Secure Copy (SCP)

Owned by S Helms

Last updated: Jan 09, 2023 by Kelly Thomas

Secure copy (SCP) provides a way of securely transferring files between computers over a network. SCP is based on the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol and is usually run from the command line. It provides an alternative to the popular Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). SCP is available on most modern operating systems, including Windows and macOS.

Using Secure Copy

Windows:

To use SCP on Windows, you need to download WinSCP. WinSCP is a free, open-source SCP/SFTP client and is available from the Self-Service Software - free software for PSU-owned computers tool on all PSU-owned computers. Learn more about WinSCP features on the WinSCP documentation site.

macOS:

You can use the Terminal app to transfer files on a Mac.

For more information refer to Apple’s article on how to Move and copy files in Terminal on Mac.