Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AWS Transfer for SFTP VS vsftpd

Compare AWS Transfer for SFTP VS vsftpd and see what are their differences

AWS Transfer for SFTP logo AWS Transfer for SFTP

AWS Transfer for SFTP (AWS SFTP), is a fully managed service hosted in AWS that enables transfer of files over the Secure Shell (SSH) File Transfer Protocol directly in and out of Amazon S3.

vsftpd logo vsftpd

Very secure FTP Daemon, a secure, fast FTP server for UNIX systems, including Linux.
  • AWS Transfer for SFTP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-02-08
  • vsftpd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-12

AWS Transfer for SFTP features and specs

  • Scalability
    AWS Transfer for SFTP automatically scales to accommodate the traffic without the need for manual intervention, ensuring consistent performance regardless of demand spikes.
  • Fully Managed
    Being a fully managed service, AWS Transfer for SFTP reduces the operational overhead by handling routine tasks such as server maintenance, backups, and patching.
  • Security
    Supports multiple layers of security, including VPC integration, AWS IAM policies, and encryption for data at rest and in transit, ensuring that data transfer is secure.
  • Integration with AWS Services
    Natively integrates with other AWS services, allowing for seamless workflows with services like S3, CloudWatch, and Lambda.
  • Compliance
    Helps meet compliance requirements as it adheres to various standards and certifications like HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO.
  • Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
    Offers cost-effective usage-based pricing, allowing businesses to pay only for the resources they use.
  • Ease of Migration
    Simplifies the migration process with minimal disruption to existing systems, supporting both file-based and external server migration.
  • Availability
    Ensures high availability and fault tolerance by distributing workloads across multiple regions.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Transfer for SFTP

  • Cost
    Despite its pay-as-you-go pricing model, the costs can add up for high-volume usage, making it expensive for some use cases.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    While it’s user-friendly for experienced AWS users, beginners may find the initial setup and configuration challenging due to the myriad of options and settings.
  • Limited Protocol Support
    Supports only SFTP, FTPS, and FTP; lacks support for other file transfer protocols, potentially restricting its usage scenarios.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Using AWS Transfer for SFTP ties you to the AWS ecosystem, which may make it difficult to switch to a different provider in the future without considerable effort.
  • Latency
    Some users may experience latency issues, particularly if they are geographically far from the AWS regions hosting their services.

vsftpd features and specs

  • Security
    vsftpd is renowned for its strong security features. It boasts a dedicated focus on minimizing vulnerabilities, and it supports powerful security configurations, such as chroot jails, which restrict user access to their home directories and prevent them from accessing the entire file system.
  • Performance
    vsftpd is designed for high performance and can handle a large number of connections simultaneously. Its lightweight and efficient codebase allow it to operate effectively even under heavy load.
  • Compliance
    vsftpd supports various compliance requirements, including adherence to regulations like PCI-DSS, by providing robust security measures and detailed logging.
  • Configuration
    The configuration of vsftpd is straightforward and flexible. Its configuration file is simple to understand and can be easily adjusted to accommodate various use cases.
  • Active Development
    vsftpd is actively maintained and updated. The active development ensures that security patches and new features are regularly released, keeping the server up-to-date.

Possible disadvantages of vsftpd

  • Feature Set
    While vsftpd is highly secure and efficient, it may lack some of the more advanced features found in other FTP servers. Users requiring specialized or niche functionalities might find vsftpd limiting.
  • Learning Curve
    Although the basic configuration is straightforward, optimizing vsftpd for specific security and performance needs can be complex, requiring a deeper understanding of server configurations and security principles.
  • Community Support
    vsftpd has an active developer, but its community support might not be as extensive or responsive as that of some other FTP solutions. Finding online help and resources can sometimes be a challenge.

Analysis of AWS Transfer for SFTP

Overall verdict

  • AWS Transfer for SFTP is a good option for businesses looking to modernize their file transfer workloads without needing to build and maintain their own transfer infrastructure. It is reliable, secure, and integrates well with other AWS services, offering scalability and ease of use.

