Telnet, Rsh, Rlogin, Rcp, and FTP are commonly used methods to access files and execute commands on remote servers. They are available in most operating systems and work seamlessly in multi-platform environments. However, this convenience comes with major security risks. This document is intended for IT professionals at enterprises who need to secure file transfer and system administration access methods in heterogeneous and large-scale environments.

The document describes common vulnerabilities and known exploits of plaintext file transfer and terminal connections. Also, eight areas to examine when seeking and evaluating products and technologies for an FTP and Telnet replacement are introduced. Finally, a cost-effective security approach based on Secure Shell for cross-platform, large-scale environments is introduced.

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