What are the differences between FTP, SFTP, and FTPS?

What are the differences between FTP, SFTP, and FTPS?

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the standard network protocol for transferring files, but it lacks encryption. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a secure version that uses SSH to encrypt the data. FTPS (FTP Secure) adds SSL/TLS encryption to FTP, making it more secure than standard FTP.

Which one should I use for my business?

It depends on your security needs. If you require strong security, SFTP is often recommended. FTPS is also secure but can be more complex to set up. If security is not a concern, FTP might suffice.

Are there any performance differences between them?

Generally, FTP is faster because it doesn't have the overhead of encryption. However, the difference may not be significant for most users. SFTP and FTPS may have slightly slower performance due to encryption, but they provide better security.

Can I use SFTP with Windows?

Yes, you can use SFTP on Windows. There are several clients available, such as WinSCP and FileZilla, that support SFTP.