Lower IT Spend, Higher Agility: The Business Case for MFT-as-a-Service

Why IT Cost Optimization Is a Boardroom Priority

IT leaders today are walking a tightrope. On one side, digital transformation demands speed, security, and scalability. On the other, budgets are tightening. According to Gartner, IT spending is on the rise, yet over 60% of CIOs face pressure to reduce operational costs while improving service delivery. Striking that balance is no small feat.

For Global E-Director in the MENA region, this is where smarter infrastructure decisions become critical and secure, efficient file transfer is an often-overlooked starting point.

The Growing Complexity of File Transfers

Every invoice, payroll file, customer record and partner report flows through file transfer systems. IBM estimates that 90% of enterprise data is exchanged via files, not APIs. Yet, many organizations in the region still rely on legacy systems designed for a simpler era, leaving IT teams managing risk, inefficiencies and scaling challenges that can slow digital transformation initiatives.

Common Challenges with On-Prem MFT

Infrastructure Overhead

On-prem MFT requires servers, storage, backups, disaster recovery and network management. A mid-sized enterprise can easily spend ₹40–60 lakhs (or $50k–75k) annually just maintaining infrastructure and licenses.

Security and Compliance Burdens

Keeping systems compliant with GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS or SOX requires constant patching and auditing. Verizon’s DBIR reports that misconfigurations and outdated systems contribute to over 30% of data breaches, a major risk for legacy MFT.

How MFT as a Service Differs from Legacy MFT Solutions

Traditional MFT follows an ownership-based model where you purchase licenses, deploy servers, manage upgrades and handle scalability yourself. Globalscape EFT Arcus(MFT as a Service) shifts to a consumption-based model, designed for agility and modern IT environments.

Legacy MFT Example:An enterprise runs on-prem MFT software to exchange files with partners. When volumes spike during quarter-end processing, performance slows and IT must manually add capacity and apply patches.

MFT as a Service Example:The same organization uses a cloud MFT service that automatically scales during peak periods, applies security updates in the background and provides real-time monitoring dashboards without IT intervention.

Why Businesses Are Rethinking File Transfer Strategies

Rising IT Costs and Shrinking Budgets

IDC reports that nearly 45% of IT operational budgets are spent on “keeping the lights on” maintenance, upgrades and support. File transfer systems are a quiet but significant contributor.

The Need for Speed, Scale and Security

With remote work, cloud apps and global partners, businesses need file transfer solutions that scale instantly and remain secure without slowing innovation.

How MFT as a Service Reduces IT Costs

This is where the numbers really tell the story.

Eliminating Capital Expenditure

No servers. No storage. No data center costs. Organizations moving to Globalscape EFT Arcus (MFT as a service) often eliminate 30–50% of upfront MFT-related capital expenses in the first year.

Lower Maintenance and Support Costs

Cloud providers handle patching, monitoring and uptime. A Forrester study found that managed cloud services reduce infrastructure management effort by up to 55%.

Reduced Staffing and Training Expenses

Traditional MFT often requires specialized administrators. With MFT as a service, IT teams spend less time on operations and more time on strategy.

Predictable Subscription-Based Pricing

Instead of surprise upgrade or hardware refresh costs, organizations get predictable monthly or annual pricing aligned with usage.

The Operational Benefits of Moving to MFT as a Service

Faster Deployment and Time to Value

Traditional MFT deployments can take 8–12 weeks. MFT as a service can often be live in days or a few weeks.

Built-In Scalability

Need to onboard a new partner or handle seasonal spikes? Cloud-native MFT scales instantly without performance degradation.

Automatic Updates and Patches

According to the Ponemon Institute, 60% of breaches are linked to unpatched vulnerabilities. Automatic updates dramatically reduce this risk.

Security Advantages of MFT as a Service

Enterprise-Grade Encryption

Data is encrypted using industry standards (AES-256, TLS 1.2+), both in transit and at rest.

Compliance Made Easier

Audit logs, access controls and reporting are built-in. This reduces audit preparation time by up to 40%, according to compliance teams using managed platforms.

Reduced Risk of Human Error

Automation replaces manual transfers, reducing mistakes like sending files to the wrong recipient still one of the top causes of data leaks.

Security Feature Comparison

Security Feature	Legacy MFT	MFT as a Service
Encryption	Optional / Configurable	Built-in
Audit Trails	Manual setup	Automatic
MFA Support	Limited	Standard
Compliance Reporting	Manual	Automated

Business Agility and Flexibility Gains

Supporting Remote and Hybrid Work

With cloud-based access, teams securely exchange files from anywhere with no VPN bottlenecks.

Seamless Partner and Vendor Integration

APIs and web portals make onboarding faster. Some organizations report 50% faster partner onboarding after moving to Globalscape EFT Arcus (MFT as a service).

Adapting Quickly to Market Changes

Launching a new service, entering a new market or integrating an acquisition becomes easier when file transfer isn’t a bottleneck.

Industry Use Cases

BFSI and Financial Services

Banks use MFT as a service for payment processing, regulatory reporting and fraud detection. One regional bank reduced file transfer-related outages by 70% after migrating.

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Hospitals and labs securely exchange patient records and test results while maintaining HIPAA compliance.

Retail, Manufacturing and Logistics

Retailers use MFT as a service to sync inventory, supplier data and logistics updates especially during peak seasons.

Industry Benefits Snapshot

Industry	Key Benefit
BFSI	Compliance & reliability
Healthcare	Secure patient data exchange
Retail	Faster supply chain updates
Manufacturing	Automated partner integrations

Common Myths About MFT as a Service

“Cloud Is Less Secure”

In reality, cloud providers invest far more in security than most enterprises can afford individually.

“Migration Is Too Complex”

Most providers offer migration tools and phased approaches, minimizing downtime and risk.

The Future of Secure File Transfers

Cloud-Native Security Models

Zero Trust, continuous monitoring and adaptive authentication are becoming standard.

AI and Automation in MFT

Expect smarter anomaly detection, automated compliance reporting and predictive failure alerts.

Lower Costs, Higher Agility, Smarter IT

The data is compelling. MFT as a Service delivers measurable cost efficiencies, enhanced security and the agility required to support modern, distributed operations. By reducing infrastructure overhead, minimizing ongoing IT management and improving scalability, MFT as a Service directly lowers total cost of ownership while strengthening compliance and resilience.

For Global E-Director in the MENA region, evaluating how Globalscape EFT Arcus simplifies secure file transfer, eliminates on-premises complexity and supports long-term digital transformation goals makes the business case clear. This is not merely a technology refresh, it is a strategic enabler for growth, operational excellence and regional scalability.