Glossary · Cloud & Hosting

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)

SFTP is a secure file transfer protocol that runs over SSH, encrypting both login credentials and the file data being transferred.

Updated October 6, 2026

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a protocol for transferring and managing files over an SSH connection, so that logins and data are encrypted.

Why it matters

SFTP is the secure replacement for plain FTP, which sends passwords and files in readable form. It usually uses the same port and credentials as SSH, port 22, so it passes through most firewalls without extra setup.

It is often confused with FTPS, which is a different protocol that adds TLS to FTP and uses separate ports.

Example

sftp deploy@203.0.113.10
sftp> cd /var/www/html
sftp> put index.html
sftp> get error.log

These commands connect, change directory, upload a file and download a log.

Common misconceptions

  • SFTP is not FTP with SSL. That is FTPS, a separate protocol.
  • SFTP does not need a separate server in most cases; it comes with the SSH service.
  • Encryption does not limit access; you still need to restrict directories and permissions.

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