Resonate offers flexible secure methods for sharing and delivering data with our clients, including Box, AWS, Snowflake, and Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). This article covers the secure and efficient steps for setting up, sharing and receiving files through SFTP.

 

Clients will use FileZilla to connect to Resonate's SFTP server, and we maintain an SSH key-based authentication for accessing our SFTP service, which is to better protect data integrity and security than a traditional password-based login.

 

SSH keys provide a highly secure method for accessing the data upload service by using a cryptographic pair consisting of a public key and a private key to ensure only authorized parties can access the SFTP service.

The below steps will walk you through the end-to-end process these keys using the steps outlined below, and then we will walk you through setting up FileZilla and using the key to access our SFTP server.

As a prerequisite, please use our file-formatting guidance and helpful template to ensure you've properly formatted your file and have provided the necessary information.

 

Step 1: Begin SFTP Setup - Generate SSH Keys

To use SFTP, Resonate will request an SSH public key during the user creation process. This public key will be added to the designated user account, enabling secure, key-based authentication. The use of SSH keys enhances security by eliminating the need for password sharing while ensuring that only authorized systems can initiate a connection.

For seamless integration with Resonate's SFTP service, follow the steps on how to generate RSA SSH keys with a length of 4096 bits and no passphrase:

• Windows - Follow these steps using PuTTYgen
• Mac/Linux - Follow these steps using ssh-keygen 

These keys will be used for accessing AWS Transfer. Please note, that this process will generate both a private and public key. You will only send Resonate the public key—you should store the private key securely.

 

Step 2: Provide Resonate the Company Name and SSH Public Key

Please provide a Company Name and an SSH Public Key to Resonate. Once the information is received and Resonate has added all the permissions, you will receive confirmation, and you can begin securely uploading your data using SFTP. 

Step 3: Setup FileZilla for secure file transfer 

Now that you've generated your SSH keys, you'll follow the below step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring FileZilla to connect to Resonate's SFTP server using an SSH private key. 

Once connected to the server, you will navigate to: 

• data-append/inbound/  - to place a file (Please let your Customer Success Manager know when you have sent files over to our team) 
• data-append/outbound/ - to retrieve a file

The steps and visuals documenting this process are below.

Step 4: Merge, ingest and activate your insights

Your data share is now complete. Read more here to understand how to interpret and use the three files we have delivered. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager, or resonatesupport@resonate.com. 

 

Windows SSH Generation (Using PuTTYgen)

Video Tutorial: 

1. Download and Install PuTTYgen:

• Download PuTTY from PuTTY Download Page
• Launch puttygen.exe after installation (typically will be found in your Downloads folder)

2. Generate an RSA Key Pair:

• In PuTTYgen, set the following parameters:
  • Type of key to generate: RSA
  • Number of bits in a generated key: 4096
• Click Generate and move your mouse around the blank area to generate randomness.
• Once completed, a new key will be generated.

3. Save the Key Pair:

• Do not set a passphrase (since keys must be used without passphrases for AWS Transfer).
• Click Save private key and store the .ppk file securely.
• Click Save public key and store the .pub file.

4. Send public key

a. Attach your saved public key to an email and send to the Resonator you're working with

 

Once you have successfully finished your SSH generation and sent your public key to Resonate, you will complete the remaining steps to connect to the server and share and receive files. 

 

Mac and Linux SSH Generation (Using ssh-keygen)

Video Tutorial: 

1. Open the Terminal

• Open a terminal window on your Mac or Linux machine.
  • To find Terminal on your computer, press the following keys Command + Space, type "Terminal", and select it

2. Generate the SSH Key pair

• Copy the text below
• ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "AWS Transfer Key" -N "" -f ~/desktop/aws_transfer_key
• Paste into your Terminal
• Press ‘Enter’ on your keyboard (keep your terminal open)
• Below you will find each of the parameters within the code above
  • -t rsa: Specifies RSA as the key type.
  • -b 4096: Specifies a 4096-bit key size.
  • -C "AWS Transfer Key": Adds a comment to the key for identification.
  • -N "": No passphrase for AWS Transfer compatibility.
  • -f ~/.ssh/aws_transfer_key: Specifies the output file path. You can change anything after ‘-f’ to specify a specific path you want the files put in. ex: -f C:\Users\firstname.lastname\Documents

