Managed File Transfer Tools That Support AS2, SFTP, and FTPS: A Buyer’s Comparison

Managed file transfer (MFT) tools that support AS2, SFTP, and FTPS include Kiteworks, IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer, Axway SecureTransport, and GoAnywhere MFT. These platforms all move files over the standardized protocols enterprises use with external partners—but they differ significantly in how they govern, audit, and secure the data in transit and at rest. Protocol support is the qualifying filter; security and compliance capabilities determine the right choice.

Executive Summary

Main Idea: AS2, SFTP, and FTPS support is table stakes across the leading MFT platforms, so the real differentiator for IT, security, and B2B integration leaders is whether file transfer runs inside a hardened, governed, compliance-ready platform rather than a bolt-on file-mover.

Why You Should Care: Choosing an MFT tool on protocol checkboxes alone leaves data governance, audit evidence, and regulatory mapping to separate tooling—expanding your attack surface, vendor sprawl, and compliance risk exactly where regulators and auditors look hardest.

5 Key Takeaways

1. All major MFT tools support AS2, SFTP, and FTPS. Kiteworks, IBM Sterling, Axway SecureTransport, and GoAnywhere each handle these protocols, so protocol coverage rarely separates finalists—governance and compliance do.
2. The three protocols solve different problems. AS2 secures B2B/EDI messaging with signed receipts, SFTP moves files over SSH, and FTPS secures FTP with TLS. Many enterprises need all three for different partners.
3. Protocol support alone isn’t enough. Without centralized audit logging, granular access controls, and policy enforcement, a compliant protocol still leaves your data governance ungoverned.
4. Consolidation reduces risk. Running MFT inside one governed data control pane cuts vendor sprawl and shrinks your attack surface versus stitching EDI and governance tools together.
5. Compliance evidence should be built in. Map your MFT to HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and other frameworks your business cites—native compliance support beats after-the-fact reporting.

What Is Managed File Transfer (MFT)?

Managed file transfer is a platform-based approach to moving files between people, systems, and organizations with security, automation, visibility, and policy enforcement built in. Unlike a raw protocol server, managed file transfer centralizes encryption, authentication, scheduling, error handling, and audit logging so every transfer is controlled and traceable. Enterprises adopt MFT to replace fragile scripts and unmonitored file movement with a governed system of record.

How MFT differs from ad-hoc FTP and email

Ad-hoc FTP and email attachments move files but leave no reliable audit trail, apply inconsistent encryption, and cannot enforce policy at scale. MFT closes those gaps. A secure file transfer platform authenticates every party, encrypts data in transit and at rest, records who sent what to whom, and automates recurring workflows. That difference matters most when files contain regulated data such as PHI, PII, or cardholder information.

AS2, SFTP, and FTPS Explained

AS2, SFTP, and FTPS are the three protocols enterprise buyers most often require when shortlisting MFT vendors. Each secures file movement differently, and understanding when to use each helps you evaluate platforms accurately.

AS2 — secure B2B/EDI messaging with receipts (MDN)

AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) transmits data over HTTP/S with digital signatures and encryption, and it returns a signed Message Disposition Notification (MDN)—a non-repudiation receipt confirming the recipient received and validated the message. AS2 is the backbone of retail, logistics, and healthcare EDI, where trading partners require proof of delivery. It is the protocol most associated with high-volume B2B integration.

SFTP — file transfer over SSH

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) tunnels file transfers through a single encrypted SSH connection, protecting both credentials and payload. It is firewall-friendly because it uses one port, and it is widely supported across operating systems and partners. Many organizations stand up an SFTP server as their default channel for partner file exchange because of its simplicity and strong security posture.

FTPS — FTP secured with TLS/SSL

FTPS adds TLS/SSL encryption to the traditional FTP protocol, securing the control and data channels. It remains common with partners and legacy systems that standardized on FTP before SFTP became prevalent. FTPS uses multiple ports, which requires more firewall configuration than SFTP, but it delivers certificate-based encryption and remains a required option in many B2B environments.

When you need all three

Large enterprises rarely get to pick a single protocol. One trading partner mandates AS2 for EDI, another provides only an FTPS endpoint, and a third prefers SFTP. Supporting all three—inside one platform with unified secure MFT automation—lets you meet every partner’s requirement without deploying and governing separate tools for each protocol.

