With the increasing need for secure and automated file transfers, businesses rely on Control-M to streamline and safeguard data exchange between systems. Two widely used protocols for secure file transfer are SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) and FTPS (File Transfer Protocol Secure).
In this guide, we will explore how to configure, manage, and automate SFTP and FTPS transfers using Control-M. Whether you're an IT administrator, a DevOps engineer, or a database manager, this article will help you understand the best practices for secure file transfers in Control-M.
What Are SFTP and FTPS?
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)
- Uses SSH (Secure Shell) encryption for secure data transfer.
- Provides end-to-end encryption, protecting both data and credentials.
- Ideal for transferring sensitive business data over untrusted networks.
- Supports public key authentication and password-based authentication.
FTPS (File Transfer Protocol Secure)
- An extension of traditional FTP with TLS/SSL encryption.
- Supports explicit FTPS (FTPES) and implicit FTPS.
- Allows certificate-based authentication for additional security.
- Compatible with legacy FTP systems while enhancing security.
Key Differences Between SFTP and FTPS
| Feature | SFTP | FTPS |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption Method | SSH | SSL/TLS |
| Authentication | Public key & password | Username/password & certificates |
| Data Integrity | Encrypted | Encrypted |
| Firewall Considerations | Single port (22) | Multiple ports (Control & Data) |
| Compatibility | Modern systems | Legacy FTP-compatible systems |
Why Use Control-M for Secure File Transfers?
BMC Control-M is a robust workload automation tool that simplifies file transfer management while ensuring compliance with security standards. Here’s why Control-M is the preferred choice for SFTP and FTPS automation:
- Automated Transfers – Eliminates manual file handling and human errors.
- Enhanced Security – Supports encryption, authentication, and audit logs.
- Centralized Control – Manage all file transfers from a single dashboard.
- Integration with Business Workflows – Seamlessly connects file transfers with database jobs, reporting, and processing tasks.
- Error Handling & Monitoring – Tracks job statuses and triggers alerts for failures.
Setting Up SFTP and FTPS Jobs in Control-M
1. Configuring SFTP in Control-M
Step 1: Set Up SFTP Server Connection
- Open Control-M Configuration Manager.
- Navigate to File Transfer Job Configuration.
- Click Add New Connection.
- Select SFTP as the protocol.
- Enter the following details:
- Hostname or IP Address of the SFTP server.
- Port number (default: 22).
- Authentication type (Password or SSH Public Key).
- Username and password or private key.
- Click Test Connection to validate settings.
✔ Best Practice: Use SSH key-based authentication instead of passwords for higher security.
Step 2: Create an SFTP Job
- Open Control-M Workload Automation.
- Click New Job → Select File Transfer Job.
- Choose the configured SFTP connection.
- Specify:
- Source path (local or remote file location).
- Destination path (where the file will be stored).
- File transfer mode (Binary/ASCII).
- Configure retry logic and error handling.
- Schedule the job execution based on business requirements.
- Run and monitor the file transfer job.
✔ Best Practice: Enable checksum validation to ensure file integrity post-transfer.
2. Configuring FTPS in Control-M
Step 1: Set Up FTPS Server Connection
- Open Control-M Configuration Manager.
- Navigate to File Transfer Job Configuration.
- Click Add New Connection.
- Select FTPS as the protocol.
- Enter:
- Server address and port (default: 21 for explicit FTPS, 990 for implicit FTPS).
- Authentication method (Username/password or certificate-based).
- TLS/SSL mode (Explicit or Implicit).
- Test the connection to validate authentication and encryption settings.
✔ Best Practice: Use Explicit FTPS (FTPES) for better firewall compatibility.
Step 2: Create an FTPS Job
- Open Control-M Workload Automation.
- Click New Job → Select File Transfer Job.
- Choose the configured FTPS connection.
- Specify:
- Source and destination file paths.
- Encryption and compression settings.
- Configure error handling, logging, and notifications.
- Schedule and monitor the job execution.
✔ Best Practice: Implement IP whitelisting and user-based access control for added security.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting File Transfer Jobs
1. Real-Time Monitoring
- Use Control-M Dashboard to track job status.
- Enable email/SMS notifications for job failures.
- View detailed logs to analyze errors.
2. Common Issues and Solutions
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Failure | Incorrect credentials or SSH key mismatch | Verify username, password, or key file |
| Connection Timeout | Firewall blocking ports | Ensure ports 22 (SFTP) or 21/990 (FTPS) are open |
| File Corruption | Transfer mode mismatch | Use Binary mode for non-text files |
| Slow Transfers | Network congestion | Use compression and optimize bandwidth |
✔ Best Practice: Schedule transfers during off-peak hours to reduce network congestion.
Use Cases for SFTP and FTPS in Control-M
1. Secure Financial Data Transfers
- Transfer bank transactions and payment files securely.
- Encrypt data to comply with regulations like PCI-DSS.
2. Automated Log and Report Archival
- Schedule daily log file transfers to central repositories.
- Compress and encrypt reports before transfer.
3. Integration with Cloud Storage
- Move business-critical files to AWS S3, Azure Blob, or Google Cloud Storage.
- Implement serverless automation for cloud-based processing.
4. Healthcare and Medical Data Exchange
- Ensure HIPAA-compliant file transfers.
- Protect patient records using SFTP encryption.
Best Practices for Secure File Transfers in Control-M
- Use Strong Authentication: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible.
- Encrypt Data at Rest and in Transit: Enable TLS encryption for FTPS and SSH encryption for SFTP.
- Automate Job Retries: Configure automatic retries and failure notifications.
- Monitor and Audit Transfers: Maintain detailed logs for auditing and compliance.
- Optimize Transfer Speed: Use compression and scheduled transfers to improve efficiency.
Conclusion
By leveraging SFTP and FTPS in Control-M, businesses can securely automate file transfers, improve efficiency, and comply with data security regulations. Whether transferring financial records, system logs, or customer data, using Control-M’s automation features ensures safe and reliable file exchanges.
Start optimizing your file transfer workflows with Control-M today and enhance your IT operations! 🚀