Secure File Transfer with Secure Shell (SSH)
SecureFX®, VanDyke Software's file transfer client, supports the Secure Shell protocol, the industry standard to provide network and data security over public Internet connections.
Secure Shell (SSH) Overview
The first version of Secure Shell (SSH1), adopted in 1995, was intended to replace non-secure commands native to UNIX-like systems (e.g., RLogin, rsh, and rcp) to enable secure remote access and file transfer, thereby providing businesses with a time- and cost-efficient way to use the Internet for information exchange without compromising privacy. The second version (SSH2), an open protocol developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), was submitted in 1997 and improves upon SSH1, making it less vulnerable to various threats and providing a more robust file transfer solution.
How Secure Shell (SSH)-Enabled Secure File Transfer Works
SSH1 made strides toward secure file transfer by using port forwarding (data tunneling) to provide a layer of security for file transfers performed using FTP (standard File Transfer Protocol), which transmitted all data, including usernames and passwords, in the clear.
SSH2 improves secure file transfer capabilities by utilizing an entirely new protocol—Secure Shell (SSH2) File Transfer Protocol, or SFTP (rather than standard FTP) to protect data in transit between a file transfer client and remote server. File transfers performed using SFTP apply protection measures to ensure:
- User authentication: only verified users have access to files, file systems, and remote machines.
- Host authentication: a secure file transfer client is communicating with a known host.
- Data encryption: data is protected from eavesdropping or packet sniffing.
- Data integrity: data has not been altered in transit.
Secure file transfer using SFTP requires both the client and remote system to recognize the protocol.
SecureFX Supports SFTP and other Secure Protocols
SecureFX supports Secure Shell (SSH2) File Transfer Protocol, allowing secure file transfers when connected to a Secure Shell server, like VanDyke Software's VShell®.
However, SecureFX also allows flexibility in file transfer operations through support for other secure file transfer protocols, including SCP and FTP over SSL. SecureFX can also connect to legacy systems that do not recognize any newer, secure protocol using standard FTP.
Get Started
VanDyke Software offers the highest level of security for your data in transit by supporting the protocol recognized as the industry standard: Secure Shell (SSH2). Secure your file transfers with software for both client and server. Try SecureFX and VShell free for 30 days. To get started:
Download the VShell server.
Download the SecureFX client.
To learn more about our remote access software, read our Secure Shell white papers.
Please contact us for assistance in finding the right solution for your organization.