GP.Managed File Transfer

Managed File Transfer (abbreviated MFT) indicates the automated transfer of data in a loosely structured form ("files") between IT facilities. These facilities can be owned by the organization, but an MFT instance may also be used to transfer files into or out of the organization, from or to external IT systems. Furthermore, human users may also make use of the MFT pattern to exchange data with other users and/or IT systems. A realization of this MFT Pattern handles the reception and/or collection of files from a source, and their delivery to and/or collection by one or more targets. It may also additionally modify the files by transcoding, encrypting/decrypting, (de)compressing, and/or it may provide means to modify the files in transit in other respects. Incoming and outgoing traffic may be regulated using predescribed rules and/or by schedules that act on times, periods or order. The Pattern requires use of an instance of Data Transport (and optionally Message Handling), since the data to be transported comes in and goes out over these services. Most data transfers will require the Managed File Transfer Pattern to authenticate itself to the source and/or target. Furthermore functionality can be present to provide logging of each file transfer for operational and security purposes.