Qualtrics and SFTP: Connect, Import & Export Experience Data Securely

Qualtrics users handle immense sums of data daily: user data, feedback, directories, exports, and workflows that never stop moving. The great news is that you can now connect it all to SFTP To Go for secure and compliant heavy lifting. Import files, export results, and plug SFTP directly into your ETL processes, with encryption making sure every transfer is locked down from start to finish.

This quick breakdown will show you some of the benefits, as well as how to connect, export and import.

Benefits of using Qualtrics with SFTP To Go

• Simplify data imports: Use Qualtrics’ extract task to automatically pull in survey responses, contact lists, or employee directory data stored in SFTP To Go.
• Streamline data exports: Send survey results, reports, or updated directories from Qualtrics into SFTP To Go for long-term, secure cloud storage, or integration with other platforms.
• Automate recurring workflows: Schedule imports and exports as part of Qualtrics ETL processes so data stays synchronized, without manual intervention or the risk of human error.
• Strengthen security and compliance: All transfers use SFTP encryption, and data in SFTP To Go S3 storage is encrypted at rest. With support for SSH keys as well as strict and configurable access controls, this integration supports organizations working under HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, and similar standards.

Setting up to import and export your Qualtrics data

Connect Qualtrics to SFTP To Go

You’ll need to do this before you can perform SFTP-related tasks like Load and Extract.

1. Obtain your SFTP credentials:
   • In the SFTP To Go dashboard, open the Credentials tab.
   • Copy the hostname, port (22), username, and authentication method (password or SSH key).

2. Add an SFTP account in Qualtrics:
   • Go to Admin > Extensions in Qualtrics.
   • Search for either Extract data from SFTP files (for imports) or Load data into SFTP (for exports). Read detailed instructions here. 
   • Select Add Account and enter your SFTP To Go details.
3. Select an authentication method:
   • Username + password.
   • Username + SSH key (Qualtrics can generate a keypair or you can supply one).
   • Username + encrypted SSH key (with passphrase).
4. Test the connection:
   • Click Test Connection in Qualtrics.
   • Qualtrics uploads a small test file to SFTP To Go, reads it, and deletes it.
5. Enable your workflows:
   • Use Extract data from SFTP files to import CSV, TSV, JSON, or Excel files from SFTP To Go into Qualtrics surveys, XM Directory, or EX Directory.
   • Use Load data into SFTP to export survey results, response data, or employee directory updates back into SFTP To Go.
   • Apply options such as file prefix patterns, delimiters, zip file extraction, or PGP encryption.

Import files into Qualtrics (Extract task)

The Extract data from SFTP files task lets you pull files from SFTP To Go directly into Qualtrics as part of an ETL workflow. This feature is useful when you’re importing or storing sensitive data (usage data, CRM data, existing feedback, contact and demographic details, etc.) from other sources using SFTP To Go.

1. In Qualtrics, go to Admin>Extensions. 

2. Select Extract data from SFTP files and click Add Account.
3. Enter your connection name as well as SFTP To Go credentials from your SFTP To Go Dashboard>Credentials tab:
   • Hostname
   • Port: 22
   • Authentication: Username + password or Username + SSH key

• If using a Qualtrics-generated keypair, download the public key and add it to your SFTP To Go dashboard in the field provided under Credentials.

4. Create an ETL workflow by following these instructions, adding the Extract data from SFTP files task.
5. Configure file settings:
   • File name pattern or regex
   • Pickup directory path (relative or absolute)
   • File type: CSV, TSV, JSON, or Excel (.xls/.xlsx, first sheet only)
   • Optional: ZIP extraction, PGP decryption, delimiter choice, skip bad files, strict validation
6. Be aware of limits: maximum 200 files per run, 1 GB per file, 2 GB total per run.
7. Test the connection. Qualtrics uploads, reads, and deletes a test file in your SFTP To Go storage to confirm access.

For more detailed instructions, please read this.

Export files to SFTP To Go (Load task)

The Load data into SFTP task pushes data from Qualtrics into your SFTP To Go storage as part of an ETL workflow.

1. In Qualtrics, go to Admin>Extensions and search for and add the Load data into SFTP plugin.
2. If the plugin is not yet installed, your administrator (or you) will need to select Load data into SFTP as a brand-wide plugin, it will then appear under the Extensions tab.

3. Select Load data into SFTP and click Add Account.
4. Enter the same SFTP To Go credentials used for imports, so SFTP To Go Dashboard>Credentials tab:
   • Hostname
   • Port: 22
   • Authentication: Username + password or Username + SSH key
5. If using a Qualtrics-generated keypair, download the public key and add it to your SFTP To Go dashboard in the field provided under Credentials.

6. Build an ETL workflow with your Qualtrics dataset by following these instructions (e.g. survey responses, employee data) as the source.
7. In your workflow, click Add a data destination.

8. Search for and select the Load data into SFTP, and choose the connected SFTP account.
9. Click Next. 
10. Configure file settings:
    • Drop-off directory path (relative or absolute)
    • Optional filename prefix
    • File type: CSV, TSV, or JSON
    • Optional: PGP encryption for added protection
11. Limits: one file up to 1 GB per run.
12. Test the connection. Qualtrics will create a small verification file in your SFTP To Go storage.

For more detailed instructions, please read this.

Troubleshooting and best practices

• Avoid special characters in SFTP credentials.
• Ensure credentials have read, write, and delete permissions as required.
• Qualtrics “touches” files multiple times before removing them, so  disable scripts that delete files after the first access.
• Paths are case-sensitive and must exist; confirm correct slash direction.
• For SSH key authentication, set permissions correctly (~/.ssh = 700, authorized_keys = 600).
• If you see I/O timeouts or connection resets, allowlist Qualtrics IP ranges and check firewall or IPS rules.
• You can learn more about Qualtrics SFTP troubleshooting here. 

Common use cases

Surveys and directories often hold sensitive personal data. By integrating Qualtrics with SFTP To Go, you can automate imports, exports, and ETL tasks in a way that’s secure, compliant, and convenient.

• Survey response pipelines: Export raw survey results from Qualtrics into SFTP To Go nightly, where analytics teams or BI tools can pick them up for reporting.
• HR directory updates: Import employee files from SFTP To Go into Qualtrics’ EX Directory on a recurring schedule, ensuring HR data is always current.
• Customer contact imports: Sync customer lists stored in SFTP To Go with Qualtrics XM Directory for campaign targeting.
• Archiving for compliance: Store survey datasets securely in SFTP To Go to meet HIPAA, GDPR, or SOC 2 retention requirements without burdening Qualtrics storage.
• ETL workflows: Chain multiple extract and load tasks in Qualtrics, using SFTP To Go as a secure intermediary between Qualtrics and other systems.

In conclusion

Qualtrics is designed to capture and analyze experience data from customer surveys and employee engagement programs to market research and product feedback, but the value of that data depends on how easily it can move between systems. That’s where SFTP To Go makes all the difference.

SFTP To Go brings managed, compliant, and fully encrypted file transfer and storage to the mix. Instead of maintaining your own SFTP server, you get a ready-to-use service with encryption in transit and at rest, secure access, audit logs, and automation support. Together, Qualtrics and SFTP To Go close the gap between data collection and data management.

Frequently asked questions

In Qualtrics, go to Admin > Extensions, search for Extract data from SFTP files or Load data into SFTP, and click Add Account. Enter your SFTP To Go credentials (hostname, port 22, username + password or SSH key). If using a Qualtrics-generated keypair, upload the public key to your SFTP To Go dashboard under Credentials. Once connected, you can use SFTP tasks in ETL workflows.

Yes. Use the Extract data from SFTP files task. This lets you pull CSV, TSV, JSON, or Excel files from your SFTP To Go storage into Qualtrics. You can set file patterns, define pickup directories, enable ZIP or PGP handling, and schedule imports. Up to 200 files per run are supported, with a 1 GB per-file limit.

Yes. These platforms can export data to a secure SFTP location such as SFTP To Go’s cloud storage, which Qualtrics can access using the Extract data from SFTP files task to automatically import employee or contact and customer data.

Use the Load data into SFTP task in your workflow. After connecting your SFTP account, choose the dataset to export (e.g., survey responses or directories). Configure the output directory path, optional filename prefix, file type (CSV, TSV, or JSON), and encryption settings. Qualtrics will then drop files securely into your SFTP To Go storage.

• Import (Extract): Up to 200 files per run, 1 GB per file, 2 GB total per run.
• Export (Load): One file per run, up to 1 GB.

Yes. SFTP To Go encrypts all transfers in transit with SFTP and at rest in S3 storage. It also supports SSH keys, strict access controls, and audit logs. This makes it suitable for organizations under HIPAA, GDPR, SOC 2, and other compliance frameworks when used with Qualtrics workflows.

• Import employee directories into Qualtrics EX Directory.
• Export survey responses nightly for analytics teams.
• Sync customer contact lists for XM Directory campaigns.
• Archive survey datasets securely for compliance retention.
• Use SFTP To Go as a secure intermediary in ETL workflows.