SFTP To Go vs. Cerberus FTP Server: Complete Comparison Guide

Comparing SFTP To Go and Cerberus FTP Server: getting started and maintaining the configuration, creating and managing integration with 3rd-party services, and managing the total cost of ownership. Find the right managed file transfer solution for your team.

Juxtaposing self-hosted and managed file transfer platforms is always tricky. It’s never a one-size-fits-all situation. The customer’s decision depends on more factors than just having more control over the platform. 

You still have to consider the usability of the services, whether their integration capabilities match your requirements, how reliable they are, whether the customer support is responsive and helpful, and what the total cost of ownership will be.

This SFTP server comparison compares SFTP To Go and Cerberus FTP Server: two popular choices for a managed file transfer (MFT) platform. Like all other vendors, they make different choices regarding architecture, development focus, and pricing. The purpose of this guide is to help you understand the specifics of each platform and pick the right tool for your team.

What sets Cerberus FTP Server and SFTP To Go apart

Cerberus FTP Server and SFTP To Go offer an overlapping set of supported transfer protocols, secure connections, and integration capabilities, a web panel for exchanging files with other parties, and more. 

What’s different about them is how they’re deployed. Cerberus FTP Server is a self-hosted service that runs on a Windows server and can be installed on AWS or Microsoft Azure. It needs an admin to maintain the platform in an operational state, install security updates, etc. SFTP To Go is a fully managed solution that runs on top of the highly available AWS infrastructure.

There’s another aspect worth mentioning. Cerberus FTP Server was acquired by Redwood Software in 2023 to complement JSCAPE, an enterprise-grade MFT platform they had previously acquired in 2020. This means the company needs to maintain a clean separation between the two platforms, which raises questions about Cerberus FTP Server’s long-term enterprise roadmap.

SFTP To Go doesn’t have a sibling platform targeted at enterprises that could constrain its feature roadmap.

Round 1. Learning curve & usability

Cerberus FTP Server has a functional web-based UI, although some users report confusing configuration settings. However, before you get to evaluating the software’s usability, you have to take care of the prerequisites: provision a Windows server, both the hardware and the operating system (easier with virtual machines, but still takes time), then install and configure the FTP server.

Compared to that, getting from the landing page to the first completed file transfer on SFTP To Go takes under 5 minutes. All you need is to sign up, select the region where your data will be hosted, and you can start your first file transfer.

Bottom line: If getting operational ASAP is important, SFTP To Go is a much better choice.

Round 2: Security and access control

MFT platforms should support encryption at rest and in transit, secure authentication, and role-based access control to data.

Cerberus FTP Server supports encryption at rest through Encrypted File System on Windows, which requires additional steps on the admin’s part, and encrypted connections over secure protocols (see below). SSL/TLS connections are on by default, and you can also enable a FIPS 140-3 cryptographic module.

SSO support is available through Entra ID and Okta. Native multi-factor authentication with TOTP applications like Google Authenticator is an opt-in feature for LDAP, AD, and native Cerberus users. Additionally, you can set up Cerberus FTP Server to use DUO for 2FA.

In addition to having native user and group management, the server supports Active Directory security groups integration.

 Based on the public release notes, Cerberus FTP Server is updated regularly, with many releases including security-related fixes. The fixes often address vulnerabilities in third-party dependencies, such as OpenSSL and curl.

SFTP To Go supports 256-bit AES encryption at rest, SSH key-based authentication, and secure connection and transfer protocols. The platform also has built-in web application firewalls and is outside your network, so you don’t need to set up DMZ for a safe integration with 3rd-party services.

As for identity providers, SFTP To Go supports Google Workspace, Microsoft ADFS, Microsoft Entra, Okta, OpenID, and SAML. 

Multi-factor authentication methods are OTP codes in emails and TOTP codes through mobile apps like Google Authenticator. 2FA is mandatory for all admins and can be made mandatory for all users with a single click in the organization settings.

SFTP To Go has its own credentials system, where you can limit a user’s access to their home directory and also control what they can do with the data: have full access, read only, read and write, read and write without deleting, or write only.

Bottom line: Choosing Cerberus FTP Server mainly makes sense when you already use Active Directory. SFTP To Go offers an advanced native access control system with granular settings, as well as more SSO and 2FA options.

Round 3: Integrations

Cerberus FTP does not advertise any integrations with 3rd-party services. You need to use the event manager for that (see below).

SFTP To Go offers a tested-and-proven connection to data integration and backup services (Integrate.io, GoodSync), ERP and HRIS systems (NetSuite, Workday), workflow management tools (Make.com, Zapier), and various enterprise systems (through MuleSoft).

Bottom line: With a broad catalog of tested integrations, SFTP To Go has the upper hand in this round.

Round 4: Automation

Cerberus FTP and SFTP To Go have somewhat different approaches to automation.

The former offers an event manager where you can select the type of event to respond to and event conditions, then set the action to respond to the event with: copying or moving files, zipping/unzipping them, sending an HTTP/S POST message to an endpoint, etc.

Cerberus FTP Server also offers a SOAP API for connecting with third-party services. This technology is widely considered dated, if not legacy, and has been largely replaced with RESTful APIs.

SFTP To Go provides two-way integration. The platform can respond to file events, apply custom filter rules, and send messages (email, Slack, MS Teams) or trigger remote scripts/workflows (think AWS Lambda or Azure Functions). Meanwhile, external services can interact with the SFTP To Go’s endpoint using a REST API.

This approach is best suited for teams that use or build cloud-native solutions and prefer to manage MFT workflows as code, with all the business logic stored as git-versioned code, tested and deployed with CI/CD.

Bottom line: While the event manager in Cerberus FTP Server is versatile, the reliance on an outdated SOAP API makes the platform a poor choice for future-proofing your transfer workflows.

Round 5: Protocols support

The two platforms support mostly the same connection protocols: SFTP, FTP, FTPS, and HTTPS. Cerberus FTP Server also supports SCP, while SFTP To Go exposes an S3-compatible endpoint.

Bottom line: SCP may have some use in legacy workflows, but modern OpenSSH versions (9.0+) of the scp tool use SFTP internally, and SFTP To Go supports this protocol. With S3 API support on top of that, SFTP To Go is the winner in this round.

Round 6: File sharing

Cerberus FTP Server and SFTP To Go have a very similar feature set for sharing files with people who don’t have accounts but need to access, download, and/or upload files. You can set an expiration date and an access password for the share link, as well as enable uploads.

The main differences are:

• Cerberus FTP Server’s UI for creating a share link is a multi-step wizard, while SFTP To Go has all options in one window, which is easier for immediate review.
• SFTP To Go allows you to limit the number of times people can access the share link.
• SFTP To Go offers more granular control: you can set link permissions to Read, Read and Write, Read and Write without Delete, and Write-only.

Bottom line: Cerberus FTP Server has completely sensible sharing options, but SFTP To Go offers more control with a better user interface.

Round 7: Compliance

Cerberus FTP Server doesn’t hold certifications for major compliance frameworks. However, it supports the FIPS 140-3 validated cryptography and provides features intended to help customers meet HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 requirements.

As a self-hosted solution, Cerberus FTP Server gives you direct control over physical data location, which is a prerequisite for many regulations. 

SFTP To Go offers support for compliance frameworks, such as FERPA, HIPAA, GDPR, GLBA, SOC2, and more.

The platform handles the data locality requirements by offering a selection of regions where AWS has data centers: USA (several states), Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, Israel, UAE, India, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and Brazil.

Bottom line: If your compliance requires certified third-party validation, SFTP To Go’s compliance with SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and GDPR removes much of the burden from your team. With Cerberus FTP Server, that burden is entirely yours.

Round 8: Performance & reliability

For Cerberus FTP Server, the service availability largely depends on your infrastructure and setup. It features a server replication utility for backup, failover, and disaster recovery. However, Cerberus FTP does not natively support server clustering.

Based on customer reviews on G2, Cerberus FTP Server performs very well and is reliable for managed file transfer in mid-size companies.

SFTP To Go is configured to perform well under varying loads and provides fast file transfer. The platform’s availability is tied to the AWS infrastructure, where AWS maintains 99.99%+ regional uptime. On the enterprise tier, SFTP To Go also offers dedicated servers in your region of choice and automatic async data replication.

Bottom line: The reliability of Cerberus FTP Server largely depends on your infrastructure and your admins’ skills. SFTP To Go has AWS-backed high availability and additional features to ensure operation continuity.

Round 9: User support

Both MFT platform vendors offer clear and helpful documentation, as well as very responsive customer support teams who are quick to assist users. Both platforms hold the High Performer badge on G2, but for SFTP To Go, customer support is listed among the top advantages of the service as suggested by actual clients.

Bottom line: Based on verified customer reviews, SFTP To Go has better customer service.

Round 10: Total cost of ownership

For Cerberus FTP Server, the total cost of ownership has multiple components: the license cost, admin salary, and the cost of infrastructure and its maintenance. While you can run Cerberus FTP Server on AWS or Azure, you still need to pay for using their infrastructure, and it’s best if you employ a certified AWS or Azure engineer.

The license cost alone is a sore point for the customers. Within a year of the Cerberus FTP Server acquisition in 2023, Redwood Software raised the license price more than threefold and enforced a 3-year-long licensing commitment, which wasn’t a popular move with customers.

Tier-wise, Cerberus FTP Server has its ups and downs. They offer unlimited credentials and connections on the lowest tier and SSO on the mid-tier. However, they only offer some of the basic features like the web portal, audit logs, and automation starting with the mid-tier.

SFTP To Go has predictable pricing: you choose how much storage/bandwidth and how many credentials you need, and you can temporarily go out of the bandwidth limit without paying for overages. You only upgrade to the next tier if you need a permanent limits boost.

The platform doesn’t require a dedicated person to manage the setup. Anyone with even limited DevOps experience or a moderate IT background can set up credentials and automation. Maintenance usually takes minutes a month, and most automation logic lives in remote scripts managed by your development team anyway.

Basic features, such as the web portal and webhooks, are available on all tiers. You can start small and switch to the enterprise tier only when you need more disk space and bandwidth, or advanced features like file versioning and dedicated instances.

Bottom line: With Cerberus FTP Server, the license is the only predictable cost, while infrastructure, admin labor, and incident response costs vary greatly. SFTP To Go offers predictable pricing in a fully managed package.

SFTP To Go vs Cerberus FTP: who's the winner?

The two MFT platforms have a balanced set of features. The choice between them largely depends on your established infrastructure, the current team composition, and compliance considerations.

Choose Cerberus FTP Server if:

• Your internal policies require self-hosting an SFTP server.
• Your compliance requirements are relaxed, or you have extensive in-house experience establishing policies and procedures to comply with regulatory frameworks.
• You already employ an experienced Windows Server admin or certified AWS/Azure engineer.
• You need the role-based access configuration to be in sync with your existing Active Directory setup.

Choose SFTP To Go if:

• You need to start using the platform quickly and avoid lengthy consultations with the customer support service.
• You need high availability and data replication without hiring a dedicated admin.
• You need compliance with FERPA, GLBA, HIPAA, and GDPR.
• You want to avoid setting up a DMZ for web access and 3rd-party services integration.
• You’d rather use a REST API for 3rd-party tools integration than deal with the legacy nightmare of a SOAP API.
• You want a simple, predictable cost structure and no maintenance overhead.

Wrapping up

Cerberus FTP Server is a strong, reliable MFT platform that has served its users well over the years. That said, it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. As a self-hosted solution, it has a complicated total cost structure that only works if you are ready to commit to additional infrastructure and maintenance expenses.

If you need compliance with regulation frameworks, you are on your own. Plus, the non-competition against the company’s second MFT platform makes the prospects of Cerberus FTP Server unclear for enterprise use. All that makes Cerberus FTP Server a tough choice for growing businesses, especially in regulated industries.

SFTP To Go is a reliable, highly available, fully managed file transfer platform with enterprise-grade features. It’s designed for companies that build cloud-native workflows and prefer the infrastructure-as-a-code approach for managing file transfers.

The platform has predictable pricing that works for small and large businesses alike. With HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA, and GDPR certifications, it’s ready for use in government, healthcare, and financial organizations right away.

Frequently asked questions