|
Only if you want them to. Our Site Administrator lets you organize your files in primary folders called Workspaces. There can be Private Workspaces and Shared Workspaces.
If you want every user to have a Private Workspace,
no problem. If you also want to create some group Workspaces, that is not a problem either. If you want more than one user to be logged in automatically to the same Starting Workspace (home directory), that's easy too! And each user can only "see" and access the folders you have assigned them to. |
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| Do you provide for encrypted transfers? |
Yes. Secure FTP hosting is what FTP Today specializes in. Most of our FTP hosting plans offer the protection of both encrypted login (usernames and passwords not sent as clear text) and encrypted data channels (files encrypted during transfer). This includes:
-
FTPS (SSL encryption)
-
SFTP (SSH encryption)
-
FTP-over-HTTPS (SSL encryption tunnel)
|
| |
| Is your FTP service HIPAA compliant? |
 Short
answer -- Yes.
FTP Today serves many firms within the medical industry that fall under HIPAA regulations. We are therefore sensitive to HIPAA compliance issues and
we provide a HIPAA-ready service that exceeds all compliance
rules.
FTP Today offers multiple safeguards to our HIPAA sensitive customers, including:
- Our servers are all located in a
highly secure data center, thereby making it impossible for equipment (such as a hard drive containing medical data) to be stolen. In addition, as required by HIPAA regulations, our data center is
SAS-70 / SSAE-16 certified.
- Backup procedures have been carefully designed with privacy in mind.
No copies of your files reside on any
offsite or long-term storage media.
- We do not host on the Windows operating system, as Windows servers are constantly under attack and are much more vulnerable than Linux servers. In addition, we use only enterprise grade Linux operating systems.
- FTP username and password is required . Our servers do not accept Anonymous-FTP connections, a common hacker method of seeking out an FTP site for possible attack.
- We host our secure FTP sites behind
highly secure firewalls.
- Passwords are hashed (encrypted) in our server authentication database.
- We provide you with a setting for you to
Require Strong Passwords.
- We offer the use of up to 256-bit encryption during transfer via industry-standard methods such as FTPS and SFTP.
- FTP Today gives you the ability to
force 100% of your users to connect via an encrypted protocols.
- FTP Today even offers automated and
transparent
encryption of data at rest (Enterprise customer option). With this option, files are auto-encrypted as they are uploaded to our hard drives and auto-decrypted upon download.
Note - According to the Department of Health and Human Services, FTP Today itself
is not regulated by HIPAA and is not considered a HIPAA Business Associate:
See HHS website.
|
| |
| Why should I outsource my FTP server? |
Here are just a few reasons:
-
For multiple simultaneous connections, you simply can't afford to provide the bandwidth to match FTP Today without spending thousands of dollars per month.
- FTP Today's servers are accessible through redundant connections to the Internet, whereas your own server would likely have a single point of failure.
-
Putting a server on your own network potentially opens your entire network up to security issues, hacker attacks, etc.
- FTP Today's servers are dedicated file transfer systems that are tuned for high performance file transfer, whereas an in-house server would likely be multi-purpose.
- There are significant costs associated with managing your own server, including the ISP cost for a dedicated Internet circuit and the necessity to devote hardware and personnel to managing that server.
- FTP sites generally take up lots of bandwidth, so if your single internet connection is bogged down with file transfers, your transfer rates may suffer. Your other use of your internet connection (for browsing and e-mail) would also suffer from this bottleneck.
|
| |
| How fast and reliable is the FTP Today network? |
Using the latest advanced routing protocols, FTP Today's network allows your data to travel over the optimal path to reach its destination. This is done through utilizing direct connections to several leading international Internet backbone providers. The result is a solid, secure and fast fiber optic connection between your FTP site and your customers.
What does all this mean for your business?
FTP Today's state-of-the-art network delivers faster and more reliable service than any of our competitors. And our commitment to adopting the best technologies available means that we'll continue to provide unbeatable speed and reliability. |
| |
| Do you provide 24/7 support? |
For direct communications with our support staff, we provide an online ticket system, knowledge base and a toll free phone number not only for you, but for all your end users!
