Create FTP/FTPS Users

Learn how to create external users for Inbound FTP

To access Couchdrop over FTP, each person, partner, or system needs a Couchdrop FTP user account.

FTP users are separate from Couchdrop Administrators and can be given access to a specific folder location. This lets you provide FTP access without exposing administrative access to your Couchdrop tenant.

We do not recommend using your owner account as they have elevated permissions to Couchdrop. General FTP users with limited access can be shared with external systems and providers.

How to create a new FTP user

Creating a new Inbound FTP/S user is done in the management dashboard from Couchdrop.

Before you start

To create a new FTP/S user, you will need:

• A username and password - the username needs to be unique in Couchdrop.
• A folder location where that user will be isolated to.
• Permissions to create new external users in Couchdrop

1

Create an FTP user

In Couchdrop, select SFTP & FTPs Users, then click Create New. Select FTP User and continue.

If you do not see this option, contact your Couchdrop administrator.

2

Configure the user

Configure the new user by setting a username, selecting their home/root directory, and choosing an authentication method.

You can use an autogenerated password or set a custom password.

If Transfer Shield is enabled, you can select a content rule group to surface or block unexpected, non-compliant, or malicious files uploaded by this user.

3

Save your new FTP user credentials

Once the user has been created, Couchdrop will display the user credentials and provide the option to download credentials or share them directly from the platform. Sharing from Couchdrop is done via email from [e-mail].

User Settings

After creating a user, you can configure additional permissions, access and security controls, and Transfer Shield DLP from the user's settings.

General User Settings

Setting	Description
Email Address	Set or update the email address associated with the user. Optional.
Password	Set or update the user's password, with optional user must creawte password at next sign-in.
Set the home/root directory for this user	Change the user's home/root directory.
Global filesystem permissions for this user	Change global permission level between Read-only, Write-only, and Read/Write access.
Delete allowed	Allow the user to delete files
Delete User	Permanently remove the user

Access Controls

Setting	Description
Features and Services	Add or restrict feature usage such as SFTP, Upload portals, and the web portal.
Network ACLs	Restrict a user so they can only connect from approved IP addresses or networks.

Security Settings

Setting	Description
Expiry	Controls whether the user expires. Select Never Expire or configure the user to expire after a specified period.
Transfer Shield	Define what type of content you expect to upload with this user. Block or surface files for approval with content that does not match what you expect.
Delete allowed	Allows the user to delete files within locations they can access.

Advanced Options

Setting	Description
Notes	Create notes about the user
User active	When unchecked, the user loses access to the platform until reactivated.

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How to bulk create FTP users

If you need to provision multiple FTP users, you do not need to create each user individually.

Couchdrop supports bulk and automated user provisioning for larger deployments. Depending on your environment, you can use:

• Bulk import - create multiple users in one operation.
• SCIM provisioning - automatically provision and manage users from a supported identity provider.
• API - automate user provisioning using the Couchdrop API from your own systems.

For ongoing identity lifecycle management, use SCIM rather than manually creating users.

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Frequently asked questions

Can different FTP users access different folders?

Yes. Each user can be configured with access to specific folders and storage locations.

Can I use my own storage?

Yes. Most Couchdrop customers connect their existing cloud or on-premises storage rather than using Couchdrop hosted storage exclusively.

Can I bulk create FTP users?

Yes. Couchdrop supports bulk import via CSV, SCIM provisioning, and automated user creation via the Couchdrop Management API.