Large File Transfer Is Now Secure File Transfer
Over the years, CU Boulder faculty, staff and student employees have relied on Large File Transfer (LFT) to securely send large or confidential files to colleagues, students and external partners.
Now that Microsoft's file-sharing services have expanded and improved to the point that they can meet most of the campus's needs, we're making some adjustments to better reflect Large File Transfer's current role.
As of Tuesday, Nov. 10, we're changing the service's name to Secure File Transfer (SFT), implementing a license request process for file senders, and revising our file-sharing guidance to recommend using Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint by default.
Why Changes Were Needed
The Large File Transfer service was originally offered to provide CU Boulder faculty, staff and student employees with a way to send files that exceeded email attachment limits over an encrypted connection.
Microsoft 365 now meets most everyday file-sharing needs, including sharing large files. OneDrive supports individual files up to 250GB, and Microsoft sensitivity labels can be used to apply additional protections to supported files.
Additionally, reducing unnecessary SFT usage will allow us to continue offering the service to users who rely on its advanced security, compliance and delivery tracking tools.
How to Share Files Going Forward
For most file-sharing needs, use Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint. We recommend using these services to share files internally and externally because they allow recipients to access the current version of a file, support collaboration and editing, and can be protected with Microsoft sensitivity labels when appropriate.
Use Secure File Transfer only when your business or security needs depend on features Microsoft 365 doesn't provide, such as:
- Proof of file delivery (non-repudiation)
- Detailed file-sharing records for compliance requirements
- Download notifications and delivery tracking
- Automatic forwarding prevention
- Sharing confidential data in situations where Microsoft sharing options are not appropriate
- Automatic file expiration after 14 days
How to Request an SFT License
If you require SFT's specialized security, tracking or compliance features, you can request an SFT license by following the instructions in our employee license request tutorial. You will be able to log in to the new SFT service starting on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Resources & Support
Visit our Secure File Transfer page to learn more. If you have questions, please contact the IT Service Center at oithelp@colorado.edu or 303-735-4357.
