Secure Command-Line FTP: MoveIt Freely

MOVEIt Freely
http://www.standardnetworks.com/products/?category_number=6&subcategory_number=1

I had to put together an automated file upload process (which I mostly accomplished with VBScript) that ran a query against our medical records database, output the results to a CSV file via Excel, zipped it up with a 256-bit AES password, and then finally sent the file through a secure 128bit SSL FTP connection.

I accomplished the CSV portion by utilizing the scriptable interface for Excel, zipped the file using an encrypted password by running IZArc's command-line interface, and then merely had to upload the file using a command-line FTP program.

I discovered that Microsoft's built-in command line FTP is lacking when it comes to SSL encrypted connections. It is great for automated batch jobs, but for some odd reason, they left off this important feature!

So, I had to find something that would do the job for me...I discovered a utility that was nearly identical to the Microsoft FTP command, called 'MOVEIt Freely'.

From the MOVEit website:

MOVEit Freely is a free command line FTP/secure FTP SSL (FTPS) client for Windows Vista Business Edition, 2003, XP, 2000, ME and NT 4.0 systems.

MOVEit Freely can safely exchange files with secure FTP servers that support 128-bit key SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encrypted transfers, the highest level of protection currently available for Internet communications.

This utility allows me to send & receive files over a SSL encrypted connection, while retaining the ability to automate these jobs with a batch file!

Also, you can tell MOVEit to not warn about certificate acceptance when connecting to the remote host (which is important when you wish to automate).

You do have to register your information to download, but it is well worth it!