📋 FTAPI Trust Networks: Overview & Automatic Connections
What is FTAPI Trust Networks?
FTAPI Trust Networks (FTN) is a secure communication network that automatically connects all FTAPI organizations. Licensed users of connected organizations can exchange files and messages directly and securely, without needing a guest account and without having to manually set up a separate connection for each partner.
Every FTAPI organization is automatically part of FTAPI Trust Networks. If an organization additionally verifies its domain, deliveries intended for its users are delivered directly without any further action and without a guest account.
Difference to the previous setup
Previously, each connection was set up manually between two known instances, including the exchange of API keys between the respective administrators. With FTAPI Trust Networks, this connection is now automatically established for all organizations. An organization’s own domain verification now only determines whether incoming deliveries arrive directly and without a guest account. Coordination with the partner organization is no longer required.
| Previous setup | FTAPI Trust Networks | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection setup | Manual, between two known instances | Automatic, via a central directory |
| Authentication | API key exchange between both administrators | Automatic after verifying your own domain |
| Coordination | Both administrators must actively coordinate | No coordination with the partner required |
| Reach | Point-to-point | All FTAPI organizations with a verified domain |
How does the data exchange work?
The administrator claims their organization’s email domain once in the admin panel and verifies it via a DNS record. (See the article “Enable FTAPI Trust Networks: Verify Domain via DNS”)
Once your domain is verified, the following applies: If a user in your organization receives a message from another FTAPI instance, it is delivered directly to their existing FTAPI mailbox—without a guest account and without manual connection setup. The sending organization does not need to take any action itself and does not need to verify its own email domain.
The same principle applies in reverse: If the recipient’s organization verifies the email domain, a message sent to your user will land directly in the recipient’s FTAPI account. If the recipient does not yet have a user account, one will be automatically created in the recipient’s FTAPI instance.
If the recipient’s domain is not verified, nothing changes: The recipient receives a guest account in the sender’s FTAPI system as usual.
Important: Once you have verified your email domain, every user who receives a delivery automatically receives an account on your own FTAPI instance, provided one does not already exist at that time. They will then need a license to send messages or reply to messages themselves.
Security
End-to-end encryption: The existing encryption remains fully intact. Deliveries via FTAPI Trust Networks are just as secure as local FTAPI deliveries.
Virus Scanning: FTN deliveries are scanned for viruses both before being forwarded to the partner instance and upon receipt of incoming deliveries (provided that virus scanning is enabled on your system). If a virus is detected, the delivery will not be forwarded or delivered, and a notification will be displayed in the sender’s outbox.
Data Sovereignty: Each organization continues to manage its own instance. Data remains separate and within each organization’s own infrastructure.
Compatibility
FTAPI Trust Networks can be used both in the Web UI and in the Outlook Add-In. Nothing changes for users in the usual sending process.
Related articles
Activate FTAPI Trust Networks: Verify your domain via DNS
View active FTN connections in the Admin Panel
FTAPI Trust Networks: FAQ on visibility, data flows and reporting