quatrix today

From encryption and authentication to compliance standards, MFT is a steadfast choice for safeguarding your digital assets, as evidenced by its real-world implementations in various industries.

If you’re looking for a trusted MFT solution that prioritises security, compliance, and simplicity, look no further than our cloud-based MFT solution. With an intuitive interface and one-click file transfers, see how Quatrix can help you with a free demo.

Read More: 6 Reasons Why Managed File Transfer is Better than FTP