diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/__tests__/register.test.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/__tests__/register.test.ts
index dc739fb52d..9063b60c19 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/__tests__/register.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/__tests__/register.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { getStrapiFactory } from '../../__tests__/test-utils';
 
 import { createTransferHandler } from '../remote/handlers';
 import register from '../register';
+import { TRANSFER_PATH } from '../../../lib/strapi/remote/constants';
 
 afterEach(() => {
   jest.clearAllMocks();
@@ -20,13 +21,13 @@ jest.mock('../remote/handlers', () => ({
 }));
 
 describe('Register the Transfer route', () => {
-  test('registers the /transfer route', () => {
+  test('registers the transfer route', () => {
     const strapi = strapiMockFactory();
 
     register(strapi);
     expect(strapi.admin.routes.push).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
       method: 'GET',
-      path: '/transfer',
+      path: TRANSFER_PATH,
       handler: createTransferHandler(),
       config: {
         auth: false,
diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/__tests__/utils.test.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/__tests__/utils.test.ts
index 8c907c756b..4f60192a56 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/__tests__/utils.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/__tests__/utils.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { WebSocket } from 'ws';
+import { TRANSFER_PATH } from '../../../../../lib/strapi/remote/constants';
 import { CommandMessage } from '../../../../../types/remote/protocol/client';
 import { createDispatcher } from '../utils';
 
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ afterEach(() => {
 
 describe('Remote Strapi Destination Utils', () => {
   test('Dispatch method sends payload', () => {
-    const ws = new WebSocket('ws://test/admin/transfer');
+    const ws = new WebSocket(`ws://test/admin${TRANSFER_PATH}`);
     const message: CommandMessage = {
       type: 'command',
       command: 'status',
diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/index.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/index.ts
index de1eb3166b..ec40352106 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/remote-destination/index.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import type {
 } from '../../../../types';
 import type { client, server } from '../../../../types/remote/protocol';
 import type { ILocalStrapiDestinationProviderOptions } from '../local-destination';
+import { TRANSFER_PATH } from '../../remote/constants';
 
 interface ITokenAuth {
   type: 'token';
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ interface ICredentialsAuth {
 
 export interface IRemoteStrapiDestinationProviderOptions
   extends Pick<ILocalStrapiDestinationProviderOptions, 'restore' | 'strategy'> {
-  url: string;
+  url: URL;
   auth?: ITokenAuth | ICredentialsAuth;
 }
 
@@ -100,16 +101,19 @@ class RemoteStrapiDestinationProvider implements IDestinationProvider {
 
     let ws: WebSocket;
 
+    const wsUrl = `${url.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:'}//${url.host}${
+      url.pathname
+    }${TRANSFER_PATH}`;
+
     // No auth defined, trying public access for transfer
     if (!auth) {
-      ws = new WebSocket(url);
+      ws = new WebSocket(wsUrl);
     }
 
     // Common token auth, this should be the main auth method
     else if (auth.type === 'token') {
-      const headers = { Authentication: `Bearer ${auth.token}` };
-
-      ws = new WebSocket(this.options.url, { headers });
+      const headers = { Authorization: `Bearer ${auth.token}` };
+      ws = new WebSocket(wsUrl, { headers });
     }
 
     // Invalid auth method provided
diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/constants.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/constants.ts
index 6f913eeba6..536be055a2 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/constants.ts
@@ -1 +1 @@
-export const TRANSFER_URL = '/transfer';
+export const TRANSFER_PATH = '/transfer';
diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/routes.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/routes.ts
index 746bed09bb..0c26555ad0 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/routes.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/remote/routes.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // eslint-disable-next-line node/no-extraneous-import
 import type { Context } from 'koa';
 
-import { TRANSFER_URL } from './constants';
+import { TRANSFER_PATH } from './constants';
 import { createTransferHandler } from './handlers';
 
 // Extend Strapi interface type to access the admin routes' API
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ declare module '@strapi/strapi' {
 export const registerAdminTransferRoute = (strapi: Strapi.Strapi) => {
   strapi.admin.routes.push({
     method: 'GET',
-    path: TRANSFER_URL,
+    path: TRANSFER_PATH,
     handler: createTransferHandler(),
     config: { auth: false },
   });
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/bin/strapi.js b/packages/core/strapi/bin/strapi.js
index 757aead554..7a3af552ab 100755
--- a/packages/core/strapi/bin/strapi.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/bin/strapi.js
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ const inquirer = require('inquirer');
 const program = new Command();
 
 const packageJSON = require('../package.json');
-const { promptEncryptionKey, confirmMessage } = require('../lib/commands/utils/commander');
+const {
+  promptEncryptionKey,
+  confirmMessage,
+  parseURL,
+} = require('../lib/commands/utils/commander');
+const { ifOptions, assertUrlHasProtocol, exitWith } = require('../lib/commands/utils/helpers');
 
