{
  "id": 1954944,
  "title": "Rethinking secure file transfer for a cross-domain world",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/rethinking-secure-file-transfer-for-a-cross-domain-world",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-19T14:23:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/rethinking-secure-file-transfer-for-a-cross-domain-world"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UK's National Cyber Security Centre recently cautioned that many systems are interconnected in unforeseen ways, utilizing protocols not originally designed to withstand today's advanced attackers. This warning pertains to all organizations relying on cross-domain data transfer processes, particularly those involving complex cyber-physical systems where information flows between standard and operational technology assets. File transfer, though fundamental, is often disregarded as a security concern. In reality, every invoice sent to a supplier, firmware update to a factory floor, and report shared with a regulator represents data crossing between systems with varying levels of trust.\n\nHistorically, file transfer security has been deemed adequately addressed by encrypting the channel, confirming delivery, and then moving on. This was reasonable when systems were simpler, and threats evolved at a slower pace. However, the current reality necessitates a reassessment. Most file transfer platforms were not initially constructed with security as their primary objective. Their purpose was to reliably move data between systems, encrypt the connection, and confirm successful file delivery. The safety of the file itself was seldom considered. This oversight creates a consistent vulnerability for cyber attackers, enabling them to gain access to targets' systems. As a trusted intermediary between organizations, file transfer platforms are inherently perceived as routine infrastructure, but this trust can be exploited. Traditional Managed File Transfer (MFT) models, designed to automate file delivery, do not inherently defend against attacks, leaving the process susceptible to threats like man-in-the-middle interceptions, credential theft, and malware embedded within seemingly ordinary files.\n\nThe assumption that whatever passes through a transfer tool can be trusted is a weakness that attackers exploit. The 2023 MoveIT supply chain cyberattack and last year's SharePoint breach illustrate how a single vulnerability in a widely used transfer tool can grant attackers access to numerous organizations simultaneously, as each assumed the platform itself could be trusted. This overconfidence is precisely what attackers capitalize on. Moreover, the window for responding to security breaches has significantly narrowed, with new vulnerabilities often being exploited within hours of their public disclosure. As a result, breach detection remains relatively slow, allowing intruders ample time to infiltrate, extract data, or embed themselves further before detection. The reliance on post-incident reviews of file movement is no longer sufficient; proactive, layered controls around every file entering or leaving the business are paramount. Waiting to react is no longer an acceptable strategy.",
  "summary": "Modern organizations need layered controls to secure data moving across increasingly trusted environments.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}