In today’s digital age, protecting your data has never been more important. The recent incident involving Sony and The Interview illustrates the urgent need for up-to-date data security for your and your business. Businesses across the country are always looking for the most secure and reliable data delivery services for their IT needs. And with good reason. According to various studies, nearly 70% of businesses have (or will) experience data loss through accidental erasing, system failures, mismanagement, malware, or physical damage of computers or servers. In order to protect your business’s sensitive information, it’s important to know a few basic facts about data delivery methods: how it works, the potential hazards, and, of course, the ultimate benefits.

There are various kinds of file transfer services. One of the most common types is known as FTP, or “File Transfer Protocol.” FTP is a method in which digital files are transferred from the client host to a server and then back. There are separate control and data connections between the client and the server, and some FTP systems use cryptographic language to secure log-ins and sensitive information. FTP is one of the basic methods of file transfers, and is especially popular with website owners in uploading data to the websites and distributing large amounts of data. SFTP, or “Secure File Transfer Protocol,” is similar to FTP but has different programming and procedures, in that it uses a more private data stream.

Data delivery services also rely heavily on encryption. What is encryption? Encryption is the process of using algorithms to “code” data into an indecipherable language known as ciphertext in order to protect it from potential hackers and viruses. Different types of servers will offer different types of encryption codes. An example of an encryption code is PGP, or “Pretty Good Privacy.” PGP provides ciphertexts and authentications to protect transfers of data such as texts, emails, files, passwords, and directories.

There are more options for safe data delivery services, of course. Far too many for one article. Regardless, it is important for all businesses — if not all computer owners — to get some kind of computer security software and equipment. Protecting data in a safe and private manner allows businesses peace of mind and the ability to focus their efforts on their products and projects. More like this article.