FTP has no acceleration technology for moving large assets or folders with thousands of files and upgrading your network without the right software will not help this ancient tech.
Seeking an FTP Alternative for the Modern Age?
FTP was designed in the 1970s and simply isn’t up to the task of moving today’s very large files or addressing modern security challenges. Learn why thousands of companies have abandoned FTP and switched to Signiant to move large, high-value files.
4 Key Pitfalls of Relying on FTP
FTP is Slow
FTP is Unreliable
Most FTP solutions do not have built-in checkpoint restart meaning network interruptions will cause costly and unnecessary delays.
FTP is Not Secure
Security is not standard with FTP and hackers routinely exploit this weakness. Read why many large companies now forbid FTP from their supply chains.
FTP is Painful
With FTP, it’s not easy to onboard users or to gain easy visibility into transfer activity, and the software and hardware is difficult to maintain.
Nine Pitfalls of Relying on FTP to Move Large Media Files
Why Companies Drop FTP and Switch to Signiant
Fast File Transfer
All Signiant products are built on patented file acceleration technology which can be up to 100 times faster than FTP. Even if you upgrade your network, FTP will not be able to take advantage of the new bandwidth. Acceleration technology that can eliminate the impact of latency and packet loss and take advantage of all available bandwidth is required when working with large data sets.
How fast is fast?
By inputting a few data points, our file transfer calculator will show you how fast file transfer can be regardless of your file size or how far it has to go.
Lights-out Reliability
The Signiant Platform employs checkpoint restart to automatically continue any interrupted transfer from the point of failure. With large files and a lack of acceleration, network interruptions can be incredibly time-consuming and costly when relying on FTP. Files must be delivered unaltered with byte for byte accuracy and lights-out reliability.
Edisen, formerly Chimney Group
Henric Larsson, Founder
“There’s no guaranteed Quality of Service over the Internet. You can’t depend on FTP to get the file there on time. You need a guaranteed transfer time, or you can’t work on the kinds of projects we work on.”
Enterprise-grade Security
Signiant is a recognized leader in security as a current Trusted Partner Network (TPN) App and Cloud Gold Shield assessment member for its SaaS offerings. Signiant utilizes standards-based security technology like Transport Layer Security (TLS) to secure data and information as it is transmitted, including advanced authentication, data integrity, and data confidentiality. Security is not standard with FTP. While there are software tools available to add layers of security on top of FTP, it requires the customer to manage that on their own.
Avoid Security Breaches
Security breaches in the past few years at HBO, Netflix and Disney have been blamed on hackers exploiting FTP. As a result, many large companies now forbid FTP from their supply chains.
Easy to Deploy, Operate & Use
With distributed teams and partners who all need access to content across a complex storage landscape, managing FTP can be painful and frustrating. When you purchase a subscription to our cloud-native SaaS products, Media Shuttle or Jet, you are entering a partnership with Signiant that includes 24×7 SRE (DevOps) to ensure the system is always up and running with the highest performance and availability. The Signiant customer success team works together with you to make sure you get onboard quickly, and our customer support will be there to address any issues that might come up.
RÚV (Icelandic National Television)
Jóhannes Reykdal, Broadcast Technician
“We knew how bad FTP was in regard to security and we wanted to get away from that. That was the main driver, security… Basically, we have suffered through the years with FTP. We look back with horror and see just how easy it is right now.”
There’s a Better Way
The Signiant Platform is an integrated set of SaaS products that make content flow easier and more efficient. Signiant products are used by more than 50,000 companies and 1,000,000+ users to move petabytes of data every day with speed, reliability and security.
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Media ShuttleMedia Shuttle is the easiest way for people to send any size file anywhere fast
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JetJet is the easiest and fastest way to automate system-to-system file transfers
Learn More
Companies
Global Users
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RÚV (Icelandic National Television)
Jóhannes Reykdal, Broadcast Technician“We knew how bad FTP was in regard to security and we wanted to get away from that. That was the main driver, security… Basically, we have suffered through the years with FTP. We look back with horror and see just how easy it is right now.”
Ubisoft
Li Xiao Song, Service Manager“Now that we have Media Shuttle, we are finally able to replace FTP, which is something our security team has been wanting to do for years.”
Edisen, formerly Chimney Group
Henric Larsson, Founder“There’s no guaranteed Quality of Service over the Internet. You can’t depend on FTP to get the file there on time. You need a guaranteed transfer time, or you can’t work on the kinds of projects we work on.”
Accord Productions
Michael Ball, Producer & Managing Editor“The user interface on FTP was a nightmare. You have to be more of an IT person to understand how an FTP works.”
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why should I switch from my current FTP solution to Signiant?
The Signiant Platform offers unparalleled speed, reliability, and security compared to traditional FTP solutions. Experience faster file transfers, eliminate downtime, and ensure the utmost protection for your valuable media assets.
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How does Signiant file acceleration technology ensure faster file transfers?
Our platform employs advanced transport technology that optimizes file transfers, taking advantage of all available bandwidth to significantly reduce the impact of latency and packet loss. Say goodbye to the speed limitations of traditional FTP. Want to experience Signiant speed for yourself? Try sending a large file for free.
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What is checkpoint restart?
Checkpoint restart is the ability to automatically restart an interrupted transfer from the point of failure. Most FTP solutions lack this technology which means resending the entire file after a network error. With large files and a lack of acceleration, network interruptions can be incredibly time-consuming and costly. Files must be delivered unaltered with byte for byte accuracy and lights-out reliability.
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Will switching to Signiant disrupt my existing workflow?
No, it will not. The Signiant Platform connects to your existing storage. There is no need to move or ingest your assets. Just connect your storage to a Signiant product and begin sending files anywhere in the world. This makes transitioning from your current FTP solution to Signiant quick and efficient, ensuring minimal disruption.
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Can Signiant be used for remote collaboration?
Absolutely. More than one million end users rely on Signiant to access and share large media assets all over the world. During the pandemic, when the world went remote, the media industry turned to Signiant Media Shuttle to keep content flowing. Read “7 Must-haves for Remote Work in M&E” to learn more.
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How is Signiant’s security superior to FTP?
Security is not standard with FTP. In fact, many large companies forbid FTP from their supply chains due to its security challenges. On the other hand, Signiant is a recognized leader in security, and was awarded the DPP ‘Committed to Security’ mark for both production and broadcast and has completed the Trusted Partner Network (TPN) App and Cloud Gold Shield assessment. Signiant utilizes standards-based security technology like Transport Layer Security (TLS) to secure data and information as it is transmitted, including advanced authentication, data integrity, and data confidentiality.
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Can the Signiant Platform do more than fast file transfer?
While well known for its ability to move large files fast, the Signiant Platform has evolved to make working with media assets even more efficient in ways that extend beyond file movement. With Media Engine, a Signiant Platform service, users can search for files across distributed storage, preview video files across a broad range of professional media formats and even mark in and out points to move just the selected clip of a larger file.
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How can I get started with Signiant?
Getting started is easy! Just speak with a member of our team who will help get you going with the right product(s) and pricing. Simply fill out the form on this page and someone will be in touch. From there, you’ll get a demo and maybe even a proof-of-concept trial. You can be up and running in days. It’s that easy!
Customers
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