Set Up an SFTP Connection

Apart from an MFT agent, you can also use the SSH File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) to connect to a Secure FTP server to transfer your files. The SFTP server stores the uploaded files in an Amazon S3 bucket and uses the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol to authenticate and establish a secure connection. SSH is a cryptographic network protocol that allows you to securely exchange data through an unsecured network using SSH keys as access credentials. SSH keys log you into an SFTP server more securely than a regular password. The keys are used for the automated processes of data transfer and for a single sign-on by administrators. The key pair that you generate consists of a public and a private key. You must store the public key to the SFTP server, and then connect to the server with a client that already has the private key you uploaded.

With SFTP, you can:

  • Establish a secure connection through encryption.
  • Securely exchange your data.
  • Protect against any attacks during a data transfer.
  • Increase the speed and efficiency of your business processes, as an SFTP server can support large files and bulk file transfers.
  • Become compliant with the HIPAA security requirements through the implementation of a secure file transmission.

Before you start exchanging data through SFTP, you should set up an SFTP connection through the Manager File Transfer service.

For how to do this, also watch the video tutorial available.

To set up SFTP:

  1. Open the MFT service web portal in your browser.
  2. Go to the Connections section ( on the toolbar), on the My Connection tab, click Setup SFTP.
  3. In the Setup SFTP Connection dialog, you can view the following parameters:
    ParameterDescription
    UserDisplays the name of the user who connects to the SFTP server.
    User IDDisplays the login name of the user.
    Connection HostDisplays the name or the address of the SFTP server. To copy the connection host, click Copy next to the host.
    SSH Public Key Authentication
    MFT Generated KeysUse this option to generate the key pair on the MFT server. The public key is stored internally. You can download the private key and use the key in the SFTP client for authentication.
    Self Generated Keys

    Use this option to upload the public key to the MFT server. You can generate the key pair locally using a third-party utility, upload the public key to the MFT server, and use the private key in the SFTP client for authentication.

     

  4. Click Save.

You can use an application user to set up an automated data exchange through SFTP. However, you have to first set up SFTP for the application user.

To set up an SFTP connection for the application user:

  1. Open the MFT service web portal in your browser.
  2. Go to the Connections section ( on the toolbar), on the Organization Connections tab, click Setup SFTP or click New Connection, and then from the drop-down list, select SFTP.
  3. In the Setup SFTP Connection dialog, update the following parameters, where required:
    ParameterDescription
    Application User ID

    Specify the intended Application user of this SFTP connection.

    Connection HostDisplays the name or the address of the SFTP server. To copy the connection host, click Copy next to the host.

    SSH Public Key Authentication

    MFT Generated KeysUse this option to generate a key pair on the MFT server. The public key is stored internally. You can download the private key and use it in the SFTP client for authentication.
    Self Generated Keys

    Use this option to upload the public key to the MFT server. You can generate the key pair locally using a third-party utility, upload the public key to the MFT server, and use the private key in the SFTP client for authentication.

    1. Click Save.