SFTP Security Best Practices (That Won’t Make Your Life Miserable)

Let’s be real - secure file transfer is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But if you’re running a business, getting it wrong can be catastrophic. Let’s dive into SFTP security practices that actually matter (and won’t drive your team crazy).

Why Should You Care?

Because Dave from accounting shouldn’t be able to accidentally expose your customer data to the entire internet. Simple as that.

The Non-Negotiable Security Practices

1. Lock Down Your Server

• Restrict IP access (yes, even if it’s annoying)
• Use non-standard ports (because basic security through obscurity still helps)
• Implement rate limiting (bots gonna bot)

2. Keep Your Logs Close

• Monitor failed login attempts
• Track file transfers
• Set up alerts for suspicious activity (like that 3 AM access from a random IP)

3. Regular Updates

• Keep your SFTP server software updated
• Patch security vulnerabilities ASAP

The “Nice to Have” But Important Stuff

• Set up detailed access controls
• Implement session timeouts
• Use SFTP chroot jails to restrict user access

The Reality Check

Let’s be honest - managing a secure SFTP server is like having a high-maintenance pet. It needs constant attention, regular updates, and sometimes wakes you up at night with problems.

The Better Way: Managed SFTP with Baskt

Here’s where we make our shameless pitch (but hey, we built this because we needed it too).

Baskt handles all of this for you:

• Automated security updates
• Built-in monitoring and alerting
• Object storage backend for infinite scalability
• Access controls that actually make sense

Want to forget about SFTP security and focus on your actual work? Check out Baskt

TL;DR

Either spend time implementing all these security practices, or use Baskt and get back to building stuff that matters.