HTTPS vs SFTP

Developers should use HTTPS for all web applications to protect sensitive user data, such as login credentials and payment information, and to comply with security standards and regulations like GDPR meets developers should learn and use sftp when they need to securely transfer files between systems, such as deploying code to production servers, backing up data, or managing remote file systems in cloud environments. Here's our take.

HTTPS

Nice Pick

Developers should use HTTPS for all web applications to protect sensitive user data, such as login credentials and payment information, and to comply with security standards and regulations like GDPR

Pros

• It is essential for e-commerce sites, banking platforms, and any service handling personal data to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and build user trust
• Related to: http, tls

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

SFTP

Developers should learn and use SFTP when they need to securely transfer files between systems, such as deploying code to production servers, backing up data, or managing remote file systems in cloud environments

Pros

• It is essential for scenarios requiring encrypted file transfers over untrusted networks, like handling sensitive configuration files, logs, or user data, and is commonly integrated into CI/CD pipelines, automated scripts, and server administration tasks
• Related to: ssh, file-transfer

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. HTTPS is a concept while SFTP is a protocol. We picked HTTPS based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

HTTPS wins

Based on overall popularity. HTTPS is more widely used, but SFTP excels in its own space.