In today’s continuously evolving digital landscape, managing and transferring large volumes of sensitive data securely and efficiently is a critical challenge for financial institutions, especially during complex legal processes like eDiscovery. This was the exact problem faced by one of our clients, a global leader in banking that had already been leveraging bTrade’s TDXchange for their Managed File Transfer (MFT) needs.
The Challenge: Timing Out with Traditional Protocols
The bank approached us with a pressing issue: their existing eDiscovery process was inefficient, costly and prone to many failures. The nature of eDiscovery often involves the collection, processing, and distribution of large volumes of sensitive data—emails, documents, transaction records, and more. The bank needed to transfer these vast data collections to external legal firms, auditors, and various government regulators across the globe quickly, securely, and without interruption.
However, they were experiencing significant delays and even failures when sending large data sets via traditional Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) or HTTPS. These protocols were timing out, leading to frustrating delays in the eDiscovery process, which not only impacted the bank's operational efficiency but also put them at risk of non-compliance with strict regulatory timelines.
The Solution: Accelerated File Transfer Integrated with TDXchange
Having successfully used TDXchange for a number of years, the bank reached out to bTrade for a solution to their eDiscovery data transfer challenges. Our team recognized the need for a more robust and efficient transfer method. Fortunately, TDXchange already had the Accelerated File Transfer Protocol (AFTP) available and effectively utilized by our media customers for transferring large movie files worldwide.
We recommended leveraging AFTP, which was specifically designed to handle large-scale data transfers much faster and more reliably than traditional protocols like SFTP or HTTPS. This integration allowed the bank to enhance their eDiscovery process by utilizing a protocol that optimized data transmission, significantly increasing transfer speeds and minimizing the risk of timeouts or failed transfers.
Seamless Integration with eDiscovery Tools
To further streamline their processes, bTrade worked closely with the bank’s IT team to seamlessly integrate TDXchange with their existing eDiscovery tools. This integration allowed for automated workflows where large data sets could be packaged, encrypted, and sent directly to external legal firms, auditors, and regulatory bodies without manual intervention. The process not only saved time but also minimized human error, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of the data throughout its journey.
Global Deployment and Reliability
The success of the TDXchange and AFTP integration didn’t just stop at resolving the bank’s initial issue; it transformed their entire eDiscovery data transfer process. The integrated solution was deployed across multiple jurisdictions, including the USA, several European countries, and multiple Asian regions. Despite the complexities of differing regulatory environments and network conditions, the deployment was seamless and reliable, ensuring uninterrupted data flows across borders.
With TDXchange and AFTP, the bank could confidently handle their eDiscovery data transfers, knowing that they had a solution that was not only faster but also compliant with international data protection regulations.
Key Benefits Realized
1. Performance Boost: By leveraging AFTP, the bank achieved data transfer speeds several times faster than those of traditional SFTP or HTTPS, drastically reducing the time required to move large eDiscovery data sets.
2. Increased Reliability: The seamless integration of TDXchange with the bank’s eDiscovery tools ensured that data transfers were no longer at risk of timing out or failing, significantly reducing the possibility of regulatory non-compliance.
3. Global Reach with Local Compliance: The solution was deployed in multiple countries, adapting to local regulations while maintaining consistent performance and reliability. This allowed the bank to meet eDiscovery demands on a global scale without sacrificing speed or security.
4. Cost Efficiency: Reduced transfer times and improved automation lowered operational costs, freeing up resources to focus on higher-value activities. Additionally, TDXchange's intuitive interface and ease of use meant that the bank did not need to hire additional staff to support the solution. The overall deployment was seamlessly integrated into the existing MFT support team, which kept staffing costs down and ensured streamlined management of the platform.
5. Enhanced Security: Because AFTP is part of the TDXchange platform, it provides all the necessary security, auditing, and compliance features for each eDiscovery transfer. This integration ensured that all data transfers were encrypted end-to-end, with robust security controls such as access controls, user authentication, and detailed audit logs. These capabilities not only safeguarded sensitive information from unauthorized access during transit but also ensured that every transfer met stringent compliance requirements, reducing the risk of regulatory breaches.
