CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The protocol used for transferring files securely over a network is SSH, which stands for Secure Shell. SSH provides a secure channel over an unsecured network by using encryption to protect data during transmission. While traditionally associated with secure remote login to computer systems, SSH also includes features that allow secure file transfer.

One common application of SSH for file transfer is SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol), which operates over SSH to ensure that file transfers are encrypted and secure from potential eavesdroppers. Thus, SSH not only secures terminal sessions but also provides the necessary tools to transfer files securely over the network.

In contrast, FTP (File Transfer Protocol) does not provide any inherent security features, making it vulnerable to various types of attacks. SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is used for sending emails, and while Telnet allows users to communicate with remote devices, it does so without any encryption, making it insecure for transferring sensitive data.