We refuse to outsource our technical support to an overseas operation simply to say
"we have a 24/7 staff". Our knowledgeable support staff is available every work day during
hours that adequately cover all U.S. time zones.
For after hours emergencies we have an pager system connected to our toll-free number that will contact a senior support technician
24/7/365*.
* The after-hours emergency pager system is reserved for proven server outages only. |
| |
| Why do you have a storage limit when you offer unlimited transfer? |
FTP Today is in the business of providing fast and secure file transfers, with "temporary" storage. Our service is designed for rapid turnover of files and we absorb all bandwidth costs associated with potentially heavy usage. We use storage quotas and limits to measure our customers against one another so we can maximize the performance on all servers for the equal benefit of all customers.
It is up to you whether you delete files soon after they are delivered to the intended party or whether you leave files on the server long term. Our more advanced plans will aid you in managing your FTP space using features like
Automatic File Deletion and
Email Notifications. |
| |
| Does FTP Today back up my data? |
Yes, with Continuous Data Protection (CDP).
Complete Backup
for Disaster Recovery or
for Restoring Accidental Deletions
In the rare event of a system failure more serious than that which our purpose-built redundancies already protect, every FTP server is further protected by a Continuous Data Protection (CDP) backup system.
Backup for Disaster Recovery
Our ENTERPRISE FTP hosting plan has backup procedures that run every 2 hours! All other FTP hosting plans get backed up daily.
Backup for Convenience
In the event you accidentally delete something from your site we can check multiple recovery points, allowing us to go back in time and recover your accidentally deleted files from the nearest point in time before they were accidentally deleted.
Backup for Privacy and Regulatory Compliance
Our CDP Backup system uses a Storage Area Network (SAN) and is not tape-based. No off site backups are either made nor are necessary to protect your data. The practice of not taking data off site is a standard requirement of many of the industries that we serve, for example those companies under HIPAA regulations must be assured that for privacy reasons their data is kept safe and is not copied to tapes that are carried off site or retained for several days after the original file is deleted. |
| |
| Will you notify me if I am running out of space? |
Yes. We send out automatic
email alerts to the email addresses of your choice whenever your FTP site hits 90% of it's storage limit. These alerts should prompt you to take action before you run out of space. You might just need to log in and delete some old files or you might want to consider an upgrade.
Some plans also provide a tool to set up
Automatic File Deletion after x-number of days. This will help you automatically keep your FTP site clean and current. |
| |
| Will my users need FTP client software? |
No. Your users will not need to purchase or install any FTP client software since FTP Today provides a Web FTP Client as part of the hosted FTP service.
However, should your users prefer to use a third party FTP client software tool, they will find that your FTP site with FTP Today is fully compatible with that software. |
| |
| Can I brand the Web FTP Client with my own logo? |
|
Yes, if you choose an FTP hosting plan made for
Business or Enterprise use.
See our plans and pricing here. |
| |
| Can I use my own domain name? |
Yes. Our Business and Enterprise plans will give your FTP site a
Dedicated IP address. Your DNS provider, usually your web and e-mail hosting company, will simply point the new host name to this IP address,
For example:
ftp.yourdomain.com
myftp.yourdomain.com
secureftp.yourdomain.com
We can also register and host your domain's DNS for an additional fee of $25 per year. This includes both registration costs and our guaranteed 100% resolvable DNS management.
All accounts also include an FTP Today.com hostname, such as:
yourcompany.ftptoday.com |
| |
| Can I distribute files with anonymous FTP? |
No. FTP Today's
Acceptable Use Policy expressly forbids the use of anonymous FTP or mass distribution of files of any kind. The anonymous FTP function on your FTP site will be disabled and can not be enabled without obtaining a written authorization from FTP Today (rarely given, and at a large price premium to cover potential bandwidth costs).
Dedicated server customers paying $1400 per month or more are the only ones who can use anonymous FTP without special permission.
