What is SFTP?
SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a secure file transfer protocol that provides file access, transfer, and management over an encrypted SSH connection. Unlike standard FTP, SFTP encrypts both authentication credentials and data during transfer.
How Does SFTP Work?
SFTP runs over the SSH protocol, typically on port 22, and provides a secure channel for transferring files between a local computer and a remote server. All data, including passwords and file contents, is encrypted during transit, protecting against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. SFTP also supports key-based authentication, which is more secure than password authentication.
SFTP is the recommended replacement for FTP in web hosting environments due to its built-in security. Most hosting providers support SFTP access, and popular FTP clients like FileZilla, WinSCP, and Cyberduck support SFTP connections. While SFTP may be slightly slower than FTP due to encryption overhead, the security benefits far outweigh the minor performance difference, especially when transferring sensitive files or configuration data.