Download Exports or Productions using Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP)

On Everlaw, you can download files from exports or productions using Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP, Secure FTP, or SSH File Transfer Protocol).

To learn more about how to export documents, read our Exporting to Zip article.

To learn more about running productions, read our Overview: Create a Production on Everlaw article.

What is SFTP?

SFTP is a secure file transfer protocol that allows you to transfer files over a “Secure Shell” (SSH) data stream. This allows you to securely download your files from Everlaw to your local machine via third-party applications.

SFTP is secure because it requires an authentication process. The commands, data, and passwords are all encrypted before being sent across the network, meaning your sensitive information is safe while your data is transferred. Everlaw uses SFTP and not FTP because regular FTP does not use encryption while transferring.

To download a file via SFTP, you need to first download an SFTP client. This article lists a few popular clients and links you to instructions for using them. 

Many enterprise Managed File Transfer (MFT) software solutions also exist that support the SFTP protocol. A non-exhaustive list of MFT solutions as well as open source SFTP libraries are listed on the SSH corporation’s website.

Overview of downloading via SFTP

To download via SFTP, you will use Everlaw-generated credentials (host, port, and username) within an SFTP client to connect to Amazon’s managed SFTP service. This allows for a secure transfer of data (exports and productions). 

In addition to those credentials, you will download a private key, which serves as a verification method for your connection to the SFTP server. This key is unique to your connection and a new private key is generated for every SFTP download. The private key is associated with a public key that is sent to the SFTP server. When you connect to the server, these two keys are used together to authenticate your connection. The private key is active for one week after it is generated.

This allows for a secure transfer of data (exports and productions). If a file is partially downloaded and is somehow interrupted, the SFTP client should preserve your partially downloaded file. This means that it’s easy to resume a partial download, should an interruption occur, and makes SFTP downloads a great option for large files. 

If you’re resuming the download after the one-week expiration date of your private key, you will need to download a new private key, and enter it into your SFTP client, and then resume the download.

Download via SFTP

Once you have downloaded and set up your SFTP client, you can start using it to download productions and exports.

Download exports via SFTP

To download an export via SFTP:

1. Find the export card on your homepage. On the card, select the download button, and then choose Download via SFTP.
   
   This opens the Download via SFTP dialog.
2. In the Download via SFTP dialog, the Hostname, Username. and Port are displayed and the Private key is available to download.
   
   Use these credentials in your FTP client to access your download. See the overview section above for more details on these credentials and their purpose.
   

   Note

   The credentials expire after one week.

   If the export contains one or more files which were flagged as potentially malicious by Everlaw’s native uploads tool, you will receive a warning message before the Download via SFTP dialog opens.
   
   Select Continue to acknowledge the warning, confirm that you wish to download potentially malicious data, and move on to the Download via SFTP dialog.
   If you do not wish to download this data, select Cancel. Then, you can re-run your production or export, excluding the malicious documents.
3. The rest of the download will happen in your SFTP client. The steps vary depending on your SFTP client, but in general, you use the credentials and private key from Everlaw to form the secure connection. Then you can download the files. 

Download productions via SFTP

1. Go to Data Transfer > Productions. Then, find the production card you want to download via SFTP.
2. On the card, select the Share button, and then choose Download via SFTP.
   
   This opens the Download via SFTP dialog.
3. In the Download via SFTP dialog, the Hostname, Username, and Port are displayed and the Private key is available to download.
   
   Use these credentials in your FTP client to access your download. See the overview section above for more details on these credentials and their purpose.
   

   Note

   The credentials expire after one week.

   If the export contains one or more files which were flagged as potentially malicious by Everlaw’s native uploads tool, you will receive a warning message before the Download via SFTP dialog opens.
   
   To acknowledge the warning, confirm that you wish to download potentially malicious data, and move on to the Download via SFTP dialog, select Continue.
   If you do not wish to download this data, select Cancel. Then, you can re-run your production or export, excluding the malicious documents.
4. The rest of the download will happen in your SFTP client. The steps vary depending on your SFTP client, but in general, you use the credentials and private key from Everlaw to form the secure connection. Then you can download the files. 

SFTP clients

Below are a few FTP clients you can consider.

SmartFTP

SmartFTP has excellent speed and auto-resume capabilities, but is only available for Windows and costs money for a license.

To download SmartFTP, use this external link: Download SmartFTP

Learn how to use SmartFTP at their website: Smart FTP tutorials

FileZilla

To download FileZilla use this external link: Download FileZilla

Learn how to use FileZilla at their website: Using FileZilla  

WinSCP

WinSCP (Windows Secure Copy) is a free and open-source SFTP client for Microsoft Windows.

To downlowd WinSCP, use this external link: Download WinSCP

Learn how to use WinSXP at their website: Guides to using WinSCP