SFTP and FTP are common file transfer methods within organizations to securely retrieve, share, or exchange files between systems. These protocols are especially common in compliance-driven enterprises such as Finance, Logistics, HR, and Healthcare.
The challenge comes when an organization needs to transfer files from another platform or traditional file server to OneDrive, as these solutions don’t offer a native SFTP or FTP connector.
While there isn't a native connector, there are a few methods to enable SFTP and FTP transfers for OneDrive. One of these is by using Power Automate, but this involves building flows manually, and you'll also need to have an SFTP server already.
A simple way to get started, especially if you don't have the infrastructure in place already, is to use Couchdrop's OneDrive connector.
Couchdrop SFTP and FTP with OneDrive
Couchdrop provides a cloud SFTP and file automation platform on top of your OneDrive storage. It’s a fully cloud-hosted SaaS platform that is secure and SOC2 compliant, and the platform will never store your data and will stream files in real-time to your OneDrive storage.
Configuring SFTP for OneDrive is a straightforward process that only takes a couple of minutes once you have the proper account credentials.
Step 1 — Create a Couchdrop account
First, you'll need to log in to Couchdrop. If you don't have an account already, you can navigate to Couchdrop and create an account. You can try it out free for 14 days, and you don't need to add a credit card or go through a product demo or sales call.
Step 2 — Connect OneDrive
Next, you need to add the OneDrive connection. There are several routes to create connections, but a simple method is by using the Create button and choosing to add a new connection.
You will then be taken to a new screen to configure your OneDrive. OneDrive is authorized using an OAuth connection that automatically includes required permissions, so there's no need to go into the OneDrive account separately.
Once authorized, test the connection and decide if you want to connect to a specific subfolder instead of the entire OneDrive account, then add the integration.
Step 3 - Create an SFTP/FTP user
With the OneDrive connection added, the next step is to create external SFTP or FTP users to access the OneDrive folders. Couchdrop will guide you through what type of user you want to create, and can autogenerate a user with a random username.
You can also customize the username, password, and access permissions if needed. The user can also be isolated to a sub-directory in the OneDrive account.
Once the user is created, you can send connection details by copying the credentials or generating an email directly from Couchdrop with the user details and server connection information.
Step 4 - The user can now connect to OneDrive via SFTP or FTP
Using their credentials, the user can now access OneDrive using the FTP or SFTP client of choice. Files that the user uploads or downloads can also be used to trigger further actions like automated workflows or notifications.
Try Couchdrop for SFTP and FTP with OneDrive
Couchdrop is a straightforward way to enable FTP and SFTP transfers for OneDrive and is simple enough for anyone to connect thanks to the modern web interface. You can try creating a connection for yourself by registering for a 14-day free trial, with no credit card or demo required. Start your free trial today.