 const checkCwdIsStrapiApp = (name) => {
   const logErrorAndExit = () => {
@@ -263,16 +268,39 @@ if (process.env.STRAPI_EXPERIMENTAL) {
   program
     .command('transfer')
     .description('Transfer data from one source to another')
-    .addOption(new Option('--from <sourceURL>', `URL of remote Strapi instance to get data from.`))
-    .addOption(new Option('--to <destinationURL>', `URL of remote Strapi instance to send data to`))
-    .hook('preAction', async (thisCommand) => {
-      const opts = thisCommand.opts();
-
-      if (!opts.from && !opts.to) {
-        console.error('At least one source (from) or destination (to) option must be provided');
-        process.exit(1);
-      }
-    })
+    .addOption(
+      new Option('--from <sourceURL>', `URL of remote Strapi instance to get data from.`).argParser(
+        parseURL
+      )
+    )
+    .addOption(
+      new Option(
+        '--to <destinationURL>',
+        `URL of remote Strapi instance to send data to`
+      ).argParser(parseURL)
+    )
+    // Validate URLs
+    .hook(
+      'preAction',
+      ifOptions(
+        (opts) => opts.from,
+        (thisCommand) => assertUrlHasProtocol(thisCommand.opts().from, ['https:', 'http:'])
+      )
+    )
+    .hook(
+      'preAction',
+      ifOptions(
+        (opts) => opts.to,
+        (thisCommand) => assertUrlHasProtocol(thisCommand.opts().to, ['https:', 'http:'])
+      )
+    )
+    .hook(
+      'preAction',
+      ifOptions(
+        (opts) => !opts.from && !opts.to,
+        () => exitWith(1, 'At least one source (from) or destination (to) option must be provided')
+      )
+    )
     .allowExcessArguments(false)
     .action(getLocalScript('transfer/transfer'));
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/__tests__/data-transfer/transfer.test.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/__tests__/data-transfer/transfer.test.js
index 3ae7131ffd..88904042e1 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/__tests__/data-transfer/transfer.test.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/__tests__/data-transfer/transfer.test.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jest.spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => {});
 
 jest.mock('../../transfer/utils');
 
-const destinationUrl = 'ws://strapi.com';
+const destinationUrl = new URL('http://strapi.com/admin');
 
 describe('Transfer', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/transfer.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/transfer.js
index eacea973d9..d10d650207 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/transfer.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/transfer.js
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ const logger = console;
 /**
  * @typedef TransferCommandOptions Options given to the CLI transfer command
  *
- * @property {string|undefined} [to] The url of a remote Strapi to use as remote destination
- * @property {string|undefined} [from] The url of a remote Strapi to use as remote source
+ * @property {URL|undefined} [to] The url of a remote Strapi to use as remote destination
+ * @property {URL|undefined} [from] The url of a remote Strapi to use as remote source
  */
 
 /**
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ module.exports = async (opts) => {
   }
 
   const engine = createTransferEngine(source, destination, {
-    versionStrategy: 'ignore', // for an export to file, versionStrategy will always be skipped
-    schemaStrategy: 'ignore', // for an export to file, schemaStrategy will always be skipped
+    versionStrategy: 'exact', // for an export to file, versionStrategy will always be skipped
+    schemaStrategy: 'exact', // for an export to file, schemaStrategy will always be skipped
     transforms: {
       links: [
         {
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/utils.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/utils.js
index bdab314200..48ccb10c25 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/utils.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/transfer/utils.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 const chalk = require('chalk');
 const Table = require('cli-table3');
-const { readableBytes } = require('../utils');
+const { readableBytes } = require('../utils/helpers');
 const strapi = require('../../index');
 
 const pad = (n) => {
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/commander.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/commander.js
index 8c9ce354d4..72153c05bb 100644
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/commander.js
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/commander.js
@@ -1,14 +1,36 @@
 'use strict';
 
+/**
+ * This file includes hooks to use for commander.hook and argParsers for commander.argParser
+ */
+
 const inquirer = require('inquirer');
+const { InvalidOptionArgumentError } = require('commander');
+const { exitWith } = require('./helpers');
 
 /**
- * argsParser: Parse a comma-delimited string as an array
+ * argParser: Parse a comma-delimited string as an array
  */
 const parseInputList = (value) => {
   return value.split(',');
 };
 
+/**
+ * argParser: Parse a string as a URL object
+ */
+const parseURL = (value) => {
+  try {
+    const url = new URL(value);
+    if (!url.host) {
+      throw new InvalidOptionArgumentError(`Could not parse url ${value}`);
+    }
+
+    return url;
+  } catch (e) {
+    throw new InvalidOptionArgumentError(`Could not parse url ${value}`);
+  }
+};
+
 /**
  * hook: if encrypt==true and key not provided, prompt for it
  */
@@ -16,8 +38,7 @@ const promptEncryptionKey = async (thisCommand) => {
   const opts = thisCommand.opts();
 
   if (!opts.encrypt && opts.key) {
-    console.error('Key may not be present unless encryption is used');
-    process.exit(1);
+    return exitWith(1, 'Key may not be present unless encryption is used');
   }
 
