Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer vs. Globalscape EFT: Which is the Best MFT Solution for Your Business?

Are the managed file transfer capabilities in the Kiteworks platform or Globalscape the best-managed file transfer solution for you? We’ll help you decide by covering everything you want to know for both solutions.

What are the best-managed file transfer software options? The best options include the following:

• Kiteworks
• Globalscape
• GoAnywhere MFT
• ActiveBatch
• JSCAPE
• Citrix ShareFile Business

What to Look For in a Managed File Transfer Solution

Managed file transfer (MFT) is more than a file transfer platform. The managed file transfer solution you use should be able to support enterprise demands across your entire organization, providing the technology and tools that empower your team to share information, manage files and file security, and streamline operations while breaking down data silos.

In general, organizations need to seek out the following capabilities when reviewing their enterprise managed file transfer options:

1. Security and compliance controls: One of the primary priorities of most businesses is governmental and industry-specific regulations on data privacy and security. A managed file transfer solution should provide comprehensive tracking and control for compliance standards that include HIPAA, HITECH, FedRAMP, PCI DSS, GDPR, or any number of NIST or ISO standards.
2. Automation: A managed file transfer solution should include tools to automate critical jobs so that you do not ever have to control complex tasks manually. This includes jobs like batch transfers, scheduled transfers, and file movements triggered by use or system events.
   
3. User experience: There are plenty of transfer protocols, but vanilla SFTP or a command-line utility isn’t going to make anything more accessible or more manageable for you. User experience is essential, and your managed file transfer solution should be able to show files to users, provide them with configuration controls for their environment, and make navigating that system easy depending on their role.
   
4. Data visibility across an entire organization: Stay on top of compliance issues or SLAs with your customers or vendors. Have a clear view (ideally through a simple dashboard) of what is happening where and the kinds of workflows your operations are running.
   
5. File size limits: Word documents or text files are easy to transfer. Medical files, media-rich files like videos, and directories are a different story. Your managed file transfer solution should support the minimum requirements you need to actually push data where it needs to be in your system.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Evolution of Managed File Transfer (MFT):
   Initially developed to replace traditional methods like FTP and SFTP, MFT gained traction by offering enhanced security, control, and comprehensive tracking capabilities.
2. Continued Use of MFT:
   Businesses still opt for MFT for its ability to efficiently handle large-sized files and provide detailed insights into data transfers, ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
3. Legacy MFT Solutions’ Security Challenges:
   Legacy MFT systems face cybersecurity threats. Modern, secure solutions feature advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and detailed access controls.
4. Modern MFT Features and Advantages:
   Automation, detailed workflows, and seamless integration capabilities enhance operational efficiency. Scalability and high availability ensure reliable data transfer, even during peak demand periods.
5. Outlook for Managed File Transfer:
   Modern MFT solutions equipped with robust security features will play a critical role in safeguarding sensitive data amidst escalating cyber threats, promising a secure and efficient channel for data.

Globalscape EFT Overview

Globalscape EFT is a managed file transfer solution that, according to Globalscape, is intended to replace insecure FTP servers and internal systems with a cloud-based system.

Globalscape isn’t a well-known commodity like other file-sharing providers such as Microsoft. However, based on our experience, dedicated enterprise solutions are often less notorious than their more famous counterparts simply because they offer specific features for specific tasks.

For example, Globalscape EFT builds compliance controls into the system. This means that encryption, auditing, IAM security (including two-factor authentication), privacy protection, and data management are all part of the package. Alongside these typical security and compliance efforts, Globalscape EFT also includes options for high data availability, a key component of many compliance frameworks (including ones like PCI DSS and SOC 2).

This level of compliance and security also comes with some flexibility in terms of deployment, with Globalscape offering on-premises and cloud (MFT-as-a-Service) solutions. Both deployments do offer most of the same features, like automation, security, and visibility.

This platform doesn’t come cheap, however. The core EFT package costs almost $500 per month for unlimited users—which is a great deal for large enterprises but not as cost-effective for companies that plan on fewer than 35 users licensed for the platform at any given time. Globalscape also doesn’t offer 24/7 support for users and requires some significant overhead to deploy and configure the system for your organization (which can also mean it is challenging to onboard users).

Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer Overview

Some managed file transfer solutions are built for breadth. Some are built for enterprise applications. The Kiteworks platform was created for the purpose of supporting businesses large and small who face complex business and compliance priorities.

