SFTP (SSH file transfer protocol) is a network protocol used to securely copy files between a remote host and the server. However, no interactions are needed from the user apart from authentication. In its standard, only file access is available, not a directory or file creation or deletion. SFTP has a specialty in that it uses a different port from normal SCP’s (and thus cannot be mixed up with it). Also, it is more secure than standard FTP. Many web hosting companies use this protocol on port 22 to allow file transfer through an SSH connection. This makes the handling of files easier and more secure.
Why SFTP?
- It provides security by encrypting data as it travels between user and server.
- It can be set up to authenticate a user with only a password instead of requiring an SSH key pair. Furthermore, it can be integrated with other services, such as cloud storage.
- Its file transfer speeds can be increased by using multiple downstream channels to upload or download files simultaneously.
- It offers a greater capability to operate on files and directories.
- It also offers a CLI interface, allowing automated file management from the command line and allows the use of more ports than SFTP.
- Has a built-in help available on any server with SSH access.