Why Use Files.com with FTP?

Your Files.com site is a full-featured FTP server, allowing inbound FTP and FTPS connections from your users, partners, applications, and systems. We also provide the ability for your Files.com site to connect (outbound) to other FTP servers.

Using this native Files.com integration, customers can seamlessly integrate Files.com platform capabilities with any other FTP server. Files.com adds powerful access and permission controls over file interactions with other FTP servers and allows you to take advantage of all of the Files.com platform capabilities.

Enhance, secure, and expand your business processes by connecting other FTP server content with Files.com workflow features such as Inboxes, Share Links, GPG, Automations, more file transfer protocol options (SFTP, AS2, WebDAV, etc.), authentication and authorization (Single-Sign-On, Active Directory, LDAP, SAML, etc.), online co-editing, iPaaS integrations, and a rich selection of notification options (webhooks, Slack, Amazon SNS.)

How Files.com Makes the Most of FTP

In today's digital retail landscape, not every file transfer is handled through cutting-edge APIs or sleek, cloud-native systems. Many vendors and third-parties still rely on tried-and-true FTP workflows, especially when working with older ERP and inventory management platforms.

At Files.com, we help modernize these traditional processes without costly system overhauls or disrupting existing business workflows.

Real World FTP Use Case: Retail distributors uploading CSV product catalogs via FTP from ERP systems.

Retailers often work with a broad network of distributors, each using different systems and levels of technical sophistication. Many of these partners still rely on:

• Legacy ERP or inventory software that can only deliver data via FTP
• Automated nightly exports of CSV files that contain up-to-date product information (SKUs, descriptions, pricing, stock levels)
• Scripted FTP uploads built into their existing infrastructure

These systems may not support HTTPS APIs or modern SFTP—but they still get the job done through FTP.

Integration Options & Remote Server Mount + Sync

FTP servers can be connected as a Remote Server Mount, making your FTP server content available in real time, or connected as a Remote Server Sync, allowing you to push, pull, or synchronize files between any FTP server and other Files.com storage locations. Files.com acts as your FTP client.

Integrating Files.com with other FTP servers allows your users to access FTP server content through Files.com, using a web browser, SFTP, FTP(S), AS2, WebDAV, the Files.com Desktop App, the Files.com Mobile App, or the Files.com Command Line (CLI) App.

Files.com operates three types of FTP integrations:

1. Inbound FTP Server: Files.com can function as an FTP server, allowing users to access any part of their account via FTP—including folders synced with external services like Dropbox, Box, or Amazon S3.
2. FTP Mounts: You can mount an external FTP site into Files.com as a folder. In this role, Files.com acts as an FTP client, making the site accessible through the web interface, API, SDKs, and inbound FTP connections.
3. Scheduled FTP Sync: Files.com can sync folders with an external FTP server on a one-way or two-way basis using scheduled synchronization.

Ready to Maximize Your FTP Protocols with Files.com?

The Files.com platform focuses on providing the means for any type of file transfer with scalability and efficiency. Ready to get started today? Try a free 7-day trial with full access to the entire Files.com platform, including all integrations, automations, protocols, and APIs.

Files.com's integration for FTP, and FTPS, is a core integration of Files.com, maintained by the Files.com team, and is fully supported as part of your Files.com subscription. Any Files.com customer on the Power plan and up can work with FTP and FTPS as part of your existing subscription.

Want to learn more about your maximizing FTP workflows with Files.com? We’ve got the following with everything you need to know:

• FTP Performance Tips
• Documentation for setting up a connection to a FTP server
• Documentation for FTP and FTPS configuration options
• Legacy Ciphers Information