Those customers also pay for the bandwidth
they consume. |
| |
| How do I administer my FTP site and my users? |
| FTP Today gives you full remote site management capabilities. Simply log in to your secure Site Admin URL and you can add, change, delete users, and much more. |
| |
| How many types of users or groups can I have? |
The beauty of our FlexFTP software is that you decide which users access what workspaces. Any user can be limited to a single private workspace or can be assigned granular access permissions to more than one workspace, with visibility limited to those workspaces to which they have been granted access.
|
| |
| How many users can connect simultaneously? |
| All
our plans allow
UNLIMITED simlultaneous connections. Our servers and network are so robust that we can handle many simultaneous high-speed connections or threads without slowing anybody down! |
| |
| Can I exceed my storage limit? |
|
Yes,
but only until the last file upload puts you
over your limit. The last upload will
complete, but your FTP site will now be over
100% of its storage lilmit and will not
accept any more uploads -- until you delete
files or upgrade your plan. Like new orders,
upgrade orders are guaranteed to be
provisioned within 30 minutes, often much
quicker. |
| |
| Can I set storage limits on my users? |
Not at this time. But, as we are the only FTP host with our own software, we are looking to develop this feature in the near future. There is a Report on current user storage, however, so this data is readily accessible.
If you assign a user only one workspace, that workspace can be set up to notify you upon reaching a disk threshhold (set by you). So, instead of a hard limit on that user, per se, you get notified when they reach a certain disk threshhold. |
| |
| What is FTP? |
| FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the simplest and most secure way to exchange files over the Internet. The most common use for FTP is to download files from the Internet, most typically software. FTP also allows uploads. |
| |
| What is an FTP site? |
| An FTP site is a place on the Internet to store files for delivery to other persons. One person uploads (copies) the files from their computer to the FTP site, then the other person downloads (copies) the files from the FTP site to their computer. Either person can then delete the files from the FTP site. |
| |
| What is the difference between FTP and HTTP? |
[Excerpted and edited from "The Answer Geek" (no longer published)]
The Cadillac of File Transfers
FTP, unlike its distant cousin HTTP, is a protocol from “the old days” of the Internet, that has some snappy features under the hood worth investigating. FTP, originally written in 1971 and revised several times before its current incarnation was decided in 1985, was designed for transferring files between computers over the Internet. FTP not only allows for file downloads, but also file uploads, deletions, file directory manipulations and more. It is much faster than asking someone to send the file as an e-mail attachment.
FTP was designed with security in mind and requires a password for access. However, it also allows for guest logins to public areas. These areas are set up by site administrators and generally contain software and other public information. This guest access is typically what you would use with your Web browser. Guest access is also called "Anonymous FTP" and is not permitted at FTP Today (see above). If you click on a hyperlink that begins with ‘FTP://’ you are most likely being directed to the guest area of an FTP server. FTP works great for this and provides nearly instant gratification.
Aside from the cool features of FTP, it is generally thought of as a more efficient protocol than HTTP. This means that larger files are transported more quickly with FTP—something all of us surfers really appreciate. This efficiency comes with a price (doesn’t this always happen?) because FTP servers are usually more difficult to set up correctly than HTTP servers.
Depends on What You’re Looking For
So, which one should you use if you are setting up a download area on your Web site? It depends. If you are offering smaller files (under 1.5MB) and don’t need to be bothered with file access security, then HTTP is for you. If your files are large, you need to administer your downloadable files from a remote location, or you have to take advantage of access security, FTP is your best choice. |
| |
| How fast can I transfer files? |
That depends entirely on the speed of your Internet connection. Those with broadband connections like DSL, cable and T1 will be able to upload or download much faster than those with 56K modem connections. With a good connection, a 10MB file should take less than a minute to download.
Also, keep in mind that most DSL and cable companies limit your upload bandwidth significantly, compared to your download bandwidth, so uploads may take longer than downloads.
