A managed file transfer (MFT) agent is a key component for cloud MFT in a distributed hybrid architecture to facilitate file transfers within and/or across networks. The agent is deployed on a network and responds to commands from the central MFT cloud service.
Typically, the agent makes an outbound connection to the MFT cloud over HTTPS to receive file transfer instructions and report back metadata and file transfer status. The agent runs as an extension to MFT on Windows or Linux file systems.
Why Use an MFT Agent?
Most agents are designed to be lightweight to minimize the need for complex on-premises deployment and maintenance. The agent can be configured to automatically retrieve updates from MFT in the cloud.
This hybrid setup allows organizations to maximize SaaS benefits while minimizing on-premises infrastructure demands and costs. Since it’s usually installed close to where data is produced, an MFT agent may also function as an edge computing resource.
What Are the Use Cases for an MFT Agent?
There are two common use cases for MFT agents:
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LAN to LAN File Transfer
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File Transfer between Retail Point of Sale (POS) and Headquarters
When an enterprise shifts MFT to the cloud as part of a cloud-first strategy, there may be use cases where file transfers are between systems on the network. In this instance, the agent facilitates these transfers while the core MFT engine runs in the cloud and orchestrates transfers on the network. The agents connect to MFT and report on file transfer status to maintain a fault tolerant system.
When an enterprise has a remote network of retail or distribution outlets on a wide area network (WAN), MFT agents provide a hub-and-spoke model to connect these entities to the central hub. The remote retail or distribution locations are usually low tech with limited IT resources. MFT agents provide a no-code solution to these environments. Once installed, they are controlled and maintained by the MFT cloud.
3 Benefits of Using an MFT Agent
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Cloud-First
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Simple and Secure
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Control
The enterprise migrates legacy file transfer systems to the cloud without compromise to file transfers within a network.
MFT agents use port 443 to make an outbound connection over HTTPS, removing the need to whitelist IP addresses or manage SFTP certificates.
MFT agents are updated from the MFT cloud, which has complete visibility of the agent’s health and file transfer activity.
The Thru Node as an MFT Agent
The Thru Node is our MFT agent that can handle internal and external file transfers. The easy-to-install node resides on your internal network (on-premises) but is orchestrated from our cloud. The Thru Node enables a distributed, hybrid architecture that optimizes Thru’s cloud-native managed file transfer workflows within networks, between systems and from network to cloud.
Additionally, Thru Node offers numerous processing rules, such as
- Zip file
- Compress/decompress file
- Archive file at source
- Rename file at source or target
- Trigger files
- File filters
- Date filters
To learn how to achieve a more integrated IT landscape with Thru, go to our integration page »
