According to recent reports, internet users now create an estimated 330 billion gigabytes of data per day. That includes 250 million emails per minute and millions of documents being shared each minute among many other forms of data. All that information floating around in the digital realm is particularly vulnerable. After all, hackers are on a constant mission to find their way into people’s sensitive data.
Fostering Data Security With Electronic Faxing
With security being a growing concern, people need safe, effective ways to send and receive information. Electronic faxing is one of the most secure solutions now available. This form of communication uses a variety of security measures to protect users’ private data. Take a closer look at some of the steps being used to foster information safety during an e-fax to better understand why it’s such a safe, reliable solution.
Encryption
One of the basic aspects of electronic faxing security is encryption. While data is being transmitted, encryption protects it against unauthorized access. Secure Socket Layer and Transport Layer Security are often used to keep information safe from prying eyes. Both these measures entail integrating specific sets of rules into transmitted data to allow people to send and receive it without anyone being able to intercept it.
Authentication
Authentication is also a common method for improving security in data transmission. Electronic faxing uses an array of authentication measures to prevent information from falling into the wrong hands. Password authentication is one of the simplest measures for people to use, but it’s also among the easiest for hackers to breach.
Multi-factor authentication ramps up security. It combines password use with additional security measures. Those can include one-time codes being sent to users to allow them to log in to their accounts. Pre-determined questions only users know the answer to, secondary PIN codes, and fingerprint scans are a few examples here. This gives users additional layers of protection in case password protection alone doesn’t suffice.
Access Control
Beyond encryption and authentication, electronic faxing uses extra strategies for protecting sensitive data. Access control measures give administrators the power to determine who can see and change incoming, outgoing, and stored files. Businesses can tailor their access control strategies based on their unique needs. That helps to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, human error, and other problems.
Secure Storage
It’s no secret that data isn’t only vulnerable during transmission. It’s also at risk while it’s in storage. Electronic faxing platforms provide secure storage to help keep sensitive information safe during that phase of the process as well.
Audit Trails
Furthermore, e-fax solutions provide constant monitoring and audit trails for users to fall back on. In the event of a data breach, users can turn to those records to find out exactly where the problem occurred. Audit trails provide in-depth records of which logins were used to access documents, any changes made to those files, when those actions took place, and other details. That allows users to pinpoint data breaches and even strengthen their security protocols.
Compliance Standards
Electronic faxing also adheres to industry-specific privacy and security regulations. Guidelines are in place almost all industries to protect sensitive information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in the medical sector is a prime example. E-fax systems are designed to meet those standards to protect users’ data.
Maintaining Security in Data Storage and Transmission
Massive volumes of data are created and sent each day. Not all of it makes its way through fax systems, but much of it does. Information sent and received through fax tends to be particularly sensitive, including financial, legal, and medical documents. Electronic faxing uses numerous measures to keep information safe during transmission and storage. As such, it can protect users on several levels.