It takes a lot to get ahead in business. A great idea, excellent customer service, timing are just three things you need, and, in reality, a lot more has to be on your side to ensure success. What’s most important though, is that almost every aspect of a modern business is wrapped up in digital technology.
For example, if you want to reach the biggest audience possible, you create a website and advertise on social media. If you want to offer better customer service, you have a live chat option on your website. Regardless of the industry you’re in, computers, mobiles, and digital technology are crucial. However, behind everything the customer sees are cogs whirring away in the background. These cogs ensure your digital business remains in business at all times.
Digital Businesses Need Solid Foundations
Naturally, we believe that Linux is an ideal operating system on which to build a sleek digital business. As well as being open source and cost-effective, it’s secure and, once you learn the basics, it’s easy to use. When you’ve got a system that’s up and running, making full use of it is crucial. There’s no point creating a series of nodes and not connecting them. To put it simply, all parts of the network have to be able to communicate with each other.
For this, you need a way of sharing files. Yes, some sort of communication channel, such as an internal messaging system, is required. However, beyond the basics of exchanging messages, you want an IT system that can facilitate the speedy transfers of files from one place to another. This is where FTP servers have become invaluable over the years. We know that the FTP server vs. cloud debate is one that people have been having for years.
Although the two share many similarities and, in many ways, FTP form the basis of cloud computing, they offer different ways of doing the same thing. Put simply, FTP and cloud computing both allow you to share files or modes online. Clouds are very much in vogue these days and for good reason. They’re easily accessible in the sense that you don’t need a special client to transfer/access files. Clouds are also cost-effective, with many of the major servers, such as Google, offering free space or upgraded storage for a small cost. Cloud servers are also highly secure.
Smooth Transfers Grease the Wheels
However, for all the advances in cloud technology, there are still benefits to FTP servers, particularly if you’re a Linux user. Serv-U FTP Server for Linux offers no processor or core limits as it can appeal to both 32 and 64-bit applications. Additionally, it uses native C++ application code, which means there are no Java runtime layers. This FTP server can also be deployed on the majority of Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise, Fedora, and Ubuntu. It also includes coverage of FTP, FTPS, HTTP, and HTTPS protocols.
One of the major criticisms of FTP in the past was accessibility. Clouds are, in general, more accessible. However, with modern FTP servers such as Serv-U, this is less of a problem as it can be used in every popular Linux distribution. Another reason why businesses shouldn’t discount FTP servers is specificity. Because you’re able to install a client and toggle features to suit, there’s a much greater sense of personalization. In other words, FTP servers have a much great “in-house” feel.
Of course, this isn’t strictly necessary but it’s something that business owners may prefer when faced with the option of using FTP servers or clouds. Beyond simple file transfers within a business, FTP is ideal for webmasters. More and more businesses are going digital these days. In fact, according to Statista, more than 83% of UK businesses with 10 or more employees had a website in 2019. That’s 13% more businesses than in 2007. With more businesses running websites, the need for slick communication between webmasters is crucial.
Communication is Crucial in the Digital Space
FTP facilitates the speedy transfers of web pages, applications, and images to a company’s web server. FTP also helps improve site stability and recovery of websites. By transferring data back to DR (data recovery) sites via FTP, IT teams can manage and troubleshoot problems more efficiently. So, while the actual process of transferring data won’t solve tech issues, it improves the overall process. That, in turn, makes an IT system stronger and a business better equipped to handle the ups and downs of digitization. Check out Intellipaat’s Linux certification to learn about this operating system
Of course, all of this plays into the core values of Linux. Open, efficient, and cost-effective processing are the reasons Linux is great for businesses and individuals. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a file transfer protocol that taps into these ideals. We know that there is more to running a business than exchanging files across a network. However, it’s the little details that can make a big difference.
Having an outwardly flash digital presence is great but you need to ensure everything in the background is running smoothly. This is where FTP can be useful. Get the right system in place and your network will flow. When a network is flowing, issues are weeded out in less time, updates are rolled out faster, and everything functions better. Get this right and your business has a better chance of making it in the digital space.