A Day with GDPR Compliant SFTP Hosting

Published {$created} by Carsten Blum

Okay, so my day started like any other. As a security engineer, my to-do list always includes backups and ensuring data residency. We're rolling out a new video surveillance system for a client in Germany, and data privacy is paramount. They absolutely need best GDPR compliant SFTP hosting. Self-hosting was immediately off the table – too much overhead, constant security patching, and a compliance headache I didn’ll take on.

The existing solution, a file-sharing service, wasn’t cutting it. They didn’t offer the control and transparency we needed to demonstrate GDPR compliance. Specifically, the ability to ensure data wasn’t scanned or transferred outside of the EU was a requirement.

That’s when ftpGrid became a lifesaver. We signed up for an account – the instant setup was seriously impressive – and within minutes, we had a secure SFTP server ready to go, edgeN.ftpgrid.com. The fact that it's hosted in the EU was a huge win. We chose SFTP over regular FTP or even FTPS (as detailed in ftpGrid’s comparison). SFTP’s encryption and the option to use SSH keys are essential for robust security – and we setup SSH-ED25519 keys, following best practices as explained here). Password authentication is not supported, which is a plus from a security standpoint.

Automating Backups and Monitoring

Next up was setting up automated backups from the surveillance cameras. We leveraged Duplicati to sync the camera footage to our ftpGrid SFTP server. ftpGrid’s Duplicati tutorial made that process incredibly straightforward. The ability to use the Quick Storage API to automate transfers was great, even without extensive coding – the API documentation is clear and the overview is really helpful.

One of the most valuable aspects is the monitoring. The dashboard allows us to view real-time storage usage against our quota, and the historical storage graphs are invaluable for capacity planning. We also appreciate the audit logging – it gives us a clear record of all file uploads, downloads, and deletions, complete with IP addresses and geo-location data.

Data Residency and Peace of Mind

Knowing that our client's data is safely stored within the EU, under GDPR-compliant conditions, provides a level of confidence that’s hard to put a price on. The data isolation features also give us peace of mind, as each customer's data is completely separate, minimizing any potential security risks.

And, for sharing larger files with clients directly, we’re exploring ftpGrid as a WeTransfer alternative – offering a secure and controlled option.

Getting Started is Easy

If you’re looking for reliable, secure, and GDPR-compliant SFTP hosting, check out ftpGrid. The free tier is a great way to get started and test the platform.