MFT Tools That Support AS2, SFTP, and FTPS

The following platforms all support AS2, SFTP, and FTPS. Where they diverge is in security architecture, governance depth, and compliance evidence—the factors that determine long-term fit.

Kiteworks

Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer supports AS2, SFTP, and FTPS within the broader Kiteworks data control pane. Its differentiator is that file transfer operates inside a hardened, consolidated platform with centralized audit logging, granular access controls, and policy enforcement—rather than as a standalone file-mover. Kiteworks pairs protocol coverage with a hardened virtual appliance, zero-trust architecture, and native compliance mapping, making it well suited to finance, healthcare, and government buyers who must prove governance, not just move files.

IBM Sterling Secure File Transfer

IBM Sterling is positioned as the enterprise default for high-volume, EDI-heavy B2B, supporting AS2 alongside advanced protocols like AS3, AS4, and Connect:Direct. It is powerful but complex and legacy-heavy. Buyers frequently pay for EDI depth they may not fully use, and data governance often sits in separate tooling—adding integration overhead and expanding the surface auditors must review.

Axway SecureTransport

Axway SecureTransport offers a broad protocol list—including AS2, SFTP, FTPS, PeSIT, and HTTP/S—plus governance and visibility features popular in finance and healthcare. Its strength is protocol breadth. The trade-off buyers weigh is whether they need a long protocol checklist or a more consolidated platform that unifies security and compliance in one hardened environment.

GoAnywhere MFT

GoAnywhere MFT (from Fortra) supports AS2, SFTP, and FTPS and is known for ease of use and mid-market friendliness. It is a capable file-mover, but organizations with stringent governance and compliance requirements often seek deeper data governance, a consolidated data control pane, and stronger, native compliance evidence to satisfy regulators and internal risk teams.

Comparison table

Why Protocol Support Alone Isn’t Enough

Here is the insight most vendor pages skip: a protocol like SFTP encrypts the transfer, but it says nothing about who was authorized to send the file, whether the transfer was logged in a tamper-evident record, or whether the movement violated a data handling policy. Protocol support answers “how is the file encrypted in transit.” It does not answer “is this transfer governed, auditable, and compliant.” Those are the questions auditors and regulators actually ask.

Governance, audit logging, and access controls

Governed file transfer requires knowing exactly who accessed which data, when, and under what policy. Advanced governance and data and communication visibility give security teams a single, searchable record across every channel—MFT, email, and web forms. Combined with secure data access controls, this ensures each transfer is authorized and traceable, not just encrypted.

Compliance mapping (regulatory frameworks)

Finance and healthcare buyers must demonstrate compliance with frameworks such as HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI DSS. Kiteworks builds this in through its regulatory compliance capabilities, so evidence is generated as part of normal operations rather than reconstructed during audits. For security leaders, CISO solutions tie file transfer governance to broader risk and reporting requirements.

Reducing your attack surface

Every additional tool you stitch together—one for EDI, one for governance, one for reporting—adds credentials, integrations, and unmonitored gaps. Consolidating file transfer into the Kiteworks data control pane shrinks that surface. A single hardened platform with hybrid cloud deployment options replaces fragmented infrastructure with one governed environment, reducing both operational overhead and breach exposure.

How to Choose an MFT Platform

Once protocol support is confirmed, evaluate platforms on the capabilities that separate a raw file-mover from a governed system of record. Use the checklist below to score finalists consistently.

Beyond core MFT, consider adjacent channels your teams already use. Kiteworks extends the same governance to secure SMTP automation, secure web forms, and secure data forms, plus productivity plug-ins such as Microsoft Office 365 plug-ins, enterprise application plug-ins, and Google Drive sharing. Consolidating these under one data control pane means every channel inherits the same policy and audit trail.

To learn more about managed file transfer tools that support AS2, SFTP, and FTPS inside a governed, compliance-ready platform, schedule a custom demo today.

Additional Resources

• Blog Post 6 Reasons Why Managed File Transfer is Better than FTP
• Brief Optimize Managed File Transfer Governance, Compliance, and Content Protection
• Blog Post Managed File Transfer Software Buyer’s Guide
• Blog Post Eleven Requirements for Secure Managed File Transfer
• Blog Post Best Secure Managed File Transfer Solutions for Enterprise