In the battle to secure information, it helps to know a little bit about how it can be compromised. Using FTP is one way to expose critical vulnerabilities that can allow credentials to be hacked. However, these holes in security can also be easily closed if you know how.
How Hackers Discover Vulnerabilities
Here’s how hackers could access sensitive data sent via FTP. With the use of a “sniffing” tool, an attacker could intercept and log any data traveling across the network. This log can then be analyzed to look at the content that was sent across specific TCP ports like FTP (port 21), as well as the user ID and passwords used to log in to the FTP servers that may have been sent as clear text.
Start with Networks, Routers, and Firewalls
To prevent this kind of hacking, the wired network can be secured by first making sure network ports are not available for public access, and then by separating network segments for sensitive servers and workstations.
However, many companies also have wireless networks where hackers just need reasonable proximity to the Wi-Fi signal, such as in an adjacent office or parking lot. Therefore, it is critical to secure wireless routers with WPA or WPA2 encryption options, rather than WEP encryption, which is no longer considered effective protection against hackers.
Once networks are secured, the next most effective tactic against hackers is to block all FTP traffic at the firewall. Then, for permitted file transfers, allow only secure encryption protocols such as SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS, PGP, or GPG for file exchanges in and out of the network. These security restrictions will deter most hackers.
Security Measures Can Be Challenging
Implementing these security measures is important, but it doesn’t come without some challenges. The IT staff will have to handle more complicated secure file transfer management processes, and users may be inconvenienced as files are transferred to people and organizations that need them. As a result, users may look for a workaround for sending and receiving files to avoid being slowed down by the IT staff. Popular alternatives users may try include email attachments or browser-based cloud services such as Dropbox that present a new vector of vulnerability as these options may not meet necessary security standards.
MFT Minimizes Hassle, Solves Security Vulnerabilities
There is a solution, however, that can provide not only the highest security for file transfers, but also create fewer hassles for both the IT department and the general employee.
Managed File Transfer (MFT) solutions increase data file security implementations and simplify the entire file management process by providing the tools for easily creating and managing all of the unique encryption keys for the company’s various trading partners. Access controls can be set up for authorizing each employee’s file exchange requirements. MFT also provides a detailed log of all transactions so that any required audits may be easily fulfilled.
Some MFT vendors also provide intuitive and convenient email encryption solutions that can integrate with existing corporate email clients such as Outlook. This reduces the temptation for employees to use workaround tools that may bypass the security restrictions that have been put in place to prevent hacking of sensitive data.
Keeping data secure is an ongoing mandate that will only become more critical as industries move toward paperless environments. Adopting a managed file transfer solution is one of the best ways to strengthen your file transfer processes and security as the pressure and liability risks continue to grow.
photo credit: kryptyk via photopin cc
Daniel has been the IT Director at a healthcare company for the last 12 years and a longtime beneficiary of GoAnywhere Director and the IBM i platform. He is also a technical analyst and writer for various technical and social media projects with Humanized Communications.
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No matter where an organization does business, keeping private data protected, avoiding data breach, and implementing appropriate policies and procedures to meet a variety of compliance guidelines are formidable challenges.
