How Msafe Secure File Transfer is future-proofing businesses
Secure file sharing was once a convenient IT feature. In 2026, it will become a hard prerequisite for continuity, compliance and customer trust. New EU regulations such as NIS2 and DORA impose stricter requirements on how organizations share sensitive data, including logging, encryption and proof of control.
At the same time, digitization is accelerating: more data, more cloud, more external partners. More than 140 countries worldwide now have privacy laws, making data flows more complex than ever. And cyber attacks are getting smarter through AI and automation.
In short, secure file sharing in 2026 is not just about secure transmission, but about demonstrable control of risk. In this article, we list seven trends and show how Msafe Secure File Transfer helps organizations stay ahead of the curve.
Trend 1 – Zero trust & identity-first security as the new foundation
Zero Trust “never trust, always verify” is shifting from buzzword to operational standard. Studies show that many organizations have only partially implemented Zero Trust, while the need for identity-based access is growing rapidly.
For secure file sharing, this means:
- No anonymous links without verification
- Access based on identity, role and device status
- Continuous monitoring and ability to revoke access
Regulations such as NIS2 and DORA align with this by explicitly setting requirements for access, logging and incident handling.
How Msafe helps
Msafe Secure File Transfer supports Zero Trust principles including strong authentication (such as 2FA), fine-grained permissions per user/group and full audit logs per transfer.
Trend 2 – AI driven attacks as well as detection
In 2026, AI will be used on both sides: attackers will use generative AI to create credible phishing, deepfakes and polymorphic malware, while defenders will use AI for real-time behavioral analysis.
For secure file sharing, this means:
- More targeted attacks via seemingly legitimate mail or cloud links
- Need to detect anomalous behavior around downloads, login attempts and sharing
- Focus on “least privilege” and rapid revocation of access
How Msafe helps
Msafe focuses on auditable processes: every action (upload, download, access) is logged, so suspicious patterns are quickly visible and incidents remain forensically traceable.
Trend 3 – NIS2, DORA and AI legislation make secure file sharing provable
The combination of NIS2, DORA and the EU AI Act makes security and compliance a governance responsibility. Capgemini describes how these frameworks provide tighter governance, real-time detection requirements and a culture of demonstrable resilience.
Effective since January 2025, DORA emphasizes digital resilience, incident reporting and secure information exchange in the financial sector and their ICT service providers.
For secure file sharing, this includes:
- Encryption in transit and at rest
- Complete audit trails and reports
- Clear agreements with (and control over) third parties
How Msafe helps
Msafe is ISO 27001-certified and explicitly supports organizations in complying with DORA, with 256-bit encryption, audit logs, 2FA and detailed reporting. This makes secure file sharing part of your provable control framework rather than a separate tool.
Trend 4 – Data sovereignty: European cloud and data location
Digital sovereignty, control over where data resides, who can access it and under what laws, is becoming a strategic issue. Reports on cybersecurity trends emphasize that organizations must make more conscious choices about storage locations, encryption and access.
For secure file sharing, this means:
- Preferred EU hosting and European data centers
- Data residency adjustable by application or workload
- Less reliance on non-European cloud jurisdictions
How Msafe helps
Msafe is a Dutch company; all data is processed in certified data centers within the EU. The platform is designed to comply with GDPR and supports organizations that need to demonstrate that data stays within European jurisdictions.
Trend 5 – Ephemeral sharing, retention and audit trails by design
One of the biggest risks around file sharing is residual data: old copies that remain in mailboxes and shared folders for years. NIS2, DORA and GDPR are placing increasing emphasis on data minimization and retention periods.
Therefore, “ephemeral sharing” is becoming the norm: files are only temporarily available and then automatically deleted. Msafe already describes this as a major trend toward 2026.
How Msafe helps
Msafe Secure File Transfer allows you to:
- Set time limits and retention policies per share
- Have files automatically deleted after completion
- Retract access afterwards and generate reports for audits
This way you reduce your data footprint while having proof of compliance with retention periods.
Trend 6 – From ad hoc tools to integrated secure file transfer platforms
Many organizations still lean on SFTP servers, e-mail and plain cloud drives. Research on compliant file transfer highlights that while protocols such as SFTP offer encryption, they fall short on things like central logging, data location and automation – the very aspects that are critical for regulations such as DORA.
The trend toward 2026 is clear: from loose scripts and tools to managed secure file transfer platforms with:
- Central policies and configuration
- APIs to embed secure file sharing into existing processes
- Automated reporting for audits
How Msafe helps
Msafe Secure File Transfer offers:
- An API To integrate secure file sharing directly into your compliance and process architecture
- Outlook integration and SSO so users work from familiar tools
- Centralized administration, audit trails and configurable retention periods
As a result, secure file sharing becomes a standard part of your digital backbone rather than a separate “side solution.”
Trend 7 – Large files & hybrid working require scalable secure file sharing
Hybrid and remote working are here to stay. Standard e-mail and consumer cloud services run into limits: size restrictions, no end-to-end encryption and limited control over who can download files over time.
Msafe shows that organizations struggle daily with multi-GB videos, CAD drawings and medical images that no longer fit through the mail and are shared through insecure channels.
How Msafe helps
With Msafe Secure File Transfer, organizations can:
- Send files of virtually any size
- Secure access with 2FA and encryption based on strong algorithms (such as AES-256)
- Securely engage external parties without requiring proprietary accounts or additional tools
How Msafe Secure File Transfer anticipates secure file sharing in 2026
In summary, Msafe Secure File Transfer combines the key building blocks required for secure file sharing in 2026:
- Strong security
- End-to-end encryption (256-bit), 2FA, ISO 27001-certified organization
- Compliance & demonstrability
- Full audit logs, reporting, configurable retention and support for GDPR, NIS2 and DORA
- European data sovereignty
- Hosting in certified EU data centers built in the Netherlands
- Integration & ease of use
- API, Outlook add-in, SSO and intuitive interface for end users
- Future-proof functions
- Ephemeral sharing, large files, digital signing and controlled third-party collaboration
Thus, secure file sharing becomes not a risk, but a powerful part of your digital strategy.