   // if encrypt==true but we have no key, prompt for it
@@ -37,12 +58,10 @@ const promptEncryptionKey = async (thisCommand) => {
       ]);
       opts.key = answers.key;
     } catch (e) {
-      console.error('Failed to get encryption key');
-      process.exit(1);
+      return exitWith(1, 'Failed to get encryption key');
     }
     if (!opts.key) {
-      console.error('Failed to get encryption key');
-      process.exit(1);
+      return exitWith(1, 'Failed to get encryption key');
     }
   }
 };
@@ -61,13 +80,15 @@ const confirmMessage = (message) => {
       },
     ]);
     if (!answers.confirm) {
-      process.exit(0);
+      exitWith(0);
     }
   };
 };
 
 module.exports = {
   parseInputList,
+  parseURL,
   promptEncryptionKey,
   confirmMessage,
+  exitWith,
 };
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/helpers.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/helpers.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..997c3c6071
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/helpers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+'use strict';
+
+/**
+ * Helper functions for the Strapi CLI
+ */
+
+const chalk = require('chalk');
+const { isString, isArray } = require('lodash/fp');
+
+const bytesPerKb = 1024;
+const sizes = ['B ', 'KB', 'MB', 'GB', 'TB', 'PB'];
+
+/**
+ * Convert bytes to a human readable formatted string, for example "1024" becomes "1KB"
+ *
+ * @param {number} bytes The bytes to be converted
+ * @param {number} decimals How many decimals to include in the final number
+ * @param {number} padStart Pad the string with space at the beginning so that it has at least this many characters
+ */
+const readableBytes = (bytes, decimals = 1, padStart = 0) => {
+  if (!bytes) {
+    return '0';
+  }
+  const i = Math.floor(Math.log(bytes) / Math.log(bytesPerKb));
+  const result = `${parseFloat((bytes / bytesPerKb ** i).toFixed(decimals))} ${sizes[i].padStart(
+    2
+  )}`;
+
+  return result.padStart(padStart);
+};
+
+/**
+ *
+ * Display message(s) to console and then call process.exit with code.
+ * If code is zero, console.log and green text is used for messages, otherwise console.error and red text.
+ *
+ * @param {number} code Code to exit process with
+ * @param {string | Array} message Message(s) to display before exiting
+ */
+const exitWith = (code, message = undefined) => {
+  const logger = (message) => {
+    if (code === 0) {
+      console.log(chalk.green(message));
+    } else {
+      console.log(chalk.red(message));
+    }
+  };
+
+  if (isString(message)) {
+    logger(message);
+  } else if (isArray(message)) {
+    message.forEach((msg) => logger(msg));
+  }
+  process.exit(code);
+};
+
+/**
+ * assert that a URL object has a protocol value
+ *
+ * @param {URL} url
+ * @param {string[]|string|undefined} [protocol]
+ */
+const assertUrlHasProtocol = (url, protocol = undefined) => {
+  if (!url.protocol) {
+    exitWith(1, `${url.toString()} does not have a protocol`);
+  }
+
+  // if just checking for the existence of a protocol, return
+  if (!protocol) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (isString(protocol)) {
+    if (protocol !== url.protocol) {
+      exitWith(1, `${url.toString()} must have the protocol ${protocol}`);
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // assume an array
+  if (!protocol.some((protocol) => url.protocol === protocol)) {
+    return exitWith(
+      1,
+      `${url.toString()} must have one of the following protocols: ${protocol.join(',')}`
+    );
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Passes commander options to conditionCallback(). If it returns true, call isMetCallback otherwise call isNotMetCallback
+ */
+const ifOptions = (conditionCallback, isMetCallback = () => {}, isNotMetCallback = () => {}) => {
+  return async (command) => {
+    const opts = command.opts();
+    if (await conditionCallback(opts)) {
+      await isMetCallback(command);
+    } else {
+      await isNotMetCallback(command);
+    }
+  };
+};
+
+module.exports = {
+  exitWith,
+  assertUrlHasProtocol,
+  ifOptions,
+  readableBytes,
+};
diff --git a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/index.js b/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/index.js
deleted file mode 100644
index fab9516c41..0000000000
--- a/packages/core/strapi/lib/commands/utils/index.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-'use strict';
-
-const bytesPerKb = 1024;
-const sizes = ['B ', 'KB', 'MB', 'GB', 'TB', 'PB'];
-
-const readableBytes = (bytes, decimals = 1, padStart = 0) => {
-  if (!bytes) {
-    return '0';
-  }
-  const i = Math.floor(Math.log(bytes) / Math.log(bytesPerKb));
-  const result = `${parseFloat((bytes / bytesPerKb ** i).toFixed(decimals))} ${sizes[i].padStart(
-    2
-  )}`;
-
-  return result.padStart(padStart);
-};
-
-module.exports = {
-  readableBytes,
-};