Managed File Transfer (MFT) Overview & Solution

If you familiar with middleware, you will be familiar with MFT / Managed File Transfer. It is one of the middleware category. If you know FTP (File Transfer Protocol), you might be know this MFT. I have worked with this MFT for about a year. I work with several partner that provide MFT solution or product. For Indonesian Market, MFT is a right solution to help company work and collaborate with their customers and partners. So what is MFT?

Wikipedia.com:
Managed file transfer ("MFT") refers to software or a service that manages the secure transfer of data from one computer to another through a network (e.g., the Internet). MFT software is marketed to corporate enterprises as an alternative to using ad-hoc file transfer solutions, such as FTP, HTTP and others.

Typically, MFT offers a higher level of security and control than FTP. Features include reporting (e.g., notification of successful file transfers), non-repudiation, auditability, global visibility, automation of file transfer-related activities and processes, end-to-end security, and performance metrics/monitoring. ensure secure, reliable and auditable data transfer to enhance various type of business process.

WhatIs.com

Managed file transfer (MFT) is a type of software used to provide secure internal, external and ad-hoc data transfers through a network. MFT products are built using the FTP network protocol. However, because federal regulations require that MFT products meet strict regulatory compliance standards, they include mechanisms to ensure a higher level of security and help keep information private.

MFT applications offer business automation, along with reporting and non-repudiation. An MFT solution should simplify management and ensure regulatory compliance while supporting all current security standards and methodology, including SSLencryption, X.509 encryption and proxy certificates.

Ipswitchft.com

MFT is a category of middleware software that ensures reliable, secure and auditable file transfer to enable critical business process. 

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My Definition: Managed File Transfer (MFT) is a middleware software that ensure secure, reliable and auditable data transfer to enhance various type of business process.

Problem we are facing nowadays related with MFT:

1. Low service level because of many disruption to the document exchanged and data transfer, such as unstable and narrowband network 
2. Low visibility because of lacking or minimal operational status
3. Not meet complication related data security best practices
4. High operational costs because too many complex manual processes, manual errors and exception drive up costs and lengthen time to value 
5. Continued growth in the amount of data, size of files and volumes of transactions  mandates highly scalable solutions to support expansion of business that demand simplicity and rapid response 

There are many solution related with this MFT. They offer several additional features to support the operational like Web Access, Mobile, etc... Some of them offer analytics functionality like dashboard too. Basically it is just an additional for the security, reliability and audibility data transfer. Just for your information too, some of the big brands also offer collaboration with another middleware like B2B (Business 2 Business) Integration. If MFT talk about file transfer, B2B talk about real time integration, and more automation. You have to decide based on your objective you want to achieve and of course your budget. Thank you for reading.

Selamat Tinggal 2015, Selamat Datang 2016

Terima kasih ya Tuhan untuk kasih, dan penyertaan Mu selama 2015 kemarin. Kami mau bersyukur telah berhasil melalui semuanya, baik itu tantangan dan rintangan, kemenangan dan kekalahan, suka maupun duka. Segala sesuatu yang telah terjadi kami yakin itu terjadi karena Engkau mengizinkan semua itu terjadi. 

Ya Tuhan, bantulah dan mampukanlah kami untuk merelakan segala sesuatu di 2015 yang belum kami ikhlaskan. Ajar kami untuk selalu mengerti bahwa apa yang kami inginkan tidak semuanya baik dan benar sesuai dengan kehendak Mu. Biarlah kami diberikan hati yang lebih luas lagi untuk menerima kenyataan yang ada. 

Ya Tuhan, maafkan kami juga untuk setiap kesalahan yang kami lakukan di 2015 lalu. Lewat kuasa Mu, kami juga minta tolong agar semua orang yang kami sakiti dipulihkan dan diberikan hati yang tulus untuk memaafkan kami juga ya Tuhan. Ajar kami untuk selalu lebih bijak dalam menghadapi dunia ini, terlebih ajar kami untuk selalu berani bertanggung jawab apalagi meminta maaf Mu ya Tuhan. 

Di 2016 ini, kiranya berkat dan kasih Mu lebih berlimpah. Latih kami juga ya Tuhan, agar kami diberikan kapasitas lebih lagi untuk menerima semuanya itu dan terlebih kapasitas untuk membagikan dan memberi lebih dari apa yang kami terima, karena kami tahu bahwa kami tidak pernah kekurangan sesuatu apapun karena Engkau selalu mencukupi kami. Tidak lupa, tolong ingatkan kami untuk selalu bersyukur untuk kasih setia Mu. 

Di 2016 ini, kami yakin janji-janji Mu semakin tergenapi. Bantulah kami juga ya Tuhan untuk mencapai apa yang kami rencanakan, apa yang kami harapkan. Bantulah kami mendengar apa yang ingin Engkau katakan, agar rencana kami sejalan dengan kehendak Engkau. Ajar kami untuk selalu turut kehendak Mu, selalu melibatkan dan mengandalkan Mu dalam setiap hal yang kami lakukan. Bilamana nanti apa yang terjadi diluar ekspektasi kami, ajar kami untuk dapat mengerti rancangan Mu, karena kami tahu rancangan Mu adalah rancangan damai sejahtera dan hari depan yang penuh harapan. 

Di 2016 ini, berikanlah kami hati seperti hati Mu ya Tuhan. Penuh kasih, sukacita, serta belas kasihan bagi sesama kami. Bantu kami untuk selalu menjadi terang dan garam dunia di manapun kami berada. Kiranya lewat kasih dan anugerah Mu, setiap talenta yang kami miliki dapat menjadi berkat dan lewat hal tersebut kemuliaan Tuhan semakin dipancarkan dan ditinggikan. 

Sekali lagi terima kasih untuk semuanya ya Tuhan Allah ku. Biarlah kasih dan penyertaan Mu semakin nyata dalam hidup kami. Amin. 

Selamat tinggal 2015, selamat datang 2016. :)