Why this product is good

  • AWS Transfer for SFTP is a managed service that makes it easy to transfer files directly into and out of Amazon S3 using the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). It eliminates the need for server infrastructure management, which can reduce overhead and increase scalability. The service seamlessly integrates with existing authentication systems, supports native file and folder permissions for secure access, and offers encryption for data in transit and at rest, ensuring secure and reliable file transfer.

Recommended for

  • Businesses that need to transfer files securely to and from Amazon S3.
  • Organizations looking to replace legacy SFTP servers with a cloud-based solution.
  • Companies that require compliance with data security standards and regulations.
  • Teams seeking seamless integration with existing AWS environments and services.

Analysis of vsftpd

Overall verdict

  • Yes, vsftpd is a good choice for FTP server needs, particularly if security and performance are priorities. It is widely used in the industry and has consistently received positive reviews for its stability and security features.

Why this product is good

  • vsftpd is considered a reliable and secure FTP server for Unix-based systems. It has a reputation for being lightweight and fast while providing advanced security features, such as SSL/TLS support for encrypted connections, configurable IP-based access control, and strong per-user configurability. The name stands for 'Very Secure FTP Daemon,' highlighting its focus on security.

Recommended for

    Organizations or individuals who require a secure and efficient FTP server solution, especially those who prioritize security in environments where high-speed file transfers are vital. It's also suitable for administrators who need detailed configuration options and robust access controls.

AWS Transfer for SFTP videos

AWS Transfer for SFTP to S3 | Fully Managed SFTP Service | How to set up SFTP to upload files to S3

vsftpd videos

Web Server Apache2 and FTP Server Vsftpd on Ubuntu Server (Virtualbox)

More videos:

  • Review - vsftpd - установка и настройка FTP-сервера

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AWS Transfer for SFTP and vsftpd)
File Sharing
100 100%
0% 0
File Transfer
50 50%
50% 50
Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
FTP Client
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AWS Transfer for SFTP seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AWS Transfer for SFTP mentions (7)

  • What is the easiest way to get Python code running on AWS?
    It is not clear the use case. However, if you want to run a FTP server with capabilities to run python scripts, for example, when files arrive… I recommend evaluate AWS Transfer Family leveraging the managed workflow capabilities. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Event-Driven Serverless Data Architecture
    S3/Transfer - Doesn't matter what you work on, it's hard to get away from file-based transfers and S3 and AWS Transfer are great choices for that. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Is there a preferred SFTP tool in this reddit to receive SFTPs?
    Are you in AWS? They have a managed SFTP service. https://aws.amazon.com/aws-transfer-family/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Upload fortigate gate config directly to s3, possible?
    I bet you could use aws transfer https://aws.amazon.com/aws-transfer-family/. There is a hourly charge so I would setup a small linux server with s3fs but that's me. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Aws internet line
    Are you saying you’re using AWS Transfer Family? Source: over 3 years ago
View more

vsftpd mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of vsftpd yet. Tracking of vsftpd recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AWS Transfer for SFTP and vsftpd, you can also consider the following products

GoAnywhere MFT - GoAnywhere is a managed file transfer (MFT) solution that secures and automates the exchange of data. GoAnywhere's interface and workflow features eliminate the need for custom programs, scripts, single-function tools or other manual methods.

FileZilla Server - Download FileZilla Server 0.9.60.2 for Windows

Cerberus FTP Server - Cerberus FTP Server Enterprise is a professional FTP server that supports encrypted FTPS and SFTP sessions as well as HTTP and HTTPS file...

ProFTPD - The Official ProFTPD web site. ProFTPD is a high-performance, extremely configurable, and most of all a secure FTP server, featuring Apache-like configuration and blazing performance.

GlobalSCAPE Enhanced File Transfer - With operational efficiency in mind, Globalscape’s Enhanced File Transfer™ (EFT™) Enterprise features quick and intuitive setup, advanced automation capabilities, real-time visibility into data transfers, and much more.

FileZilla - FileZilla is an FTP, or file transfer protocol, client. It lets individuals transfer single files or batches to a web server. For many years, FTP was the standard for website design. Read more about FileZilla.