.: FTP Hosting Services - A Security Overview
By:Mike Jewson
Category:Home / Internet / Web Hosting
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) defines the set of rules to transfer files over the Internet. FTP hosting services allows the service holder to exchange large files from one computer to another in a secured mode. FTP Hosting service has two main components – FTP Server and Client Server. Irrespective of file size and file type, you can exchange information through FTP server. People with authentic FTP account can download the copies of the files from FTP server. Each FTP account comes with unique user name and password. Therefore, only the authorized user can access the uploaded files.
File Transfer Protocol has several advantages over Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. Compared to FTP, exchanging large files over the Internet through HTTP is less secured and allows unauthorized user or hackers to access the information. FTP hosting services restricts unauthorized users to access digital data by providing separate FTP account for each user.
Security features
It can be said that there is nothing better than FTP hosting services to exchange digital information in a secured mode across WWW. The importance of FTP hosting services has increased significantly in all types of industries. Be it a Health Care Sector or large Engineering Firm, FTP is the right option to share all types of files (e.g., text, image, audio, multimedia etc.) through a single server – FTP Server. FTP hosting services, which are HIPAA compliant encrypts contents and upload the files in the server. Encryption is the secure method that converts readable information into unreadable format by keeping the content unchanged. This is considered as the ultimate security measure and restricts unauthorized to view the actual content of the files.
Following are some remarkable security protocols:
SSL
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a significant security protocol that offers privacy of communication over the Internet. You can make File Transfer Protocol more secure by using the system over Secure Sockets Layer. The basic objective of SSL is to maintain privacy and trustworthiness in web based communication system. Following are some basic properties of connection security in SSL Protocol:
•SSL Protocol use symmetric cryptography for data encryption and maintains ultimate privacy during web based communication.
•All the messages, which are exchanged over the Internet, are checked during transmission. This feature provides the reliability of the web based communication.
Secure Sockets Layer comes with the feature of cryptographic security to create secured connection between two computers over the Internet. Moreover you are free to incorporate other encryption methods in a SSL framework. This will lower the effort of installing new security library as well as eliminate the requirement of creating new set of protocols.
It is observed that cryptographic operations, especially key operations, depend upon the hardware configuration of CPU. Secure Sockets Layer protocol comes with the feature ‘optional session caching’, which optimizes the number of connections and network activity to make the communication process efficient.
TLS
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is another security protocol to ensure privacy and data-integrity during web based communication between two applications. Like SSL Protocol, TLS Protocol also comes with two components – TLS Record Protocol and TLS Handshake Protocol. Basic properties of TLS Protocol are as follows: TLS Protocol encrypts data by symmetric cryptography and ensures privacy during web based communication process. All the messages, which are exchanged over the Internet, are checked while transmitting from one computer to another. This feature provides the reliability of the web based communication. TLS protocol restricts unauthorized users to interfere as a third party in the middle of a communication process over the Internet. The third party will take part in the communication only after detected by the two authorized communicators or users.
Transport Layer Security Protocol comes with the cryptographic security to provide ultimate privacy between two users. Like SSL, Transport Layer security Protocol is extensible, i.e., you can incorporate new encryption methods in the TLS framework. By this you can reduce the effort of creating new protocols as well as eliminate the necessity of implementing new set of security library.
Cryptographic operations provided by Transport Layer Security Protocol depend upon the technical configuration of the CPU. These features are also similar to Secure Sockets Layer Protocol. ‘Optional session caching’ is available in TLS Protocol that optimizes the number of connections and network activity to make the communication process efficient.
SSH
Secure Shell (SSH) comes with the feature of encrypted channels. You can use Secure Shell to access another computer over the Internet and can execute command on a remote computer. Moreover, like File Transfer Protocol you can transfer files from one computer to another through WWW (World Wide Web). Transferring files over the Internet requires sufficient security measures to protect the privacy of digital information. With Secure Shell you can efficiently establish encrypted communication between two computers by protecting the information from accessing by any unauthorized third party.
Standard FTP hosting service does not encrypt digital information while transferring files from over the Internet. Secure FTP or SFTP, on the other hand, comes with the features of Secure Shell and encrypts digital data when transferring from one computer to another. Further, SFTP also prevents passwords and responsive information from being transferred from one computer to another over the Internet. Since the Protocols are different in Standard FTP and SFTP, it is not possible for the users to integrate a standard FTP client with an SFTP server or a simple FTP server with a client using SFTP service.
