Dec 05, 2014 By Meg Cater
Media & Entertainment has been a pioneering industry in the practice of sending large files over the Internet. Early file transfer software like FTP solved part of the problem, but had many limitations. More efficient ftp alternatives like hybrid SaaS and cloud-based solutions are being adopted by media and other data-intensive industries for a better experience with large file transfer.
Transcription: “From FTP to SaaS: The changing economics of large file sharing” SlideShare
From FTP to SaaS: The changing economics of large file transfer
Media & Entertainment has been a pioneering industry in the practice of sending large files over the Internet. Early solutions like FTP solved many problems, but can’t keep up with business needs and now accumulate hidden costs.
More efficient, cloud based solutions are being adopted throughout the media production process, paving the way for other data-intensive industries.
Today’s media industry landscape is increasingly global, with file based delivery becoming a standard requirement.
Media file sizes vary depending on where they lie along the path from production to distribution. Starting off often over 5 terabytes coming off a set, files sizes generally get smaller and greater in number closer to distribution and drop off dramatically for secondary distribution to outlets like Netflix and Hulu. But even the smallest files are not small.
Transferring anything over 1GB starts to get difficult, and many media organizations utilize a mix of methods to transport large files. Email file size limits are usually reached at by 25MB. And online file sharing services also have file size limits, plus lack security necessary for professional media
Courier services are typically a reliable way to send large files, but require breaking an otherwise fully computer-based workflow, costing additional time, money and headspace.
This 40+ year old protocol has become the default solution that media and many other companies can’t seem to leave behind for some good reasons.
However, FTP lacks basic functionality, requiring ad hoc scripts to be written on top of the protocol or the purchase of additional applications for:
The need to purchase additional applications or pay a developer to write scripts for basic functionality and security are the obvious costs of FTP. Less apparent is the amount of time FTP systems siphon from IT, requiring assistance for such minor tasks as adding and managing users. Additionally, legacy FTP systems are very difficult to maintain and upgrade.
FTP hails from the days before UX design became an important concern for workplace computing.
And, most people agree, it’s painful.
“You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology – not the other way around.” ~ Steve Jobs
by UXer. Jess Hang
FTP’s underlying transport control protocol has trouble handling files sent over long network distances, stalling out under latency. It also has no ability to automatically check how much data has been sent or received and restart if the network is interrupted. For these and many other reasons, FTP is very slow. Plus, speed is not a function you can write a script or buy additional web applications to handle.
FTP is just slow by nature.
This is a public service announcement.
Many organizations attempt to solve the speed problem of FTP by purchasing additional bandwidth. This will NOT help with FTP, at all. Please spread the word and don’t let your friends waist time and money purchasing additional bandwidth because their files are moving like a snail. It happens all too often, even by professional and otherwise tech savvy people.
The problem with FTP has to do with latency not bandwidth.
A recent survey by North Bridge found that 60 – 80% of respondents indicated plans to make significant moves to the cloud within a year or two.
“Agility, reduction in capital expenditures, and reduced operating expenditures – in almost 100% of the situations – have been the primary drivers of cloud adoption,” says Jim Morrisroe, CEO of Piston Cloud Computing, in the survey report.
– High Availability
– Scalability
– Easy to Deploy and Use
– Global Performance
– Cost Effectiveness
– Rapid Innovation
On-Prem Software + Cloud Infrastructure + Marketing =
X High Availability
X Global Performance
X Scalability
X Cost Effectiveness
X Easy to Deploy and Use
X Rapid Innovation
Core Technology / Domain Expertise + Cloud Infrastructure / Platform as a Service + DevOps Team =
√ High Availability
√ Global Performance
√ Scalability
√ Cost Effectiveness
√ Easy to Deploy and Use
√ Rapid Innovation
Signiant’s Media Shuttle is a hybrid SaaS solution that allows media professionals to quickly transfer any size file anywhere in the world. It can replace or augment FTP and any other means you may be employing to transfer large files with all the power of true SaaS. But the “hybrid” part takes care of security concerns often associated with cloud based software. It can also work alongside existing FTP systems, if you’d like to keep your file organization as it is.
Signiant has been developing on-premises large file transfer software since 2000. Originally created to move huge code bases around the world for global software development, it was adopted by large Media & Entertainment companies in the mid-2000s as the industry transitioned from tape to file-based workflows.
During the R&D phase of Media Shuttle, we asked users of our on-premise solutions and other media professionals what they wanted. They often responded using features of products they already knew.
Media Shuttle incorporates the best of them.
Online File Sharing
FTP
Signiant Technology
Person to Person
– Send
Person to / from File System
– Share
Person to Process
– Submit
Move files fast
Automated services
Minimal IT overhead
No Training Required
Less Expensive to Get Started
SaaS Enabled Pricing
Scalable to any Sized Company
Augment existing FTP
Signiant’s intelligent file movement software helps the world’s top content creators and distributors ensure fast, secure delivery of large files over public and private networks. Built on Signiant’s patented technology, the company’s on-premises software and SaaS solutions move petabytes of high-value data every day between users, applications and systems with proven ease. For more information, visit http://www.signiant.com
Powerfully Simple File Movement