IBM's Sterling Connect:Direct is a software product that offers security-hardened, point-to-point file transfers to reduce reliance on insecure File Transfer Protocol (FTP) transmissions. It is designed for high-volume file distribution within and between businesses. The solution guarantees more reliable file movement, from batch integration and movement of large images or catalogs to synchronization with distant sites. Sterling Connect:Direct also enables hybrid cloud deployment through certified containers, allowing for simple and consistent deployment lifecycle management.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct | 7.1% |
| GoAnywhere MFT | 10.7% |
| IBM Sterling File Gateway | 9.3% |
| Other | 72.9% |
| Type | Title | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Managed File Transfer (MFT) | Sep 18, 2025 | Download |
| Product | Reviews, tips, and advice from real users | Sep 18, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct vs GoAnywhere MFT | Sep 18, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct vs IBM Sterling File Gateway | Sep 18, 2025 | Download |
| Comparison | Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct vs Control-M | Sep 18, 2025 | Download |
| Title | Rating | Mindshare | Recommending | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control-M | 4.3 | 4.6% | 97% | 134 interviewsAdd to research |
| SEEBURGER Business Integration Suite | 4.3 | 2.5% | 95% | 39 interviewsAdd to research |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 1 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 1 |
| Large Enterprise | 8 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 82 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 18 |
| Large Enterprise | 224 |
Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct Features
Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:
Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct Benefits
There are many benefits to implementing Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:
Reviews from Real Users
Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its robust file processing and its security for file transfers. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews:
Michele I., Business Unit Manager at Innovery, writes of the solution, “The file processing is done very well. By default, there are a lot of configurations that can be customized. Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is one of the stronger MFT solutions in the market, it is available in each type of installation, and offers SaaS, PaaS, YaaS, on-premise.”
Camilo M., Pre-sales Engineer at Dell EMC, mentions, “It's a great tool because it offers secure file transfers and it has a fast and efficient protocol for very large files.”
HZMO, Bank of Communications
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Vice President at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees | 4.5 | I've used Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct for over 13 years mainly for secure file transfers; it's reliable, scalable, and easy to configure, though support during U.S. hours and the web interface could use improvement. |
| Senior Professional engineer at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees | 5.0 | Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct efficiently handles secure and versatile data transmission across multiple operating systems. It excels in file transfer and orchestration, particularly with its containerized Linux version. Despite complex setups, IBM's support ensures reliable deployment, outperforming competitors like Axway. |
| Host network support at a construction company with 51-200 employees | 4.0 | I use Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct primarily for transferring data from Linux or Unix systems to mainframe systems, due to its superior recovery and data integrity features, which are crucial for a bank's data transfer needs. |
| Senior Consultant at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees | 4.0 | I use Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct for file transfers with diverse protocols, appreciating its encryption flexibility for file handling. However, the lack of premade tools necessitates additional manual development, and the initial setup could be simplified. |
| Application Development Senior Analyst at Accenture | 3.0 | Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct is a peer-to-peer file transfer protocol known for its security and high-speed data transfer. However, it has high licensing costs and challenging installation requirements, demanding experienced personnel, and resources are not easily available. |
| Assistant Vice President at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees | 5.0 | No summary available |
| Systems Infrastructure Manager at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank - Egypt | 3.0 | I use Connect:Direct to transfer application files between systems. The key benefit is automation, though the monitoring tools could be improved for better visibility. I haven't considered other solutions, and there's no specific cloud provider in use. |
| Senior Site Reliability Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees | 2.5 | No summary available |