Article keywords: SSL, TLS, SSH, FTP, FTP storage, FTP space, FTP Hosting, FTP Host, FTP upload, FTP website hosting
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Mike Jewson is a Network Engineer with "InstantFTPsites.com". You can learn more about "FTP Hosting" services online at www.InstantFTPsites.com
© 2006 InstantFTPsites www.InstantFTPsites.com You may reprint this article online and in print provided the links remain live and the content remains unaltered (including the "Author Biography").
.: New Web Hosting Articles
1). Virtual Web Servers: Perfect For Mid-Sized Web Hosting Needs
The internet has exploded over the last ten years with many people doing more and more tasks online everyday. As the internet continues to grow, the amount of space available for web sites to expand will shrink.
2). How to Make a Painless Move to a New Web Host
There are two things that can go seriously wrong when you move to a new web hosting provider. Follow this simple guide to doing it all without too many dramas.
3). Choosing the Best WAHM Website Hosting
This article will show you how to get the best bang for your buck when selecting webhosting for your website and business.
4). Web Hosting Options
There are more options for web hosting than ever. There are hosting plans and services to fit any budget. Another option is running your own server.
5). What to Look For When Choosing a Web Host
The purpose of your web site determines what you need to look for from a web hosting service. A hobby site has very different needs to that of a business site.
6). Dedicated Hosting is the Only Way to Go
Why use dedicated hosting? Is it better than virtual hosting? Find out what will suit your needs in this article.
7). Why Some People Prefer Canadian Web Hosting Over American
Canadian web hosting tends to be preferred over American web hosting. This preference is due to the features they offer.
.: Top Web Hosting Articles
1). Discovering The Personal And Professional Benefits Of Myspace
If you have been thinking of creating a website for your company, then you are already aware of the amazing benefits of having a corporate presence online. Tapping into the internet community is a proven way to increase your company's visibility, improve sales, attract new clients, and more. But have you ever wondered: if a website can do wonders for my profession, can it work magic in my personal life, too? Most importantly, is there a service that can benefit me both personally and professionally?
Chances are you have heard of MySpace.
2). BlueHost and Fantastico
BlueHost and Fantastico go so well together that they lend themselves to all sorts of timeless comparisons: Burns and Allen, Astaire and Rogers, Peanut Butter and Jelly or, more relevantly, MySQL and PHP. BlueHost is the web host, Fantastico is the feature; together, they can help you make your website do all sorts of incredible things.
Fantastico (full name: Fantastico DeLuxe) is the leading auto-installer for servers using the cPanel control panel.
3). How to Share?Transfer Large Files Via The Internet
The Internet is the fastest medium to share or transfer large files from one computer to another.
FTP has several advantages over HTTP and considered as a reliable communication protocol to share/transfer large files via the Internet. Through FTP service you can transfer large files irrespective of the content (text, image, audio, video, multimedia, etc).
4). 1and1 Hosting - Raising the bar
First, I have to admit. I'm a terrible customer. I'm a demanding perfectionist who rarely feels that he is getting his money's worth. This is especially true of hosting providers. In the past four years, I've had to change providers at least six times because I felt that I was not getting what I paid for. This brief commentary is somewhat of a treat.
5). 3 Differences between Shared and Dedicated Hosting
When it comes to making the all-important choice of what web hosting method to use the choices come down to shared hosting and dedicated hosting. There are so many arguments arguing for both shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Perhaps it is time to shed a little light on this web hosting dilemma.
First of all, let's deal with the all-important question of server access.
6). FTP Hosting - The Benefits Of Sending Large Files Via The Internet!
Still using FedEx or UPS as the medium of transferring files to your client? Try FTP hosting service, this is an authentic way to transfer files over the Internet. In this era of Internet technology it is necessary to implement advanced communication protocol in the business system to enjoy efficient client communication. You can contact with your client or vendor through World Wide Web within a few second therefore, it is necessary to implement a technology that can enhance the business process and can run over the Internet.
7). Four Critical Factors to Business Web Hosting Success
There are a number of business web hosting services over the internet. It is important when choosing a business web hosting service that you find one that caters to your specific business needs.