> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.benefitflow.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bulk Data Access Setup Guide

> How to connect to BenefitFlow's SFTP server for bulk data access

<Warning>
  **This capability is available to select customers.** Need help? Email your customer success manager to get access.
</Warning>

## What is SFTP?

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a way to access, transfer, and manage files securely over the internet. It runs on top of SSH, which means all communication is encrypted and requires authentication before any data moves.

## How It Works

Our SFTP server uses public key authentication for secure, passwordless access:

| Setting         | Value      |
| --------------- | ---------- |
| Connection Type | SFTP       |
| Authentication  | Public Key |

## Steps to Connect

<Steps>
  <Step title="Generate a public key and send us the .pub file">
    Generate an SSH key pair and email the `.pub` file to your customer success manager. Don't worry — public keys are public and can be sent unencrypted.
  </Step>

  <Step title="We create a username tied to your key">
    BenefitFlow will create a username for your organization and associate it with the public key you provided.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect using your SFTP client">
    Use any SFTP client (e.g., Cyberduck, FileZilla, WinSCP) to connect with the details below.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connection Details

| Setting         | Value                                                          |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Server          | `s-8a5ee082c03e40c7b.server.transfer.us-east-1.amazonaws.com`  |
| Username        | Your company name (provided by BenefitFlow)                    |
| SSH Private Key | The private key that corresponds to the public key you gave us |
| Port            | `22`                                                           |

## Example Connection Setup

Below is an example of how to configure your SFTP client (shown using Cyberduck):

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/benefitflow/jBweFSsyknPhIpxe/images/sftp-connection-config.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jBweFSsyknPhIpxe&q=85&s=a5db132961fa3b3af172908af2e094ed" alt="Cyberduck SFTP connection configuration showing server, username, and SSH private key settings" width="1203" height="1192" data-path="images/sftp-connection-config.png" />
</Frame>

## Working with Data

Once connected, you'll see six folders — one for each dataset:

| Folder             | Dataset          | Description                                |
| :----------------- | :--------------- | :----------------------------------------- |
| `broker/`          | Broker           | Brokerage firms with aggregated metrics    |
| `brokerContact/`   | Broker Contact   | Individual contacts at brokerages          |
| `brokerOffices/`   | Broker Office    | Office locations with local metrics        |
| `employer/`        | Employer         | Employers with benefits program details    |
| `employerContact/` | Employer Contact | Individual contacts at employers           |
| `policy/`          | Policy           | Individual insurance policies per employer |

Each folder contains weekly CSV snapshots with \~13 rolling weeks of history. Files are named `TYPE-YYYYMMDD.csv` (e.g., `EMPLOYER-20260405.csv`).

<Note>
  The `broker/`, `brokerOffices/`, and `employer/` folders also contain ID mapping files (e.g., `BROKER_ID_MAPPING-20260621.csv`). These let you carry forward IDs that change between releases. See [SFTP Update — June 2026](/knowledge-base/bulk-data-id-migration-june-2026) for how to use them.
</Note>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/benefitflow/jBweFSsyknPhIpxe/images/sftp-file-browser.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jBweFSsyknPhIpxe&q=85&s=8a9820ce4813abf841f17e0842b95769" alt="SFTP file browser showing available data folders" width="1413" height="618" data-path="images/sftp-file-browser.png" />
</Frame>

<Note>
  Data is refreshed every **Saturday**.
</Note>

<Card title="Bulk Data Schema Reference" icon="database" href="/knowledge-base/bulk-data-schema">
  Complete field-level reference for all six datasets — column definitions, data types, join keys, and implementation notes.
</Card>