Why Fax is Still Preferred in the Legal Sector?

Did you know that faxing is still the preferred method of sending/receiving documents remotely in the law industry?

Despite all the advances in communication, faxing is still the main way to send and receive legal documents. Modern ways of communicating are lighting-fast and convenient, but they don’t provide the two main benefits of faxing: reliability and safety. Also, unlike documents you share through other channels, those you send and receive via fax are legally binding.

When working in the law sector, you are always sending and receiving contracts and other types of documents that need to be printed and signed. These documents are valid once they have been signed and sent back. Usually companies do this through a fax machine because these documents often contain personal and sensitive information that needs to be protected from prying eyes.

Faxing ensures your document reaches directly its destination, and gives you a confirmation once the transmission is done, something that other means of communication can’t.

Why Not Use Email?

The main problem with traditional email is that it can be intercepted. Hackers are always one step ahead, making their best efforts to find new ways of intercepting your communications. We have heard multiple times about companies whose emails have been breached, exposing the personal data of their users.

You might think your emails are secure, but advance hacking software can do pretty interesting things these days. Even big companies are vulnerable to these types of interception. The last thing you want is sensitive data to be intercepted.

Faxing Brings The Necessary Security

Fax on the other hand has proven time and time again to be a secure way of communicating. Even after so many decades after its invention, and even after the mass popularity of digital technology, it is preferred by legal companies because it provides the necessary security when transmitting faxes.

In industries like law, you can’t make a mistake with personal information. Neglecting how you handle this info can carry serious problems in the future.

It’s highly unlikely that a fax gets intercepted if you are using a fax machine or an online fax service. This is because in the end, the fax contents will travel through a landline. The only way a fax can be intercepted is if a hacker can determine the exact time the transmission takes place. This is, of course, quite impossible.

Using outdated technology like a fax machine is a great way to keep potential interception attempts at bay. But online faxing is able to provide additional layers of security. Let’s take a look at the most important ones:

Encryption

All online fax service are able to provide point-to-point encryption. I other words, all faxes are encrypted while they are being transmitted using TLS (transport Layer Security) and SSL (Secure Socket Layers) protocols. 

Message Confirmations

After successfully sending a fax, you’ll receive a confirmation message with all the details of the transmission. If you receive this confirmation, nobody can’t say to you they they weren’t able to read the message or that it didn’t arrive.

The confirmation acts as effective proof the document has been received, proof that is valid in court.

Unique File Types

You can opt to receive faxes online in an encrypted format that can only be opened by a special software provided by your online fax service. Even if you decide to receive fax by email, the contents of the fax won’t be readable by anyone that doesn’t have this software.