Back Up Windows to an FTP / SFTP Server — Encrypted, Scheduled

Last updated June 2, 2026

Back up your Windows PC to any FTP, FTPS, or SFTP server — a web host, VPS, seedbox, or office server. AES-256 encrypted, scheduled, with retention and one-click restore.

An FTP, FTPS, or SFTP server is one of the most universal backup targets there is. A cheap shared web host, a $5 VPS, a seedbox, or an office file server — if it speaks FTP or SSH, BackupKit can back up to it. Files are encrypted on your PC first, then uploaded on a schedule.

Which protocol

SFTP (recommended)

FTP over SSH. Encrypted in transit, one port, available on any Linux VPS or seedbox out of the box. The best default.

FTPS

FTP with TLS. Common on shared web hosts. Encrypted in transit; needs a few firewall ports for passive mode.

Plain FTP

Unencrypted in transit — avoid over the internet. Fine on a trusted LAN, and your archives are still AES-256 encrypted at rest either way.

Anywhere it runs

Web host, VPS, seedbox, Raspberry Pi, office server — BackupKit treats them all the same: a host, a port, credentials, a folder.

Encryption at rest, regardless of protocol

Even on plain FTP, BackupKit encrypts each archive with AES-256 and your password before upload, so a compromised or shared server still only holds unreadable data. Use SFTP or FTPS to also protect the transfer itself.

BackupKit encrypts with AES-256 on your PC before upload. The FTP or SFTP server stores the archive file; the folder tree inside is unreachable without your password.
Plain FTP protects nothing in transit — so the archive arrives already sealed.

Set it up

  1. Add the server in BackupKit: hostname, port, username, password (or key), and protocol. Click test — BackupKit lists the directories.
  2. Create a backup job: source folders, destination directory on the server.
  3. Configure the schedule, compression with AES-256 password protection, missed-run policy, and retention.
  4. Activate. Runs unattended with failure notifications.
BackupKit storage picker showing the FTP, SFTP, NAS and WebDAV protocol options
FTP, SFTP, NAS and WebDAV sit together in the storage picker — pick the one your server speaks.

Common questions

Can I use my web hosting's FTP for backups?

Often yes, if the plan has spare space and allows non-web files. Check your host's terms — some shared plans discourage using web storage purely as a backup dump.

Does it support SSH keys for SFTP?

SFTP connects with the credentials your server accepts. Use a dedicated backup user with write access to a single directory rather than a root/admin account.

Is a seedbox a good target?

Seedboxes usually offer generous storage and fast SFTP, which makes them a surprisingly good off-site backup destination.

Related

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