# Prepare Your SFTP Unstructured Connection

Before you create a SFTP Unstructured connection, complete these prerequisites. The SFTP Unstructured connector uses a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) staging area to transfer your content to Data 360 and requires Secure Shell (SSH) key authentication. Create a staging area, generate an SSH key pair, and gather your connection details.

## Find Your Username and Hostname

After you create the staging area, Data 360 provides a username and hostname. Madcap SFTP Unstructured requires this information when you create your SFTP Unstructured Destination.

1. In Data Cloud, click **Setup**, and select **Data Cloud Setup**.
2. From the left navigation menu, click **Staging Area**.
3. From the staging area details page, locate the **Username** and **Host Name**.
4. Copy and save these values in a secure location. You need to give this information to your SFTP Unstructured Support Representative.

## Upload Files Over SFTP

Use an SFTP client like FileZilla to upload your unstructured content files to the Data 360 staging area. You'll need the connection details from your [Staging Area](#find-your-username-and-hostname) and the SSH key pair you generated.

### Upload Files Using FileZilla

1. Download and install [FileZilla Client](https://filezilla-project.org/) if you haven't already.
2. Open FileZilla and go to **File > Site Manager**.
3. Click **New Site** and enter a name for your connection.
4. Configure the connection settings:
   - **Protocol**: Select **SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol**
   - **Host**: Enter the **Host Name** from your [Staging Area](#find-your-username-and-hostname)
   - **Port**: Leave as default (22)
   - **Logon Type**: Select **Key file**
   - **User**: Enter the **Username** from your [Staging Area](#find-your-username-and-hostname)
   - **Key file**: Click **Browse** and select your private SSH key file
5. Click **Connect**.
6. Once connected, drag and drop your files from the local site (left panel) to the remote site (right panel) to upload them to the staging area.
7. The SFTP Unstructured connector will automatically detect and ingest the uploaded files into Data 360.

## Next Steps

[Set Up a SFTP Unstructured Connection](/docs/data/data-cloud-int/guide/c360-a-set-up-sftp-unstructured-connection.md)

[Create a SFTP Unstructured Data Lake Object](/docs/data/data-cloud-int/guide/c360-a-create-a-sftp-unstructured-udlo.md)

[SFTP Unstructured Connector Limitations](/docs/data/data-cloud-int/guide/c360-a-sftp-unstructured-connector-limitations.md)