Our Managed File Transfer Solutions
- TDXchange (MFT Platform)
- Centralized, policy-driven file transfer management
- End-to-end encryption, auditing, and detailed compliance reporting
- Role-based access controls and multi-tenant capabilities
- High availability, clustering, and scalable performance
- Extensive integration options (APIs, schedulers, connectors) for eDiscovery and enterprise tools
- Accelerated File Transfer (AFTP)
- High-speed transfers over long distances with WAN optimization
- Automatic retry, checkpoint restart, and resilience against network interruptions
- Secure by design with encryption in transit and at rest
- Seamless interoperability with existing SFTP/HTTPS endpoints via TDXchange
- Built for very large files and data sets common in eDiscovery
Conclusion
For this global leader in banking, the implementation of TDXchange with AFTP has become a game-changer, turning a potentially costly compliance issue into a streamlined, efficient process. The bank now enjoys faster, more reliable data transfers across their global operations, providing a robust foundation for managing future eDiscovery challenges.
By embracing bTrade’s TDXchange and AFTP, the bank has not only addressed their immediate problems but also set a new standard for how financial institutions can handle sensitive data transfers in a secure, scalable, and cost-effective way. For organizations facing similar challenges, this case study serves as a blueprint for achieving excellence in eDiscovery data management.
Are you ready to revolutionize your data transfer processes? Explore the power of TDXchange and Accelerated File Transfer today by reaching out to us at info@btrade.com.
Executive Takeaway
For large enterprises, eDiscovery success depends on more than legal expertise. It requires infrastructure capable of securely and predictably moving massive datasets under pressure.
Modern MFT platforms with accelerated transfer capabilities turn eDiscovery from a bottleneck into a strategic capability by reducing risk, cost, and operational stress while strengthening compliance and defensibility.
About the Author
Andrei Olin is Chief Technology Officer at bTrade, where he leads product strategy, delivery, and security across the company’s B2B, Managed File Transfer (MFT), and security platforms. He brings over 30 years of experience in enterprise technology, including designing and operating mission-critical MFT and messaging platforms for global financial institutions such as Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank. Andrei holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Information Technology with a focus on Information Security.
FAQs
Q: What is Managed File Transfer (MFT)?
A: MFT is a secure, centralized approach to automating and managing file exchanges across systems, partners, and regulators, with built-in security, auditing, and compliance controls.
Q: Why is traditional file transfer inadequate for eDiscovery?
A: Traditional methods struggle with large datasets, slow performance, limited auditability, and manual coordination all of which increase legal and operational risk.
Q: How does accelerated file transfer help eDiscovery?
A: Accelerated transfer optimizes network usage and transport protocols, significantly reducing delivery times for large data volumes without compromising security.
Q: How is AFTP different from SFTP or HTTPS?
A: AFTP is engineered for high-speed, long-distance transfers. It optimizes throughput, supports checkpoint restart, and reduces timeouts and failures common with SFTP/HTTPS when moving very large data sets.
Q: What security controls are required for eDiscovery transfers?
A: Strong encryption, role-based access, authentication, and immutable audit trails are essential to protect sensitive data and maintain defensibility.
Q: Is AFTP secure for regulated industries?
A: Yes. Through TDXchange, AFTP benefits from end-to-end encryption, robust authentication, access controls, and detailed audit logs to meet stringent compliance requirements.
Q: Can TDXchange integrate with our existing eDiscovery tools?
A: Yes. TDXchange offers APIs, schedulers, and connectors to automate packaging, encryption, and delivery workflows directly from your eDiscovery environment.
Q: Does AFTP work across global regions with variable networks?
A: Yes. AFTP is designed to maintain performance and reliability across diverse network conditions, helping ensure consistent results in cross-border transfers.
Q: How does MFT support audit and chain-of-custody requirements?
A: Enterprise MFT platforms provide centralized, tamper-resistant logs that record every transfer event, ensuring complete traceability.
Q: When should organizations modernize their eDiscovery transfer workflows?
A: Common triggers include increasing data volumes, tighter regulatory timelines, recurring transfer delays, or difficulty producing audit evidence.