In today’s information-driven world, obtaining the right data swiftly is often crucial for an organisation’s success. The process of transferring files, especially large, mission-critical ones, from point A to point B involves numerous considerations. When these files need to reach global recipients quickly, conventional options like Dropbox and Google Drive may fall short. This is where FileCatalyst’s proprietary fast file transfer capabilities become essential.
For instance, transferring a 1TB file from London to Vancouver could take up to 27 days without fast file transfer solutions. Such delays are unacceptable for many businesses, where prolonged transit times lead to costly downtime as resources wait for files to be processed. Accelerating file exchange thus offers a substantial return on investment (ROI).
To help those new to this powerful capability and its benefits, we’ve put together a comprehensive Q&A.
Do you need faster file transfer?
Large File Sizes & Big Data
Any organization transferring files with sizes in the gigabytes, or big data, on a regular basis will experience the common drawbacks of using traditional methods of file transfer. These issues include lengthy transfer times, failed transfers, or file size limitations preventing transfers. Accelerated file transfer solutions can send file sizes that go into the terabytes effectively, and at full line speed.
Time Sensitive Information
In situations where deadlines are critical, such as live broadcasts, military updates, or medical analysis, organizations often rely on accelerated file transfer to ensure files reach their destination as quickly as possible. File transfer acceleration solutions have built-in reliability to ensure files get to where they need to go on time.
Geographic Dispersion
When organizations operate on a global scale, file sharing becomes a logistical concern. Sending files across the country or overseas creates unique challenges for speed, management, and tracking. File transfer acceleration solutions can act as a centralised hub to streamline organizational file transfers by helping ensure that global file exchange is fast, simple, and transfers execute at full line speed regardless of geographic location.
Remote Locations & Satellite Connections
Transferring files, especially large volumes of files, from remote locations or via satellite connections is often a daunting task. Transfers can be lengthy, and connections are often dropped, further slowing delivery. Accelerated file transfer solutions can make the most of even the most precarious connection types to send files quickly, while at the same time leveraging reliability features to guarantee files reach their destination.
Significant Line Speed Investment
Installing a high-speed connection for increased IT efficiency is a large investment. Traditional methods of file transfer are often unable to make the most of fast line speeds, using only a fraction of the connection speed when transferring files. Accelerated file transfer solutions can saturate the line, meaning that if a 10 Gbps line is present, transfers are able to take place at the full 10 Gbps.
How fast file transfer is used?
Fast file transfer works with many types of files in different industries. It excels at transferring big data repositories by leveraging the UDP-based protocol as well as 256-bit AES and TLS encryption. This powerful tool can transfer anything, from research datasets and software updates to military intelligence and data backups, but here we’ll focus on two primary use cases: media and healthcare. Bottlenecks and delays in these industries simply aren’t acceptable because the stakes are too high.
Media: Media assets such as live sporting events, news broadcasts, movies, and advertisements have defined drop dates and massive file sizes. For big media, there is significant ROI in reducing file transfer times. Staff work around the world and shoot video that must be transferred, edited, and produced as quickly as possible. SFTP simply can’t handle this task.
For instance, a Dutch broadcaster needed reliable and fast file transfers for a 35-part series. Initially using VSAT domes with an unreliable satellite link, they faced slow transfers and frequent failures. The challenge was to transfer large files efficiently across vast distances without compromising the budget. The company adopted FileCatalyst’s solution. This integration significantly sped up file transfers and eliminated delays, enhancing both production schedules and audience experience.
Healthcare: Every second counts when patients are nervously awaiting the results of their imaging, which often includes 3D and 4D scans and bioinformatics stored in large file repositories. Images need to be uploaded for experts to interpret—and these experts may be in another country. Fast file transfer condenses the wait time for all involved, enabling provider efficiency and faster results that inform treatment plans and improve patients’ lives.
Research: This research company develops and distributes genetic analysis software. They handle massive genome files, often terabytes in size, from labs worldwide. Previously using AWS S3 and FTP, they faced challenges with latency and packet loss over long distances. They needed a more efficient solution for transferring large files globally. The company implemented FileCatalyst Direct, using its UDP-based protocol for high-speed transfers, and integrated it with their genetic analysis software using the FileCatalyst SDK. This solution significantly boosted their file transfer speeds and enabled automated workflows.
In a perfect world, how fast would files move?
FileCatalyst can achieve multi-gigabit file transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps. But, as with most technologies, there are several variables involved with optimizing performance. File size and the geographies of the sender and receiver have an impact. Likewise, the speeds of your network and the storage components you’re reading from and writing to have a direct correlation to transfer speed.
Have a look how fast here.
Once these are optimized, layering on FileCatalyst fast file transfer will deliver the boost you’re looking for, utilizing 95%+ of your maximum network connection. The solution also enables you to get up and running quickly because there’s no heavy IT involvement. With no hardware to set up, the software can be installed in under 20 minutes at both ends of the transfer.cy and faster results that inform treatment plans and improve patients’ lives.
What speed impediments does FileCatalyst help users overcome?
File transfer acceleration solutions move data using custom protocols, often built on top of UDP, and in lieu of the traditional TCP method. FileCatalyst combines the reliability of TCP with the speed of UDP into a proprietary algorithm to accelerate files and increase reliability. Additionally, the FileCatalyst software development kit (SDK) enables IT teams to embed FileCatalyst into homegrown applications if you’ve developed your own MFT capabilities and need to add fast file transfer.
For those familiar with managed file transfer (MFT) solutions like GoAnywhere, the SFTP, HTTP, HTTPS, and other protocols behind the scenes leverage TCP to transfer smaller-sized files that need additional oversight and control.
What factors cause a file transfer to be slower than expected? Which ones can be controlled?
As we’ve mentioned, network infrastructure and speed will affect file transfers. You have more control over direct network connections via terrestrial links like fiber and cable. However, once you introduce wireless and mobile networks that go over the air, transfer speeds become less predictable. You may be located far away from the nearest cell tower and have more interference, which leads to packet loss and slow TCP. Likewise, some people now have 5G for their home networks instead of cable or fiber, which can slow transfers as well.
Businesses that operate on ships rely on satellite networks, which suffer latency due to over-the-air communications and packet loss because of weather interference. FileCatalyst’s optimized bandwidth usage increase’s reliability and speed across poor network conditions, wherever they may be, to optimize what’s available.
Throughout the file transfer process and when UDP is not possible due to network restriction, multi-stream TCP file transfer begins, which sends multiple parts of the file over multiple TCP streams. It’s even possible to restart stopped transfers automatically without starting at the beginning. Fine-grained bandwidth controls allow administrators to quickly assign more bandwidth where it’s needed, and less where it isn’t.
FileCatalyst Works with GoAnywhere MFT
If you’re looking for an advanced method of transferring large files quickly and securely, FileCatalyst is a great option. In addition, our GoAnywhere managed file transfer (MFT) solution offers integrated FileCatalyst capabilities if you need a broader platform for fast file transfers.
The latest encryption standards are employed for file security with both software solutions. In addition, both solutions offer reliability assurances with delivery restart guarantees and alerts.
Whether you need to mirror data for disaster recovery, transfer large volumes of sizeable data quickly and securely, send “live” files from remote locations, or get that patient X-ray to a technician rapidly, FileCatalyst and GoAnywhere MFT play nicely together to optimise your file transfer capabilities.
