Free FTP storage can support a global business, but security must guide every setup decision.

A free plan may limit storage, transfer speed, user accounts, or file retention. Check these limits before moving business records. Cheap can become expensive.

Create a separate SFTP account for each employee or contractor. Avoid shared passwords. Use long, unique passphrases and enable multi-factor authentication when available. Disable plain FTP because it sends credentials without reliable encryption.

Restrict each user to a specific folder, such as /sales or /invoices. Give access only to necessary files. Less access means less damage when an account is misused.

Use a business email for account recovery, then review login alerts weekly. Limit access by approved IP addresses when remote work policies allow it. Keep connection logs for unusual locations, repeated failures, and overnight downloads.

Test file transfers with a small sample before uploading customer data. Also test restoration.

A backup that cannot be restored is only a comforting story.

Choose encrypted transfers and confirm the server certificate before accepting it. Set automatic password rotation for privileged users. Remove inactive accounts quickly.

One detail is easy to miss: free storage services may delete dormant files. I would document retention rules and keep a separate encrypted backup.

Security settings are not permanent. Review them after staff changes, new regulations, or a suspected login problem.