3. Verify Key Files have been put in the correct location:

• Confirm that in the location you specified in the step above, you see the following two files:
  • Private key: ~/desktop/aws_transfer_key
  • Public key: ~/desktop/aws_transfer_key.pub

4. Secure the Private Key:

• This step ensures that your user is the only one to use the keys and can modify them
• Copy the text below
• chmod 600 ~/desktop/aws_transfer_key chmod 644 ~/desktop/aws_transfer_key.pub
• Paste into Terminal
• Press ‘Enter’ on your keyboard

Providing your SSH Public Key to Resonate

Once you have generated your SSH key pair, you will need to provide the public key to Resonate for use in our secure data upload service. Please ensure you provide only the public key file (e.g., aws_transfer_key.pub) and never share your private key.

To submit your public key:

1. Verify that you are providing the .pub file (public key) and not the private key.
2. Send the public key file as an attachment to the Resonate team member you are currently working with for onboarding.
3. If you have any questions or need assistance during this process, please reach out to your Resonate point of contact for further guidance.

The Resonate team will securely register your public key for your user account, enabling access to the data upload service. Once your key has been added, you will receive confirmation, and you can begin securely uploading your data using SFTP.

Once you have successfully finished your SSH generation and sent your public key to Resonate, you will complete the remaining steps to connect to the server and share and receive files. 

 

Accessing Resonate SFTP via FileZilla Client

Setting Up FileZilla for Secure File Transfer (Mac & Windows)

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing and configuring FileZilla to connect to Resonate's SFTP server using an SSH private key.

Prerequisites

1. FileZilla Client installed (available from FileZilla's website).
2. An SSH private key created during the previous steps process with Resonate.
3. Server connection details provided by Resonate.
   • server address
   • username

Installing FileZilla on Windows

1. Download the FileZilla Client from the official website.
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
3. Launch FileZilla from the Start menu.

Installing FileZilla on Mac

1. Download the FileZilla Client from the official website.
2. Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the FileZilla icon into the Applications folder.
3. Launch FileZilla from your Applications folder.

Configuring FileZilla for SFTP Connection

1. Open FileZilla.

2. Go to File > Site Manager.

3. Click New Site and name it (e.g., Resonate SFTP).

4. In the Protocol dropdown, select SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol.

5. Go to File > Site Manager.

6. Click New Site and name it (e.g., Resonate SFTP).

7. In the Protocol dropdown, select SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol.

8. Enter the Host sftp.resonate.com

9. Set the Port to 22.

10. For Logon Type, select Key File.

11. Enter the User (provided by Resonate).

12. Click Browse next to Key File and select your private key file used during the on boarding process with Resonate.

Connecting to the Server

1. Click Connect.
2. If prompted, accept the server's host key.
3. You should now be connected to Resonate's SFTP server and able to transfer files securely.

Moving Files into Resonate’s Folder

1. Once connected, you will see a similar layout to what you see below. Your local files will differ as will your Resonate file browser based on what data you have in your account already.

2. When moving your files make sure you are all the way down to the folder that has numbers at the end to ensure your data will be processed (your numbers will differ, they are 5 digits)

3. To move files from Resonate or local directories select them in the “Resonate/ Local Files” panel and drag them to the file browser where you want them to be located. In the case above, to move data from your folder to Resonate’s, you would drag from the left panel (your local machine) to the right panel (Resonate’s folder).

Upload Your Files

For Resonate Append, navigate to data-append/inbound/ and place a file

• Please reference the file data append format example and details on each column here.
  • Once your file is in the correct format, please save with the following name <clientname>_<Segment>_<date>.
  • Example: Clientname_ResonateAppend_20250201.csv
• Once your file is upload please let your Resonate CSM know the file has been uploaded

Retrieve Your Files

For Resonate Append, navigate to data-append/outbound/ to retrieve your appended file once notified that the file is ready by Resonate.

 

Your data share is now complete. Read more here to understand how to interpret and use the three files we have delivered. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager, or resonatesupport@resonate.com.