Comparing SCP and SFTP: Key Differences and Use Cases

SFTP vs SCP 

SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) and SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) are both protocols that use SSH (Secure Shell) to secure data and authenticate users. However, they differ in functionality and use cases:

SCP - Port 22 TCP

SCP is primarily used to copy files between hosts and is faster and better suited for high-latency networks. However, it has limited functionality and can't create directories, list directories, or delete files. It is also less flexible than SFTP and will override existing files by default.

SFTP - Port 22 TCP

A full-featured file transfer protocol that allows users to manage files remotely. SFTP can search directories, organize files, and resume interrupted transfers. SFTP is considered a more secure successor to SCP and is becoming more common in place of SCP.

Here are some more details about SCP and SFTP:

• Support: SFTP is supported more widely than SCP.
• Default behavior: Some IDEs, like JetBrains, use SFTP as the default for file transfers.
• Setup: Setting up an SFTP server can be complex, especially if you need multiple users with different permissions.