Select and Implement a Managed File Transfer Solution

Nearly 80% of business-to-business traffic consists of files. Therefore, the right controls and mechanisms need to be in place to ensure file transfers are reliable and secure.
Many organizations are looking at managed file transfer (MFT) vendors to meet regulatory compliance, increase security, and automate file transfers.
Vendors tout advanced capabilities, but depending on use case, a simpler or more complex solution will be warranted.
This blueprint isolates key differentiators amongst vendors and provides resources to help accelerate your selection process.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Conduct upfront planning. Application implementation failures are often accredited to a lack of upfront planning and requirements gathering. Ensure the business needs and IT environment is well understood before selecting a solution.
Leverage use cases. Base your vendor selection on your requirements and use case, not on overall performance.
Understand the need for compliance and security. Compliance and security fuel market growth. File transfer protocol (FTP) is no longer seen as a viable option to manage file transfer securely inside and outside the enterprise. MFT has filled that role and is seeing rapid adoption as compliance standards extend their reach.
Assess deployment flexibility. When it comes to the cloud, vendors recognize the demand for deployment flexibility; however, buyers are still wary of potential security issues revolving around compliance.

Impact and Result

Understand what’s new in the managed file transfer market.
Evaluate MFT vendors and products for your enterprise needs.
Determine which products are most appropriate for your particular use case and scenario.
Learn about best practices for implementing an MFT solution.
Avoid common challenges and barriers that will hinder the success of the implementation.

Select and Implement a Managed File Transfer Solution Research & Tools

Start here – read the Executive Brief

Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should select and implement a managed file transfer solution, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.

Select and Implement a Managed File Transfer Solution – Executive Brief

1. Launch the MFT selection project

Understand the value of an MFT solution. Structure the selection project and gather requirements for the MFT selection.

2. Select an MFT solution

Produce a vendor shortlist and select an MFT solution.

3. Implement the MFT solution

Create the procurement and implementation strategy for the MFT solution.

Select and Implement a Managed File Transfer Solution visualization

Vendor Evaluation

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Table of Contents

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst

Get the help you need in this 3-phase advisory process. You'll receive 6 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Launch the MFT selection project

Call 1: Identify the value of MFT and create a procurement project plan.
Call 2: Understand your current integration environment and start collecting requirements for your MFT solution.

Guided Implementation 2: Select an MFT solution

Call 1: Determine vendor shortlist.
Call 2: Discuss use-case fit assessment results.
Call 3: Discuss MFT solution.

Guided Implementation 3: Implement the MFT solution

Call 1: Create the procurement strategy

Author

Jenna Schroeder

Search Code: 76362
Last Revised: June 2, 2015

TAGS:

Managed File Transfer, MFT, Secure File Transfer, Data Compliance, File Share, Collaboration, Ad hoc File Transfer, Server to server, B2B