secure transfers and authentication

["mgk.mailing" <mgk.mailing () googlemail com>]

Hi List

I was wondering if anyone had run across anything that would help with 
my current project.   I am looking to automate transfers over an 
insecure network where both the client and server are authenticated to 
each other.  My current line of thinking is using ssl signed 
certificates from our Certificate authority to do the authentication and 
then https to transfer the data.  Putting aside that http may not be the 
best transfer mechanism for data can anyone make any suggestions or 
point out any potential pitfalls that maybe there?  It is vital that the 
transfer is protected and that the client and server is authenticated. 

Thanks

mgk