---
title: Ingest assets with SFTP
slug: content-marketing-platform/docs/ingest-assets-with-sftp
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:44:56.206Z
---

:::hint{type="success"}
**Note**

This is a paid service and not self-serve or included with onboarding. Contact your Customer Success or Onboarding Engagement Manager for assistance.
:::

Optimizely Content Marketing Platform (CMP) uses a secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) to upload assets with the accompanying Excel tagging into an exclusive directory that only you can access after logging in as the user you will create.

## Create SSH key pair

Before you create your user, create a Secure Shell (SSH-RSA) key pair (Public and Private). The Public Key must be in OpenSSH format (produced automatically using the terminal).

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

You can use free programs such as [PuttyGen](https://www.puttygen.com/) on Windows. If you use PuttyGen, ensure you copy the OpenSSH format.
:::

To create an SSH key pair from a Windows, Mac, or Linux terminal:

1. Open the command prompt and enter to create an SSH key using the provided email as a label.
   `$ ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@example.com"`
   This displays the message: *Generating public/private RSA key pair.*
2. Press **Enter** when prompted to **Enter a file in which to save the key**. It is saved to the save location, which is displayed on the page, and looks something like:
   - **Windows**` – C/Users/[your name]/.ssh/id_rsa`
   - **Mac** `– /Users/[your name]/.ssh/id_rsa`
   - **Linux** `– /home/[your name]/.ssh/id_rsa`
3. Enter a passphrase. You can leave this blank by pressing **Enter** twice. Keys are generated and stored in a folder.

## Create your user

After you generate an SSH key pair, send the **Public Key** to your CMP contact and keep the **Private** Key.

:::hint{type="danger"}
**Warning**

Keep your Private Key secure because it is your access to the SFTP.
:::

CMP creates your user using the Public Key, and you can access the SFTP with the following credentials:

- **Host name** – `client-sftp.newscred.com`
- **User name** – \[your organization name]
- **Port number** – 22

You can upload assets through the command-line interface or one of the available client programs, such as WinSCP.

## Transfer Files with WinSCP (Windows)

![Ingest-1.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/WayDXWKVvpNMWFOHxCnRm-20260720-145920.png)

1. Enter the credentials and leave **Password** empty.
2. Click **Advanced**, select **Authentication**, and click **Browse** (**...**) to upload your **Private Key**. Click **OK**.

   :::hint{type="info"}
   **Note**

   You may be prompted to convert your SSH key to PPK format. If this is the case, click **OK** and continue.
   :::

   ![Ingest-2.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/OJ9C4hcR8uICp4bt5vvzU-20260720-145920.png)
3. Modify the following settings. Select **Tools** > **Preferences** > **Transfer** > **Endurance**.

   ![Ingest-3.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/ocHOnGH8JMXKDrc0Atxp--20260720-145920.png)
4. Select **Disable** to prevent decreases in upload performance and failure of large file uploads. Click **OK** to save and return to the previous page.
5. Select **Advanced** > **Transfer Settings Rule**. Clear **Preserve timestamp** to prevent non-critical errors during file transfer.

   ![Ingest-4.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/9uhktxl_TyMopSR5a98D_-20260720-145920.png)
6. Click **Login**. A side-by-side view displays, with the left showing your local storage and the right showing your CMP SFTP. Drag and drop files from the left to the right to upload them to your SFTP.

After you upload, notify your CMP contact to upload your assets following the agreed times.

## Transfer Files with OpenSSH (Mac or Linux)

For Linux or Mac users:

1. Enter the following into a command terminal:
   `% sftp -i transfer-key sftp_user@client-sftp.newscred.com`
   Where `transfer-key` is your private key and `sftp_user` is your username.
2. Enter the following command at the **sftp>** prompt:
   `pwd`
3. Enter the following text on the next line:
   `/uploads.newscred.com/sftp_user`
4. Enter the following command at the **sftp>** prompt to transfer your file:
   `put filename.txt`
   A message indicates the file transfer is in progress or complete:
   *uploading filename.txt to /uploads.newscred.com/sftp\_user/filename.txt some-file.txt 100% 127 0.1KB/s 0*:00
5. Notify your CMP contact when completed to upload your assets.