Although modern technology has pushed the business sector to a level of efficiency and effectiveness once thought impossible, certain industries are lagging behind in terms of innovation. Legacy fax machines are still in use by many companies because of the security that they provide, as well as their ability to meet many types of compliance standards.
While legacy fax systems certainly have their upside, there are also a lot of disadvantages to this technology. Fax over IP, seen by many as the next step in faxing's evolution, works to solve these issues. With Davidson Consulting having predicted the computer-based fax market to hit $455 million in 2017, it's clear this innovation has a bright future.
How can FoIP solve the problems of legacy fax machines? Let's take a look:
"Legacy fax systems do have a very real security flaw."
Physical insecurity
Although legacy fax systems are well known for their ability to keep documents safe while in transit, they do have a very real security flaw: These machines instantly begin printing the document as soon as a connection is made, regardless of who is in the room. That means that if the device is placed in a high-traffic area, anyone walking by would be able to rifle through the records and see any sensitive information in the pile.
What's more, human error can very easily make matters worse. Accidentally leaving a vitally important document in the machine has the same effect as above, but simply crumpling up a private document and throwing it away could also lead to a data breach. Criminals won't stop until they get the information they need, which translates to searching trash bags for these kinds of records.
FoIP, on the other hand, completely sidesteps these kinds of problem by keeping all information contained within a secure, digital space. No amount of dumpster diving will ever uncover private documents, and someone would have to be standing directly over your shoulder to read sensitive information gleaned from a FoIP record.
Cost of materials
While data breaches often end up costing a company a large sum of money, the big expenses usually aren't the problem. Like an army of ants, little needs end up nipping and biting at a business's budget until there's nothing left. For organizations that use legacy fax systems, these costs can be found in things like toner and paper.
As it stands, worldwide tree consumption as a whole is out of control. The scientific journal Nature found that humans cut down more than 15 billion trees annually. A portion of that goes to paper, perhaps one of the biggest wastes now that digital means of communication are a possibility. Companies that invest in a FoIP solution often find that their paper and toner costs quickly evaporate, working to increase both budgetary and environmental efficiency.
However you spin it, FoIP is just better than legacy fax machines. Physical insecurity and significant material costs are just some of the many problems modern companies are running into with these old systems. If your company is still working with this technology, it's time to upgrade.
Enhance enterprise communication, collaboration and compliance efforts with a proven FoIP solution from FaxCore. Contact FaxCore today to learn more about their 'Partly-Cloudy' fax solutions.
