Online Faxing: Powerful Security Features to Maintain Data Privacy
Think faxing went out with the 90s? Think again. Faxing is still an efficient communication tool businesses and government organizations use daily. The caveat is it's usually done online, similar to sending an email or making a VoIP call.
However, sending electronic documents creates additional cybersecurity challenges. Exchanging and storing sensitive information, particularly in industries like health care, can also cause compliance issues. The Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, is one of them. Under HIPAA, patients must at least be aware that an organization is sharing their personal information. So, how can organizations benefit from the conveniences of online faxing while protecting proprietary and sensitive information? Let's look at some of the security features of online fax solutions.
End-to-End Encryption
With end-to-end encryption, it's nearly impossible for cybercriminals to get a hold of a fax's information. End-to-end means the data that's sent is disguised every step of the way. Only the sender and receiver know what the fax contains. If a malicious actor intercepts the transmission, they won't be able to read it.
Specifically, 256-bit end-to-end encryption is like surrounding your fax's data with a powerful fortress. Better yet, online fax solutions that don't log transmissions or store data on multiple servers can keep an organization compliant with data privacy regulations. For instance, mFax is secure HIPAA faxing because the software encrypts all faxes. Plus, only those with access to the software's secure server can read the information.
Multifactor Authentication
By now, you should be familiar with multifactor authentication. It's a security feature many online portals use to monitor and secure access. With multifactor authentication, someone can't just log in with a username and password. They need to use a code that's sent via text message to their cellphone. Another means of authentication is through biometrics, such as a fingerprint or retina scan.
Since passwords are easier to compromise, online fax software with multifactor authentication features eliminates the possibility. It strengthens data privacy and security by requiring users to jump through an additional hoop. They must prove they are who their credentials say they are. A multifactor authentication prompt also lets cybercriminals know that gaining unauthorized access won't be possible.
Secure Socket Layer Platforms
A secure online fax platform should have secure socket layer, or SSL, technology. You can identify SSL tech by a site's address. If it starts with HTTPS instead of HTTP, you're golden. Another way to spot a website with SSL technology is by the lock icon in the address bar. When it's there and appears locked, the platform uses SSL.
Websites without SSL tech are more vulnerable to cyberattacks because they don't offer encryption. They also don't always require a login. Hackers look for software and websites with unencrypted data because it's like leaving a home's front door unlocked. Anyone can walk in and take what they want. SSL technology padlocks the front door, making what's inside less vulnerable.
Online fax solutions let organizations send and receive documents that aren't suitable for other communication methods like email. Nonetheless, digital faxes are susceptible to cyberattacks and data breaches. Using online fax software with enhanced security features ensures consumers' data stays safe and organizations comply with privacy regulations like HIPAA. Tech leaders who choose digital fax solutions with point-to-point encryption, multifactor authentication, and SSL technology put their organizations ahead of the game.