FTPFTPSllä

FTPFTPSllä refers to the practice of using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) with Transport Layer Security (TLS) to secure file transfers, commonly known as FTPS, in Finnish-language contexts. The term signals the combination of FTP with TLS to protect confidentiality and integrity of both control and data channels during transfer.

FTPS provides encryption for the FTP session and authenticates the server with certificates, addressing the main security weaknesses of plain FTP. It supports two main operation modes: explicit FTPS (FTPES), where the client upgrades to TLS on the existing control connection after contacting the server on port 21; and implicit FTPS, where TLS is assumed from the start on a dedicated port (historically port 990). In both modes, data channels can also be encrypted, depending on configuration.

Security and interoperability considerations are important. FTPS relies on certificate-based authentication, so proper certificate management and validation are essential to prevent impersonation. Misconfigurations can expose data or block access. Firewalls and network address translation can complicate FTPS, especially the data channel, which may use passive or active mode and require a wide range of ports to be opened.

FTPS is widely supported by FTP servers and client software, including popular options like FileZilla and WinSCP. It remains a common choice for organizations that require TLS encryption but rely on FTP tooling or workflows. Compared with SFTP, FTPS uses TLS over FTP and typically involves separate control and data channels, while SFTP operates over SSH on a single connection, often simplifying firewall traversal but requiring different server and client support.