SCP stands for Secure, Copy, Protect. It is a protocol used in internet networks to securely, quickly, and reliably transfer files between two computers. Its application goes beyond file transfer, touching other areas like providing security in a network connection, system administration, and data stream compression.
The term SCP may ring a bell in cases of internet protocols, network security, or file transfer between devices in different locations. SCP comes from the Unix operating system as an enhancement tool for the remote copy (RCP) protocol to ensure that transferred files are protected.
However, it is essential to understand that SCP has another interpretation, especially in the world of gaming. SCP also stands for “Special Containment Procedures,” known widely due to a collaborative writing web-based community of creators, SCP Foundation. The Foundation is a fictional organization documented by many authors in a universe in which individuals, entities, locations, and objects with paranormal properties are accounted for.
Just like any internet protocol, Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) comes with its own algorithms to function optimally. It uses the SSH (Secure Shell) protocol as its basis for transferring data. Meaning, all the operations performed through SCP have the same level of security as with SSH. The SSH protocol guarantees that the data shared over the internet is encrypted, ensuring a high level of security.
The SCP protocol does not only ensure the secure copying of files between local and remote hosts but also between two remote hosts. It enables you to copy directories and files between various hosts. If the user is copying between two remote hosts, then the data flow was transferred through the client machine, which initiates the transfer.
This method allows users to avoid potential data loss that may arise due to network disruptions. In addition to this, unlike other traditional methods of file transfers like FTP (File Transfer Protocol), SCP retains the file’s original timestamp, which provides users with accurate information on when a particular file activity took place.
On the other hand, Special Containment Procedures Foundation or SCP Foundation, is a fictional universe built up by thousands of contributors taking part in writing, creating, and discussing about horror contents. The pieces, known as SCPs, range from the eerie to the downright terrifying, and they’re all held together by a creepy pseudo-governmental thread that attempts to control and contain these anomalies.
While the term SCP can have a variety of meanings depending upon the context, in most circumstances it generally refers to either Secure Copy Protocol in networking and system administration or the SCP Foundation in the gaming and literature worlds.