Regardless of their respective ISP speed and quality, your FTP Today site will be able to handle many simultaneous connections from high-speed users and keep up with them all. |
| |
| What is Unlimited Transfer or Unlimited Bandwidth? |
Transfer and Bandwidth are actually two different terms, though many times the terms are mistakenly used interchangeably. In reality, Transfer = Bandwidth Usage.
Transfer is the quantity of bytes per month your FTP site uploads and downloads. Unlike most hosting services that limit monthly transfer or bandwidth usage, charging you extra when you go over a set limit, with FTP Today your monthly transfer is UNLIMITED.
Bandwidth is the speed of transfer, or how many bits per second the server can send and receive. In other words, it is the "size of the pipe" or the maximum rate of flow. Each FTP Today server has 1 Gigabit of bandwidth available to it. Since most users have DSL or Cable at their end, what that means is that your FTP Today FTP site can handle many simultaneous high-speed transfers! |
| |
| Is there any File Size limit? |
| There is no file size limit on FTP Today servers. Therefore, the only limit on an upload is how much space you have left on your overall storage plan limit. |
| |
| How does billing work with your free trial? |
| You'll be asked to enter your payment information upon signing up. You won't actually be billed until thirty days after you sign up. You can cancel anytime during the first thirty days and not be charged. You will be invoiced by email fifteen days before your credit card is charged. If you're satisfied with the service then do nothing and on the thirtieth day your credit card will be charged. The system will then auto-charge your card once per month on that day each month thereafter. You can cancel your subscription at any time and you won't be billed again. |
| |
| Do I get a partial refund when I cancel my service? |
No. FTP Today does not refund or pro-rate any final charges upon termination.*
Whether you are terminating a month-to-month account or an annual prepaid account, you should do so on the last day of your billing cycle to avoid any "penalty" (lack of pro-rated refund). FTP Today also allows termination on the first day of your next billing cycle without charge if you contact us that day (or the next business day if this falls on a weekend or holiday).
* The only exception to this rule is if you are upgrading an annual prepaid account to a higher paid plan. In this case a pro-rated credit will be applied to your first invoice at the new rate because you will also be starting a new billing cycle as of the date of the upgrade. |
| |
| Do you offer temporary FTP hosting? |
| That depends what you mean. There is nothing preventing you from using the service for only a month or two, but we will require you to contact us to cancel the service on or before the renewal date. Otherwise, all plans are automatically renewed. |
| |
| Is there a minimum contract period? |
Yes, it is one month, assuming you signed up for a Monthly service plan. However, all sites will be automatically renewed until we receive notice of cancellation.
Failure to pay an invoice or to keep an
updated credit card on file for automated
payments does not void or non-renew your
account. See out Terms of
Service. |
| |
| Are there any upgrade fees? |
No. If you are on a monthly
billing cycle, our billing system will
simply prorate the charges for the current
month (at the time of your upgrade request)
and your renewal date will remain the same
day of the month.
If you are on an annual billing cycle, a new billing cycle is started on the day of the upgrade. On the first upgraded invoice you will be credited a pro-rata amount of the remainder of your prior annual billing plan. |
| |
| Is there a setup fee? |
|
No. There are no setup fees for any of our plans. |
| |
| Do you bill in multiple currencies? |
|
No. All FTP Today charges are processed in U.S. dollars. Your credit card bank will receive charges in dollars and convert to other international currencies at prevailing conversion rates. |
| |
| Do you send me an invoice and a credit card receipt? |
|
Yes. You will receive an e-mail PDF invoice
at least 15 days before your renewal date.
If you pay by credit card, you will also
receive a receipt by email on your renewal
date. You may also login to our
secure online billing system and view or print full page invoices, review billing history, update your credit card, and more. |
| |
| Do I need to pay by credit card? |
FTP Today requires credit cards for all month-to-month accounts. Your credit card will be used for automatic renewal each month and you are obligated to keep a valid credit card on file with our secure online billing system at all times.
If you are prepaying annually, and therefore are committing to 12-months at a time, then we do accept payment by check with company purchase order. |
1-877-FTP-TODAY
