How to Securely Send and Receive Fax Online

Traditional fax machines have a high level of security. The fax cannot be intercepted in transit – it can be picked up by the wrong person, but in general, they are very secure. However, many businesses are moving their fax facilities online. This has opened up a whole host of problems in terms of security. This may be largely irrelevant when sending non-sensitive information, but when sending sensitive faxes, like a credit card fax, then you will need to send the information in a secure form. Below, we explain how you can do this.

1. Find a fax service provider that is compliant with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) regulations. Furthermore, make sure that they adhere to the specific regulations for your industry, for example, those sending health insurance must be sure that they are compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. Once you have registered with the relevant service provider, make sure that you do tell them that you need the services that relate to your fax content – so they need to know if you are sending health related faxes or credit card fax.
3. Next, make sure that the provider will encrypt the email. This offers an added level of security ensuring that other, unscrupulous, people cannot intercept and read the information contained in the fax.
4. Open your email and start a new email. In the address bar, enter the number to which you want to send the fax and add the relevant appendage information (your service provider will tell you exactly what you need to do). Make sure that you have chosen to have a notification when the fax is received by the recipient, and that the fax is destroyed after receipt.

Here, we have provided a brief guide to sending credit card fax and other types of sensitive fax, but if you need further information, then please contact  www.interfax.net for further advice.