Secure File Exchange Over the Internet

Sending files over the Internet is common, and sending those files securely is vital to many businesses. There are a number of ways you can transfer files, just as there are a number of ways you can secure those files during transmission. Your choice of transfer and encryption methods depends on your overall needs: Do you simply want to ensure that your files are secure while in transit? Or is it more important to you to encrypt files so that they remain secure after they arrive at their destination? Let's take a close look at your secure file-transmission options.

In Transit and Beyond
If you want only to protect files as they're transferred across the Internet, you need a secure transport technology. One option is to transfer files using a Web site that accepts uploads and provides a method for secure downloads. For secure uploads, you can build a Web page that uses an ActiveX control or Javascript, along with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to provide a secure transport. For example, you could use Persitis Software's AspUpload control, which claims to be "the most advanced upload control on the market." Or you could use the Free ASP Upload script, which doesn't require the use of a binary component. To gain further security, you might even password-protect the Web page and the associated upload directory. For downloads, you need only ensure that the Web server provides an SSL-enabled connection for at least the particular URL used to download the files. . . .