Secure HIPAA-Compliant Fax

Fax machines have proven to be reliable communication tools. Traditional faxing predates the telephone. In the 1980s, it reached peak popularity among many businesses and organizations because it offered a faster and more efficient way of sharing documents. 

However, in today’s highly digital landscape, traditional faxing methods are no longer sufficient. The documents sent via fax machines are printed out, which means that anyone can view or steal them. Plus, they are expensive and inconvenient to use, especially when sending documents in bulk.

Luckily, you can now safely send faxes without needing bulky equipment. With online faxing solutions, you can enjoy all the benefits of traditional faxing while getting the best protection for your data. Online fax service providers like iFax use high-level, military-grade encryption to ensure maximum security for your documents.

SSL encryption keeps online faxes safe from online attacks and data-privacy breaches from third parties. Faxing documents with SSL or secure sockets layer encryption means that data is transferred to an internet gateway, which in turn is secured by 128-bit AES data encryption or even higher. You can then safely transmit your documents from your mobile device to the servers of your fax provider. Since these documents come in digital form, you do not have to worry about them being viewed, altered, or stolen by unauthorized parties.

Finally, online faxing complies with the rules and guidelines set by HIPAA and GLBA. This further ensures that your data remains secure and private.

These days, sharing documents with clients and colleagues using legacy fax machines is not the most secure fax solution available to you, nor is it the most practical. The traditional method of faxing documents comes with security risks and vulnerabilities. Regardless of the model or brand, fax machines often do not support sending encrypted fax.

If you are looking for a more modern solution that offers better fax security, opt for a HIPAA-compliant fax service. Generally speaking, online faxing offers far superior security measures than traditional faxing. However, not all online faxing services are created equal. Choosing the right fax solution for your organization is crucial to ensure that your files are protected against malicious threats and security risks. As there are plenty of providers promising a secure fax service, you need to invest some time in understanding the security features and measures they use.

Aside from using secure fax solutions, you also need to take precautions to ensure the safe delivery of your transmissions. For instance, using HIPAA fax cover sheets provides an extra layer of protection for the information being transmitted. Double-check your recipient’s fax number before sending any faxes. Keeping a fax log is also important to maintain secure fax transmissions. This allows you to track all the documents you’ve sent, the name of the recipient, and the date of transmission.

Faxing documents that contain highly sensitive information like medical records requires an in-depth understanding of HIPAA rules and guidelines. This prevents you from committing infractions that have costly consequences. A HIPAA violation penalty can reach up to $50,000, depending on the gravity of the offense. So if you need to transmit files with protected health information or PHI, you have to ensure that you send HIPAA-compliant fax.

So what makes a fax transmission HIPAA compliant? It must meet all the provisions enacted by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA. For instance, this federal law requires you to use a fax solution that uses high-level encryption and stringent security measures. These features help reduce the risk of breaches and data theft.

You also need to include a HIPAA fax cover sheet to further protect data from unauthorized access. While HIPAA does not have a set of guidelines regarding what your cover sheet should look like, it does require your cover sheet to contain specific information, including the time and date you faxed the document, the recipient’s name and fax number, and your name and fax number. You may also add a fax disclaimer statement. Simply put, attaching a fax cover sheet is necessary to send HIPAA-compliant fax.

iFax is one of the leading providers of secure cloud fax services. Having been in the industry for over ten years, iFax has amassed more than 5 million satisfied clients. To date, iFax has sent over 20 million faxes with around 2 million downloads across various platforms.

One of the things that make iFax the best HIPAA-compliant online fax provider is that it offers a full suite of top-rated features designed to make document sharing and transmission a breeze. Among these features is its 256-bit end-to-end encryption to ensure the safety of your data. HIPAA requires organizations to use tools and software with robust security measures to prevent data loss and breaches. iFax does a great job of ensuring these incidents do not happen.

iFax also lets you send secure faxes on multiple platforms. The app is available on mobile for both iOs and Android devices. You can also download the iFax desktop application, which is compatible with Windows and Mac. Lastly, you can also enjoy iFax’s secure fax solution using the web-based dashboard.

iFax also boasts other useful features such as a built-in document scanner that lets you convert any physical documents into a digital format using only your phone. Moreover, you can further maximize your productivity by using our electronic signature application so you can sign any documents without needing to print any of them. Our team of experts is available 24/7/365 to help you with any issues or concerns.

You can avail of all these and more for as low as $8.33 per month.