What is FTP, SFTP, HTTP, SSH, and SCP?

Welcome to the TECHNOHOLIA TECHY TUESDAY:

Date: TUESDAY, 18th June 2024 

Time: 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Topic 2:  FTP, SFTP, HTTP, SSH, and SCP

Software: FileZilla, WinSCP

FTP, SFTP, HTTP, SSH, and SCP are protocols used for various purposes in IT. Here's an explanation of each along with some popular software that implements them:

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

FTP is an old and insecure protocol for transferring files between computers over a network. It operates in a client-server model and transmits data in cleartext, making it vulnerable to security breaches. FTP is generally not recommended for sensitive data transfers.

Popular FTP server software:

- ProFTPD (open source)

- Pure-FTPd (open source)  

- vsftpd (open source)

- CrushFTP Server (proprietary)

- FileZilla Server (open source)

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)

SFTP is a secure file transfer protocol that runs over the SSH protocol, providing encryption, authentication, and data integrity. It allows operations like resuming transfers, directory listings, and remote file management. SFTP is widely used for securely transferring sensitive data.

Popular SFTP server software:  

- OpenSSH (open source)

- Cerberus FTP Server (proprietary)

- CrushFTP Server (proprietary)

- FileZilla Server (open source)

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)

HTTP is the foundation for transmitting hypermedia documents (webpages, images, videos, etc.) between web browsers and web servers over the internet. It is a request-response protocol where the client sends requests, and the server responds with resources.

Popular web servers that use HTTP:

- Apache HTTP Server (open source)

- Nginx (open source) 

- Microsoft IIS (proprietary)

SSH (Secure Shell)

SSH is a cryptographic network protocol that provides a secure way to access remote computers, transfer data (via SFTP or SCP), and tunnel other applications over an insecure network. It uses encryption and authentication mechanisms.

Popular SSH server software:

- OpenSSH (open source)

- Bitvise SSH Server (proprietary)

- Tectia SSH Server (proprietary)

SCP (Secure Copy Protocol)

SCP is a secure file transfer protocol that operates over the SSH protocol. It is used for securely copying files between local and remote hosts or between two remote hosts. Many implementations use SFTP under the hood.

Popular SCP server software:

- WinSCP (proprietary)

SCP can also be implemented as a command-line tool that comes bundled with SSH server/client software like OpenSSH.

In summary, FTP is insecure, while SFTP, SCP (over SSH), and HTTPS provide secure alternatives for transferring files and data. HTTP is the protocol for web content delivery. SSH enables secure remote access and tunneling. A variety of open source and proprietary software packages are available to utilize these protocols in enterprise IT environments.