Is your washing machine giving you signs that it's ready to be replaced? How about your processes for transferring files?

Before you decide it’s time for a new home appliance, there are usually signs that indicate it’s time to bring in the new and recycle the old. Your washer and dryer aren’t what they used to be. From funny noises, to clothes left stained and damp, the signs are hard to ignore. The same is true for developing a file transfer strategy. There are many indicators that illustrate the need for a new approach. We have highlighted three examples that showcase this need.  

1. The most classic symptom that indicates the need for a file transfer strategy is when you have a problem sending a large email attachment. If you are sending a large file to someone at another organization, you want to ensure that the document was received. But what if the attachment is too large for an email system? Even if the important file clears your email, it may not make it through the intended recipient’s email system and there is no way to know if the file was stalled. You need a reliable file transfer method that allows you to easily send even large files to other users.
2. Another indication that it is time for a file transfer strategy is when there is no standard for file transfers in the organization. If everyone is sending files in a different way, it is confusing and makes it difficult to integrate solutions.  A single transfer strategy could streamline the process across your organization, especially if you select a solution that is scalable and flexible to your growing business needs. Also, by investing in a single file transfer solution, you’ll help cut costs by dealing with fewer vendors and reducing the number of file transfer servers you use to move files into and out of the organization. 
3. Finally, if you are using non-secured file transfer protocols, your data is at risk. The information you are transferring could be compromised and there is no way to ensure compliance with corporate policy. This could have devastating consequences on an organization and illustrates the need for one, flexible file transfer strategy that can be used across an organization and ensures files are received and information is protected.

If you notice the need for a file transfer strategy across your organization, we would be happy to discuss the benefits of FileXpress. Please contact us here.

What led you to explore a file transfer strategy?

How You Know it is Time for a File Transfer Strategy is a post from: Data In Motion - a Managed File Transfer blog

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We talk a lot about the benefits of an MFT solution on the “Data in Motion” blog. But once you’ve identified the need for MFT, how do you go about selecting the best one? We thought it might be helpful to provide you with some research tools to utilize when evaluating your options and selecting the right MFT solution that meets your business needs.

Analyst firms that research managed file transfer include Aberdeen, Forrester, Gartner and IDC.  We have included reports published surrounding MFT that can help in your search. We’ve also provided links to helpful blogs and white papers that aid in your search.

 Third Party Research

• Gartner — What MFT Is, and How It Applies to You
• Attachmate is currently offering access to this report on our website at no charge
• Gartner– Use These Evaluation Criteria to Establish Your MFT Requirements
• Gartner — How to Distinguish and Choose Between MFT Solutions
• Forrester –Market Overview: Managed File Transfer Solutions

 Blogs

• Filetransferconsulting.com
• Managedfiletransfer.com

White Papers

• Streamlining Information Workflows with Managed File Transfers
• Controlling the Cost of File Transfers
• Securing Internet File Transfers
• Attachmate’s MFT eBook on eliminating insecure and unreliable file transfer

Discussion

• LinkedIn Managed File Transfer Group

Video

• Making File Transfer a Strategic IT Asset

Once you’ve had an opportunity to evaluate the options that are available, we are happy to discuss our FileXpress solution and how it can help you drive more security, visibility and governance in the way you move data inside and outside your organization. Contact us here.

Research Tools to Evaluate MFT Solutions is a post from: Data In Motion - a Managed File Transfer blog

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Managed File Transfer is not going away anytime soon, companies should proactively select a solution that supports the organization’s business while also considering the trends associated with MFT.

Attachmate recently developed a webcast called, “Making File Transfer a Strategic IT Asset,” featuring Gartner Analyst Jess Thompson. In the webinar we address the ways in which organizations are moving from the tactical to the strategic in the way they transfer files throughout their enterprise.

Companies are faced with several challenges with MFT. One of the challenges is the number of vendor solutions available, some of which only cater to one particular use case. For example, some solutions focus on ad hoc transfers and this may not meet an organization’s business goals. Another challenge is that file sizes are growing. Traditional solutions have a hard time scaling and adapting to the larger file sizes.

By carefully considering your organization’s needs and trends around MFT, you will be better positioned to select a solution that will position your business for success. Attachmate FileXpress 7.1 supports the breadth of use cases associated with MFT.

For more information on common MFT challenges and how to select and utilize MFT solutions, check out the webcast.

Making File Transfer a Strategic IT Asset is a post from: Data In Motion - a Managed File Transfer blog

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Being a marketer, I will occasionally come up with profoundly thought-provoking questions, such as “Is Your Existing File Transfer Strategy Effective?” Maybe the first question you are asking yourself upon hearing that particular question is “do I need a file transfer strategy?” After all, would you apply the concept of a strategy to an ordinary everyday activity such as say…making lunch?

Probably not, unless you had a goal in mind, like losing 15 pounds before a summer reunion or your daughter’s wedding. Then you’re probably thinking about lunch in the context of risk (what if I can’t fit into that tuxedo?), reliability (will I be satisfied enough to avoid snacking later?), and accountability (what will I report at my next weigh-in?).

Things do change

What is changing to cause organizations to look strategically at their everyday file transfer activity?

• Risk – There is sensitive information in those files exchanged with partners and customers over the Internet
• Reliability – Some files have become too big for legacy technologies like FTP
• Accountability – Regulatory compliance with audits measuring data security controls

Enter Managed File Transfer

MFT solutions are designed to support strategic file transfer with capabilities that include:

• Secure protocol support for files in transit, with an architecture that eliminates the staging of sensitive files on the Internet
• Very large file support
• Centralized auditing that captures the who, what, where, and when of each file transfer

A healthier outlook

Just as the benefits of a healthy diet transcend fitting into a nice outfit, managed file transfer boasts benefits beyond security and reliability. MFT solutions also deliver enhanced operational efficiency through automation, streamlined file processing, and notifications.

What’s for lunch?

MFT supports an effective file transfer strategy, offering improved security, reliability, and efficiency.

What MFT won’t do is help you chose a salad over a hamburger at lunchtime.

You DO need a file transfer strategy is a post from: Data In Motion - a Managed File Transfer blog

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