File transfer is at the core of business operations. Whether companies are sending batch transactions to an outsourced payroll provider or downloading digital videos for a marketing campaign, data needs to move securely and rapidly. As technology advances, business workloads shift to higher-frequency, large-volume file transfers, which puts a premium on the speed of file transfer systems. Security concerns are also growing, adding to the demand for innovative application processes and hardware-accelerators to increase file transfer throughput.
A file is a set of one or more data records, each containing information encoded as text, graphics and audio. Computer files are usually stored on storage devices such as hard drives, but can also be transmitted over a network using download and upload functionality. They are governed by communications protocols to define how they’re transferred between computers.
In addition to defining how file transfers are executed, protocols establish the relationships between systems involved in the transfer. For example, different operating systems use distinct directories and structures for storing data. In addition, character sets and other parameters differ between platforms. File transfer protocols such as FTP or hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) are designed to minimize these differences.
When considering a file transfer solution, it’s important to determine what your requirements are for speed and security. While a high transfer rate is essential for moving bulk transaction files, it’s equally important to maintain a secure connection that ensures that data cannot be intercepted during transmission. A reliable, enterprise-grade file transfer system will provide both speed and security while enabling you to manage complex, high-volume data flows.
Another consideration is the size of the file. Depending on the amount of data, it may take hours or even days to upload or download it, which can negatively impact productivity. To get an estimate of how long it will take to transfer a file, you can use the free File Transfer Time Calculator, which is available via the NDIT website. This calculator uses a number of factors to calculate the approximate time that it will take to transfer a file, including the size of the file and the interface speed.
For organizations looking for a faster, more efficient way to transfer files, a solution like IBM Aspera can deliver tens of thousands of GB in a single operation. Its patented fast and secure protocol delivers speeds hundreds of times faster than standard FTP or HTTP. Learn how this customer used it to automate delivery of 12,000 World Cup films globally.
CMS ePortals and other external portals support managed file upload and download services for external users to send large files to and from CMS data centers. If you need to upload or download a larger file, please submit an online NDIT Self Service Portal request to request a managed file transfer. This will allow you to use one of our supported file transfer systems, such as SFTP or MoveIT. For more information about how to do this, please refer to our NDIT Self Service Portal Guide.Send Big Files