When it comes to SFTP, we’re talking about a protocol that is very similar in functionality to FTP, but more secure. This type of tool enables you to connect to remote servers using a set of credentials that should be given to you by your web hosting provider. To use FTP, you’ll need to set up a client, such as FileZilla. Most importantly however, it provides you with a way to transfer those elements between the remote server and your computer. As we stated earlier, this acronym stands for File Transfer Protocol, and it’s very aptly named.Ĭonnecting to a server using FTP enables you to see the underlying files and directories that power any sites hosted therein. If for example you run a WordPress website, you may need to access your server directly, and that’s where FTP comes in.

It’s very straightforward, but it’s not the only protocol available. Whenever someone attempts to access a website, his or her browser will make a request, and the server will reply to it by sending the necessary data. Most users only interact with the web through their browsers (and apps nowadays), which render websites using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). Servers can be located anywhere around the world and accessed in several different ways. How Does SFTP Work?Įvery website you’ve ever visited is stored on a server, which is basically just a computer optimized for that task. However, SFTP uses Secure Shell (SSH) – a cryptographic protocol that enables you to send data safely over unsecured channels. SFTP has similar functionality to FTP in that it enables you to transfer files between two systems. Over the course of this article, we’ll explore what the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) is, how it works, how it compares to regular File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and how to connect to it. Posted in Security, WordPress by Oliver Whitham

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