As the leading independent expert in Managed File Transfer (MFT) for over 20 years, and with combined experience in the industry approaching two centuries, Pro2col is uniquely placed to review the file transfer marketplace. With a wider scope of product specific experience than any other file transfer consultancy (we sell, support and implement 15 different file transfer solutions) and over 1,500 customers around the world, we’re widely recognised as leading authorities on all things file transfer.
With the global file transfer software market due to exceed £2.9 billion by 2030 and Managed File Transfer increasingly underpinning the business processes of some of the biggest brands on the planet, our experts realised that customers needed a simple but powerful tool to help them understand the strengths, weaknesses and future-fit of their existing file transfer infrastructure. And so, The Enterprise Maturity Model for MFT was conceived.
What is a Maturity Model – and why do we need one for Managed File Transfer?
The concept of Maturity Models in the world of software is not a new one, first appearing in the 1970s and developing rapidly in recent years as the spread of IT software deployments within enterprise businesses has exploded. Today, models exist for a wide range of software tools, from productivity software to AI, networking tools to cybersecurity suites, and even across into sustainability tools and cloud hosting.
Simply put, a maturity model is a framework that positions the capabilities, features and strengths (or weaknesses) of a software product along a growth curve from low-level or immature, through to a business-critical function. They are a tool to help businesses with their software procurement decisions. Akin to the likes of Gartner Magic Quadrants, these models allow businesses to understand their existing technology and where it sits on that maturity curve – highlighting areas of potential improvement or future concerns.
So why do we need a maturity model for MFT?
File transfer software is, at its heart, an absolute workhorse of a product – underpinning the day-to-day operations of some of the biggest businesses around the world. In some ways, MFT is a victim of its own success. With reliability baked into the solutions on the market, MFT can run silently in the background of an enterprise tech stack for years without a hitch. At Pro2col, we often come across an MFT tool that hasn’t been touched (or more worryingly updated and patched) in years.
This silent superhero of a product doesn’t attract the glitz and glamour that other tech stacks command. Gartner’s File Transfer Magic Quadrant is now famously 15 years old – an absolute lifetime in the fast-moving world of enterprise software. Review sites like G2 often struggle to parse the detailed functionality of such a niche product, descending more into popularity contest than actual valued review analysis.
With security considerations around data an ever present in boardrooms, businesses need to have the right file transfer tool in place. Making a mistake is costly. Delivering a positive lifetime value is a necessity. And sometimes businesses outgrow their first file transfer use case and need to move to a more effective, feature rich or secure solution.
What does the Enterprise Maturity Model for MFT do?
The maturity model, developed by the Pro2col team is unique. It allows businesses to understand the maturity of their file transfer solution – and plot that maturity against their internal ability to manage, maintain and extract value from that solution. Finding IT staff with MFT-specific experience is incredibly tough. Businesses today are finding that even if they invest in a top tier file transfer product, their inability to support or manage that product is exposing them to risk.
By reviewing both the capabilities of your file transfer solution and the ability of your team to use it effectively, we’re able to offer actionable insights into how businesses can get the peace of mind they crave for the future of data transfers within their organisation.
The framework established by the model provides a clear roadmap for IT teams looking to scale or future-proof their file transfer infrastructure. By plotting your own position on the model, you can identify areas of improvement or highlight where your team needs to upskill.
How important is it to have a mature and supported MFT solution in my business?
Managed File Transfer has spent much of its history outside of the limelight. However, that has changed as the need to secure and move data has become increasingly central to business operations. MFT underpins many complex supply chains that rely on the transfer of data, and the security of that data.
Over the last decade the increase in regulation around data compliance and security has encouraged businesses to invest in protecting their data more effectively – a task accomplished by MFT.
In addition, the rise of bad actors targeting supply chain infrastructure means that the security of your supply infrastructure has never been more important.
A mature, supported MFT tool provides a layer of additional security around your data processes. But simply having an all bells and whistles piece of software managing your file transfer doesn’t guarantee you peace of mind. You need a team managing, patching, updating that software on a regular basis, ensuring that your teams are using the tool appropriately and not reverting to Shadow IT. You need to ensure that your original installation was done with zero-trust principles in mind.
Expanding the use of your file transfer infrastructure, or building up that infrastructure to keep it running under bigger loads means your business is getting more from your additional investment, and is developing a more robust technology stack that can scale with growth.
Ultimately, you don’t have to move up the maturity scale if you choose not to. Though the average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million. Can you afford not to?
Plot your business on the Enterprise File Transfer Maturity Model
Want to understand where your business sits on the File Transfer Maturity Model? Download the model and get a clear view of where your solution sits, as well as how to proceed moving up the maturity scale. Alternatively why not schedule a call with one of our experts who can help you understand your existing file transfer infrastructure and provide you with recommendations for the future of your data transfer.
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