/en/basic-computer-skills/understanding-file-extensions/content/ Downloading and uploading While exploring the Internet, you’ve probably encountered the terms downloading and uploading. Downloading means receiving data or a file from the Internet on your computer. Uploading means sending data or a file from your computer to somewhere on the Internet. These terms describe activities you may have already learned how to do. If you've ever opened an example document in one of our tutorials, you've downloaded that file. If you’ve ever shared a photo you took on Facebook or another social media site, you've uploaded that photo. DownloadingUsually, when you download a file you will start the download by clicking a link to that file. Many of our tutorials contain links to files, like this: Download our practice document. If you click the link, your browser should prompt you to select one of two methods for downloading the file.
Either way, once you click OK, the download begins. Your browser will indicate the progress and time remaining on the download. Once the download is complete, either the file will be saved to your computer or it will open in the program you selected. If you have trouble finding the file after you’ve downloaded it, check out our Finding Your Downloads lesson. Some browsers don’t always start this download process when you click the link to a file. In these cases, you can right-click the link, then click Save Link As, then select a location to download the file. UploadingIf a site allows uploads, it will have an upload utility to help perform the file transfer. Each site handles this process differently, but we’ll give some common examples. Usually, the site will have help pages to walk you through the upload process. Many sites have an upload button that opens a dialog box. For example, Facebook has a camera icon that begins the upload process. A dialog box will appear, prompting you to select a file. Browse to the location where your file is stored, select it, then click the Open button. Afterward, a progress bar tracking the upload process will appear on the page. Some sites support a drag-and-drop interface. For example, when logged in to Dropbox you can drag the files from a folder on your computer and drop them into the browser window. Many other upload utilities have similar features. A more detailed example of uploading a file is available in our Google Drive tutorial. /en/basic-computer-skills/free-software/content/
File transfer refers to the exchange of data files between computer systems. According to Techopedia: “File transfer is the process of copying or moving a file from one computer to another over a network or internet connection. It enables sharing, transferring or transmitting a file or a logical data object between different users and/or computers both locally and remotely.” 1 Data files may be structured or unstructured — including documents, multimedia, graphics, text and PDFs. They can be shared using download or upload and transmitted inside or outside the enterprise. File transfer is usually governed by a communications protocol, a set of rules that defines how information is transmitted between computers in a network. File transfer protocol (FTP), transmission control protocol (TCP) and hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) are examples of common standards used today.
Evolution of file transfer
File transfer began in the 1970s, when people started to look beyond floppy disks for distributing digital content. One of the first online file-sharing platforms was Usenet, an electronic bulletin board that allowed community members to post news items. The functionality enabled users to share data files with others in the newsgroup. In 1985, the first communications protocol, FTP, was established. The file transfer standard allowed users to transmit data between different computer systems using the same set of rules and syntax. By the 1990s, the internet opened up communications across the globe, enabling people to share information over a massive network of computers. America Online (AOL) became one of the first Internet service providers. It offered a subscription-based, email platform with a range of web services including file transfer. The Napster music site was created in 1999, enabling users to share mp3 audio files with their peers. The first year, it had 4 million songs in circulation. 2 The site is generally credited with being the first peer-to-peer file sharing service. It paved the way for other sharing networks such as Gnutella and Freenet in the early 2000s. Today, many high-speed file transfer solutions are available to manage the flow of digital information. Cloud storage systems like Dropbox and iCloud allow users to store digital files of all types (including photos and video) offsite. Using the service, people can access and transfer files from any device to any device. Copyright and security The widespread transfer of files and sharing of digital content has presented ethical and legal challenges over the years. According to Wikipedia: “File sharing raises copyright issues and has led to many lawsuits. For example, in one case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the creators of peer-to-peer networks can be held liable if their software is marketed as a tool for copyright infringement.” 3 File transfer security too is a critical issue. A recent survey by Digital Shadows found 1.5 billion data files exposed through misconfigured FTPs, remote synchronizing of files and directories (Rsync), and other file transfer systems. “Vast exposure of data includes documents spanning payroll data, tax return information, medical records, credit card data and intellectual property.” 4 Data breaches and failed transfers can impact an organization’s bottom line and reputation. According to a study by IBM Security and the Poneman Institute (PDF, 1.6 MB), the average cost of a data breach in 2018 was $3.86 million. The estimated cost for each lost or stolen record: $148.
When FTP fails, your organization is grounded. Learn how IBM MFT provides security, reliability and governance of your critical file transfers. Download the research report (PDF, 899 KB)
Why file transfer is important
File transfer is at the core of business operations. Companies routinely exchange data internally and with customers, suppliers, and partners every day. Whether they need to transfer batch transactions to an outsourced payroll provider or send a digital video for a marketing campaign, they must be able to move data securely and efficiently. Organizations continue to rely on file transfer for sharing digital information. In fact, more than 50 percent of all systems integration is done through file transfer. 5 “The transfer of business-critical data is essential in industries from banking and financial services to defense and manufacturing,” says Todd Margo in his IBM managed file transfer blog. “For business to run smoothly, constantly emerging and evolving forms of digital data, packaged in the form of files, must be moved, duplicated, synchronized and shared.” He goes on to describe some of the forces impacting today’s file transfer requirements:
According to an Ovum analyst report (PDF, 446 KB): “Non-compliance to data security and privacy regulations and a lack of end-to-end visibility and monitoring remain the main concerns with regard to the features and capabilities of existing file transfer solutions.” The report further adds that “…cloud enablement, simplified integration via APIs and user experience improvement are key themes for development.” Beyond FTP FTP and Secure FTP (SFTP) are among the most widely used methods of file transfer. Part of the appeal is that they are simple to use and often free or inexpensive. Transfer is usually done by way of an FTP web site that most anyone can access. The technology works well if an organization has an occasional need to send non-sensitive files, but when used more broadly it can put them at risk. Recent research shows that more than 400 million files from FTP servers are publicly available online 6. When files are exposed, FTP does not log security violations or authenticate users — basic capabilities needed to help detect and stop breaches or cyber threats. The technology also sends files on a first-come, first-served basis. As such, organizations can’t prioritize critical transfers or respond as quickly to business needs. To get beyond the hidden costs and risks of FTP, more enterprises are choosing secure and scalable file transfer software.
Key features of effective file transfer
Advanced file transfer solutions offer high-performance capabilities to support the reliable flow of digital content. They include the latest security features to protect sensitive information being transmitted. At the same time, they provide operational visibility over file movement to detect issues like failed transfers or delays. Key file transfer capabilities to look for:
Managed file transfer (MFT) is a viable option. This type of system manages all aspects of file transfer including communications channels, protocols, workflow, provisioning and APIs. MFT is a more reliable and efficient technology for secure data transfer, outpacing applications such as FTP. Alternatively, a high-speed file transfer solution like IBM Aspera enables organizations to rapidly transfer large files, such as high-definition broadcast videos, over a wide area network (WAN). It uses patented fast and secure protocol (FASP) technology to achieve speeds that are hundreds of times faster than FTP or HTTP. It provides secure delivery regardless of file size, transfer distance or network conditions. Fox Sports
See how this customer won 2018 World Cup TV coverage with the help of IBM Aspera. Sundance Film Festival
Discover how this customer automates delivery of 12,000 films globally with IBM Aspera. |
Which refers to using File Transfer Utility software to copy files from a server on the Internet to your computer?
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