Which statement about SFTP best describes its functionality?

• A. Uses FTP and transfers files in clear text
• B. Transfers files over SSH without encryption
• C. Operates over SSH and supports interactive file transfers
• D. Only supports uploading files

Answer: (C)

SFTP is SSH File Transfer Protocol, which runs over SSH. Because it uses the SSH transport, all file contents and commands are encrypted and authenticated, unlike plain FTP. It provides an interactive session where you can list directories, upload and download files, rename, delete, and manage directories—essentially file transfer and management within a secure SSH channel. It isn’t limited to uploading; you can perform multiple file operations in both directions. Therefore, the statement that best describes SFTP is that it operates over SSH and supports interactive file transfers. The other options describe unsecured FTP behavior, encrypted transport with no encryption (which contradicts SSH’s security), or a restricted capability (only uploading), which aren’t accurate for SFTP.