AWS Transfer Family: Secure File Transfer with Amazon S3 and Amazon EFS
AWS Transfer Family is a fully managed service that simplifies the secure transfer of files to and from Amazon S3 buckets or Amazon EFS file systems. This service supports multiple file transfer protocols, including SFTP, FTPS, FTP, and AS2, enabling organizations to maintain existing client-side configurations while leveraging the scalability and durability of AWS storage services.
Key Features
AWS Transfer Family offers several key features that make it an attractive solution for businesses looking to modernize their file transfer workflows:
Multiple Protocol Support: The service supports SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), FTPS (File Transfer Protocol over SSL), FTP, and AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) protocols.
Integration with AWS Storage Services: Files can be transferred directly into and out of Amazon S3 buckets or Amazon EFS file systems.
Managed Infrastructure: AWS handles the underlying infrastructure, ensuring high availability and automatic scaling to meet demand.
Flexible Authentication: Supports various authentication methods, including service-managed users, integration with existing identity providers, and custom authentication systems.
Security and Compliance: Offers encryption in transit and at rest, VPC endpoints, and compliance with various industry standards.
Monitoring and Logging: Integrates with AWS CloudWatch for monitoring and AWS CloudTrail for auditing.
How It Works
Let's walk through an example of how AWS Transfer Family works with SFTP:
Server Setup: An administrator creates an SFTP-enabled server using the AWS Management Console, CLI, or API.
User Configuration: Users are set up with appropriate permissions, either through service-managed users or by integrating with an existing identity provider.
Client Connection: A client connects to the SFTP server using their preferred SFTP client software.
Authentication: The user authenticates using their credentials.
File Transfer: Once authenticated, the user can upload files to or download files from their designated S3 bucket or EFS file system.
Data Storage: Uploaded files are stored directly in the configured S3 bucket or EFS file system.
Monitoring: All transfer activities are logged and can be monitored using AWS CloudWatch.
This seamless process allows organizations to maintain their existing file transfer workflows while benefiting from the scalability, durability, and security of AWS storage services.
Use Cases
AWS Transfer Family is suitable for various scenarios, including:
Modernizing legacy file transfer systems
Facilitating secure data exchange with partners and customers
Building data lakes for analytics and machine learning
Content distribution and management
Compliance-driven file transfers in regulated industries
Managed File Transfer Using AWS Transfer Family and Amazon S3
The architecture presents a managed file transfer system that utilizes AWS Transfer Family in conjunction with other AWS services. It enables secure file transfers between external partners and the AWS environment, incorporating authentication, storage, and processing capabilities. The solution is divided into inbound and outbound transfer processes, each utilizing specific AWS services to ensure data security, integrity, and efficient processing.
Flow Explanation
Inbound Transfer Flow:
DNS resolution via Amazon Route 53.
User request sent to the AWS Transfer Family endpoint.
Custom authentication through API Gateway.
AuthLogic Lambda function authenticates via Amazon Cognito.
User entitlements are retrieved from the Aurora database.
Dynamic IAM policy and logical directory mapping returned to AWS Transfer Family.
S3 applies the IAM policy for data access.
Outbound Transfer Flow (Optional):
S3 event notification triggers a Lambda function.
Lambda initiates a transformation job if needed.
AWS Batch handles data transformation.
A send job is created for the transformed or original file.
The file is sent to subscribed customers' SFTP location.
The AWS Transfer Family serves as the cornerstone, providing secure SFTP endpoints and seamlessly integrating with other AWS services to create a robust, scalable, and secure managed file transfer solution. This setup facilitates secure file exchanges and enables automated processing and storage of transferred data, making it ideal for organizations requiring robust file transfer capabilities in their cloud infrastructure.
