What does the 'scp' command do?

The 'scp' command stands for Secure Copy Protocol, and it is specifically designed to securely transfer files between hosts over a network using SSH (Secure Shell) for data transfer and authentication. This command encrypts both the files being transferred and the connection, providing a secure way to move files between local and remote systems.

Using 'scp', you can copy files from your local system to a remote system or vice versa, as well as between two remote systems, all while ensuring that the data remains protected during transit. This is particularly important in environments where sensitive data is being transferred, as unencrypted transmissions can be vulnerable to interception.

In contrast, other options describe functions that are either unrelated to 'scp' or involve different protocols. For instance, copying files locally pertains to commands like 'cp' and does not involve network operations. Connecting to a remote server can be done using commands like 'ssh', but this does not pertain to file copying specifically. Transferring files via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is another method of file transfer that does not utilize the security features inherent in SSH, which 'scp' relies on.