How SFTP Saved the Day

Published {$created} by Carsten Blum

We're big believers in transparency here at ftpGrid. So, let's talk about a recent incident. A key customer, a video surveillance company, experienced a data sync failure. Initially, we were stumped. It wasn’t a widespread issue, just affecting their specific workflow. After digging into the logs, the cause was surprisingly simple, yet a potent reminder of why prioritizing secure protocols is vital.

They were using a script to upload large video files to their ftpGrid account. The script was configured to use FTP. While we support FTP (as detailed in our features page), it's the least secure option. Our customer’s ISP, seemingly at random, had started blocking FTP traffic due to security concerns. The connection was consistently dropping, leading to failed uploads and a very frustrated customer.

The irony wasn't lost on us: this customer needed reliable, secure cloud storage, precisely what we provide. They were using us to store video data from numerous surveillance cameras, a critical function for their business. This also highlighted that they needed a solution adhering to GDPR compliance, which is a priority for us.

The fix was straightforward, but required a bit of education. We transitioned their script to use SFTP, which operates over an SSH tunnel. This is significantly more secure and bypasses many ISP restrictions – a key advantage we regularly highlight in our tutorials. We walked them through the changes, and within minutes, their uploads were running smoothly.

This event underscored the importance of embracing SFTP, especially in environments where network stability can be unpredictable. While we support FTP for legacy compatibility, we strongly recommend SFTP (and even better, SSH-ED25519 keys!) for optimal security and reliability. The incident also reaffirmed our commitment to providing robust, reliable cloud storage and transparent communication with our users. If you're considering a move to managed FTP hosting, especially for sensitive data, we're here to help guide you to the best solution. Check out our pricing to explore options.