In contrast to other managed file transfer solutions, Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer is built with modern MFT use cases in purview. Kiteworks encrypts sensitive data in transit and in storage on the server, provides comprehensive audit logs, and delivers robust security protection. In fact, Kiteworks secure managed file transfer includes a defense in-depth approach consisting of geofencing, integrated data loss prevention (DLP), advanced threat protection (ATP), and continuous data protection (CDP).

One of the most prominent parts of the Kiteworks platform is its breadth of compliance standards. Currently, this platform can directly meet or support compliance strategies for HIPAA, HITECH, PCI DSS, GDPR, FedRAMP Low or Moderate Impact, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, FIPS 140-2, IRAP, ITAR, and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Additionally, Kiteworks has achieved SOC 1 and SOC 2 attestation for all Kiteworks infrastructure.

Because security and compliance are such central concerns of many businesses, the Kiteworks platform also offers something relatively unique in this market—single-tenant cloud services. Unlike common multi-tenant cloud infrastructure, users of the Kiteworks cloud do not share server space with other clients; thus, there is no chance of spillover from breaches with other customers.

All this is achieved without sacrificing critical enterprise managed file transfer features like transfer automation, a CISO Dashboard and integrated security, security information and event management (SIEM) tools, and productivity applications.

Alternatives to Globalscape EFT

Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer Beats Globalscape EFT

Choosing a managed file transfer solution that meets all your business needs can become daunting when reviewing all of the different options on the market. Governance, compliance, and protection of confidential data when it is transferred is critical–and this requirement must always be front and center when you evaluate managed file transfer options.

Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer and Globalscape EFT are part of that ecosystem. Both offer a similar slate of base features. Kiteworks, however, excels in areas that Globalscape and other competitors simply cannot. These areas include the following:

• Platform approach and centralized metadata: Unlike Globalscape EFT that is focused on only the MFT communications channel, the Kiteworks platform takes a comprehensive approach that includes email, file sharing, managed file transfer, file transfer, web forms, and application programming interfaces (APIs). Unlike siloed solutions like Globalscape EFT, Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer, part of the Kiteworks Private Content Network platform, possesses a metadata view of sensitive content communications. Benefits include increased operational efficiencies, a single-pane-of-glass view of users, communication channels used, and more, and improved risk management.
• Comprehensive compliance and security: Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer comes equipped with AES-256 and TLS 1.3 encryption for data at rest and in transit, respectively. Additionally, Kiteworks servers are protected by advanced firewall and anti-malware software as well as compliant security and administrative controls for frameworks that cover healthcare, government, legal, pharmaceutical and life sciences, and manufacturing sectors, including work conducted with Department of Defense agencies and contractors. Kiteworks includes compliant hardware and software for regulations and frameworks like HIPAA, HITECH, GDPR, PCI DSS, and FedRAMP-authorized cloud infrastructure for Low and Moderate Impact Levels.
• Single-tenant cloud environments: You aren’t sharing hardware space with other users when you deploy on the Kiteworks cloud or hybrid infrastructure. Single tenancy eliminates spillover security risks without limiting your ability to scale services.
• File size limits: We allow maximum sizes for transfer and storage of up to 16 TB.
• Integrated with SIEM solutions: You can integrate data from Kiteworks into popular SIEM platforms like IBM QRadar, ArcSight, FireEye Helix, and Splunk Forwarder. Also, the integration standardizes audit logs into a single file format to support widespread SIEM consumption.
• Secure email links: We provide generated, secure links for use in emails so that you can share information outside your organization while still maintaining IAM and data privacy controls.
• Immutable audit logs: Our data logs are part of a more comprehensive blockchain technology that underlies our monitoring system, ensuring that all data logs are compliant and verifiable.
• Data visibility: The Kiteworks Private Content Network includes a robust and configurable CISO Dashboard to help business and technical leadership in your organization make data-informed decisions about operations, security, and compliance.

To learn more about Kiteworks Secure Managed File Transfer solution, read our capability brief or visit our Secure Managed File Transfer page. You can also schedule a custom demo to see how the MFT capabilities work in real-world environments.

Additional Resources

• Capability Brief How to Optimize MFT Governance, Compliance, and Protection
• Blog Post What Is Managed File Transfer and Why Does It Beat FTP?
• Blog Post What Is the Best Managed File Transfer Software?
• Blog Post Managed File Transfer Software Buyer’s Guide
• Blog Post 6 Reasons Why Managed File Transfer is Better than FTP