SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) lets you connect to a data room from an SFTP app instead of your browser. It's the most reliable way to upload or download many files at once, because browsers limit how much data they can transfer. Developers can also set up their own applications to connect and move files automatically.

Who can use SFTP

Any data room user can connect through SFTP. Permissions stay the same: users see and work with only the files and folders they can access in the browser.

SFTP doesn't work if:

  • Two-factor authentication is turned on.
  • The user is in a Permission Group with Disable Folder Management turned on. If a user is in several Permission Groups, one such group is enough to block SFTP.

Important for admins: Users who connect through SFTP don't see the data room disclaimer or any file disclaimers. Someone who has never opened the data room in a browser can download files without agreeing to them. If users must agree to a disclaimer first, turn on Disable Folder Management for their Permission Group. This blocks SFTP, but it also stops them from creating, uploading, editing, moving, or copying folders in the browser.

We recommend FileZilla (https://filezilla-project.org/). Other SFTP apps work in a similar way.

Connecting to a Data Room via SFTP

Below are the steps to access your data room through SFTP using FileZilla. Other SFTP clients should follow a similar process.

To find your SFTP details, go to Settings and open the Advanced Settings tile. Look for the SFTP Access section:

  • Host
  • Port Number
  • User Name

Your password is your Finsight account password. If you can't open the settings, ask your data room admin for these details.

Open FileZilla and launch the Site Manager under the File menu.

  1. Create a new site and select SFTP as the Protocol.
  2. Enter the Host, Port Number and User Name from the SFTP Access section, along with your Finsight account password.
  3. Select the “Connect” button to connect to your data room through SFTP.

Using SFTP

Once you're connected through SFTP, the data room's folders appear on the right-hand side of FileZilla, in the Remote pane. Your local hard drive folder structure will display on the left-side of FileZilla in the Local pane. Find your intended upload / download location in both panels and drag and drop your folders and files accordingly.