The True Value Of MFT
Implementing any new software is always met with obstacles and occasional objections, unsurprisingly Managed File Transfer (MFT) software is no different.
CIOs, CISOs, and other IT leaders have a long list of internal and external factors to consider when putting together a cybersecurity strategy. There’s also the issue of budgets. Often, it’s difficult to measure and communicate Return on Investment (ROI) which means justifying security investment can be challenging.
If overcoming such obstacles and obtaining budgetary approval is a major milestone in adopting MFT across your organisation, read through our 4 reasons on how to convince stakeholders that a MFT product needs to be implemented.
1. The cost of existing solution
How much is your existing file transfer solution costing you? Almost certainly it’s not something you’ve got a figure to hand for, but it’s definitely more than you’d think. Some of our vendors produce (ROI) calculators to get an attributable figure, based on inputs such as automated file transfers, average salary, manual file transfers and more. Based on what we’d class as an average MFT requirement, this cost could be around £400,000 over 5 years, just to keep the lights on.
2. Risk
Homegrown and freeware solutions are perfectly fine until something goes wrong. The file transfer platform developed in house over a decade ago brings with it an overhead in risk profile. Do the original engineers still work for the company? Did they leave a comprehensive support and upgrade guide? If a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures is discovered in an open-source binary or library originally referenced or built on, do you have the capability to patch and rollout before jeopardising your systems and transfers?
3. Failed Transfers
Transfers underpin something much greater than simply moving the file from A to B. What cost does failed transfers have to you? What’re the wider business costs of missing data transfers to your organisation? Implementing a resilient MFT platform with reporting and greater visibility can negate the impact failed transfers can have and sometimes prevent them altogether which will save valuable time and business capital.
4. Advanced Functionality
Moving files is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a much broader functionality available to you for integrating platforms and moving data through MFT that an existing legacy or freeware platform will not have. By leveraging this functionality, you can open up other budgets assigned to other projects to gain a stronger ROI on your MFT project. One of the best ways to measure this is through a Proof of Concept. Once the benefits are seen in your own environment then finding the appropriate budgets can become and easier task.
Looking for more advice? HANDD has a team of MFT specialists who can advise on the best way to unleash the full potential of a MFT solution and deliver more for your business. If you’d like to discuss how you can use MFT to save money, reduce complexity and minimise man hours, or if you need support finding the right MFT solution for you, call us on +44 (0) 845 643 4063 or request a call back here.
Further reading
Why your organisation needs MFT
Why use MFT for Data Transformation
