If you maintain a website that's hosted on a Linux server, you're aware the process of editing pages locally and uploading them to the server is often a hassle. Most server administrators run an ftp daemon to enable file transferring. Some of the file types a client may transfer include, but aren't limited to: images, style sheets, server side pages, and html.
Running an ftp daemon just to accomplish this is not only a waste of precious system resources, but an added security risk as well. A great tool that seamlessly integrates into Windows and avoids a lot of the hassles involved with FTP clients (and daemons) is SftpDrive.
SftpDrive is a Windows based utility that takes advantage of the SSH daemon that either your server, or your hosting company's server should have available. Not only that, but it's a breeze to setup. 
Once configured and connected, SftpDrive produces a "mapped network drive" under My Computer. Whenever data is sent to or from this mapped network drive, it's transferred through SSH and fully encrypted from point to point.
To use SftpDrive, just open either Windows Explorer or My Computer, then drag and drop locally stored files from your Windows machine to the /home/user directory of the Linux Server. Files can then be copied to the /www directory or whichever directory your site's content is stored in. SftpDrive is so configurable that you can share either the entire root directory of the server, or just a custom directory of your choice.
The ability to reconnect at Windows login (startup) is an added bonus that assures you’re connected to the server every time you fire up the PC. Uploading content and maintaining pages are just a drag and drop away. With the simplicity of operability, and the added security, this utility should be a must for any web designer using a Linux server, you’ll thank me later.
Word Count: 406
Tags: Encryption, sftp, SSH
