FTP and SFTP explanation
What is FTP?
FTP stands for “File Transfer Protocol”. It is an Internet service specially designed to establish a connection to a particular Internet server (or computer), so that users are able to transfer files (download) to their computer or to transfer (upload) their own files to the server (computer). The FTP protocol also includes commands that can be used to execute operations on a remote computer; e.g., to show folder contents, change directories, create folders or delete files.
FTP is based on the client/server model for communications between computers. In this model, a computer called a server runs a program that “serves” data to other computers. The other computers run client programs that request information and process the replies that the server sends. When using FTP, the external computer (the external system) that is running the server program is called the FTP server (host, remote system).
What is SFTP?
SFTP stands for “Secure File Transfer Protocol”. The Secure File Transfer Protocol ensures that data are securely transferred using a private and safe data stream. It is the standard data transmission protocol for use with the SSH2 protocol. WISE-FTP implements a reliable and user-friendly version of the client side of this protocol.
The SFTP protocol's main purpose is to transfer data, but it is also used to obtain general access to the FTP server's file system. The SFTP protocol runs on a secure channel - no clear text passwords or file data are transferred.