# Networking protocols from HTTPS to SFTP

*MuleSoft Integration Foundations Study Guide · Recognize and interpret essential integration concepts and terminology · Last updated November 2, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/mulesoft-integration-foundations/essential-integration-concepts-and-terminology/networking-protocols-from-https-to-sftp*

Classifies the protocols Mule applications use (HTTP and HTTPS for requests, FTP, FTPS and SFTP for files, TCP, UDP and WebSockets for sockets, JMS and VM for queues), shows where TLS fits, and explains why load balancers help socket traffic but not file polling.

- Certification: Salesforce MuleSoft Integration Foundations
- Exam section: Recognize and interpret essential integration concepts and terminology
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/mulesoft-integration-foundations

**Official exam objective:**

> Classify and describe common networking protocols used in system communication.

## What the exam expects

- Classify a protocol as request-response (HTTP, HTTPS), file transfer (FTP, FTPS, SFTP), socket-level (TCP, UDP, WebSockets) or messaging (JMS, VM queues).
- Explain what TLS adds and which protocol to pick when traffic must be encrypted in transit.
- Choose the file transfer connector that matches what a remote server accepts.
- Explain why a load balancer spreads socket traffic but does not protect file-based transports.

Key terms:
- **HTTPS**: HTTP secured with TLS.
- **TLS**: a cryptographic protocol that provides communications security: key exchange, encryption and message integrity.
- **File-based transport**: a protocol that moves files between systems, such as File, FTP or SFTP.
- **Socket-based endpoint**: an inbound endpoint that receives connections directly, such as TCP or HTTP.
- **Message queue**: a destination that decouples sender and receiver, such as a JMS queue or a VM queue.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HTTPS in Mule | HTTP Connector supports HTTPS (TLS) connectivity for secure servers | [HTTP Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/http-connector/latest/) |
| TLS default | TLS 1.2 supported and enabled by all deployment models | [TLS configuration](https://docs.mulesoft.com/mule-runtime/latest/tls-configuration) |
| TLS-capable connectors | HTTP server and client; FTPS, Email and Sockets clients | [TLS configuration](https://docs.mulesoft.com/mule-runtime/latest/tls-configuration) |
| FTPS | FTP Connector behaviour plus TLS | [FTPS Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/ftps-connector/latest/) |
| SFTP Connector | Same operations and behaviour as File and FTP Connector | [SFTP Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/sftp-connector/latest/) |
| Sockets Connector | TCP and UDP requesters plus a sockets listener | [Sockets Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/sockets-connector/latest/) |
| VM persistent queues | Unavailable in CloudHub 2.0 and Runtime Fabric | [VM Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/vm-connector/latest/) |
| Load balancers | Help TCP and HTTP endpoints, not File, FTP or SFTP | [High availability cluster](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/esb/high-availability-cluster) |

## Check yourself

- Which TLS version is supported and enabled in every Mule deployment model?
- When does a team need FTPS Connector rather than FTP Connector?
- Why can a CloudHub 2.0 application not rely on persistent VM queues for reliability?
- Why do architects choose JMS for communication between parts of a distributed application?

## Sources

- [HTTP Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/http-connector/latest/)
- [Configure TLS with Keystores and Truststores](https://docs.mulesoft.com/mule-runtime/latest/tls-configuration)
- [FTP Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/ftp-connector/latest/)
- [FTPS Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/ftps-connector/latest/)
- [SFTP Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/sftp-connector/latest/)
- [Sockets Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/sockets-connector/latest/)
- [WebSockets Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/websockets-connector/latest/)
- [JMS Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/jms-connector/latest/)
- [VM Connector](https://docs.mulesoft.com/vm-connector/latest/)
- [High availability cluster](https://www.mulesoft.com/resources/esb/high-availability-cluster)
- [Examine APIs and Web Services (Trailhead unit)](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/application-networks-and-api-led-connectivity-in-mulesoft/examine-apis-and-web-services)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 4 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the MuleSoft Integration Foundations pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams