PCI-Compliant Fax Service — Protect Cardholder Data in Fax Transmissions
PCI DSS requires that cardholder data be protected during transmission. If you fax credit card information, authorization forms, or payment data, you need a PCI-compliant fax service.
PCI DSS Requirements for Fax
- Encryption of cardholder data during transmission
- Network security controls for fax infrastructure
- Access controls restricting cardholder data to need-to-know
- Regular security testing and vulnerability scanning
- Information security policy covering fax procedures
- Strong access control measures and authentication
How Send FAX Mail Meets PCI DSS
- 256-bit AES encryption for all fax transmissions
- Enterprise-grade network security with firewalls and intrusion detection
- Role-based access controls with multi-factor authentication
- Regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments
- Documented information security policies available for PCI audits
- Secure document purge capabilities for cardholder data
Industries Affected
Starter
- 600 fax pages per month
- 1 dedicated fax number
- Send & receive faxes
- Fax to email delivery
- Fax history & downloads
- No per-page overage charges
Professional
- 2,000 fax pages per month
- 3 dedicated fax numbers
- HIPAA compliance + self-serve BAA
- Sign documents before sending
- Priority delivery
- No per-page overage charges
Business
- 5,000 fax pages per month
- 5 dedicated fax numbers
- HIPAA compliance + self-serve BAA
- Public API & webhooks
- Audit logs
- Team roles & permissions
- Priority support
Enterprise
- 8,000 fax pages per month
- 10 dedicated fax numbers
- Everything in Business
- Public API & signed webhooks
- Dedicated support
- Custom integrations
No per-page overage. No activation fees. No contracts. Cancel anytime.
What’s current · as of August 2026
- HIPAA large-breach reporting threshold
- 500+ individuals — reported to HHS OCR without unreasonable delay Source: HHS Office for Civil Rights
- HIPAA documentation retention period
- 6 years from creation or last-effective date Source: HHS — HIPAA Administrative Requirements (45 CFR 164.316)
Recent updates
Federal interoperability rules keep pushing healthcare past the fax machine
CMS has advanced a series of interoperability rules that press hospitals, payers, and providers toward electronic data exchange and standardized claims attachments. The direction of travel is clear: paper and analog fax workflows are being replaced by digital transmission that carries an auditable record — which is exactly what a cloud fax with delivery confirmation provides for offices not yet on a full EHR pipeline.
CMS →Federal agencies still write fax into new rules and notices
The Federal Register — the daily journal of U.S. federal rulemaking — regularly publishes rules and notices that reference fax as an accepted or required submission channel for filings with agencies like the IRS, SSA, and CMS. That is why fax remains a live requirement for many official forms even as electronic portals expand.
Federal Register →Healthcare breach reporting keeps document handling under scrutiny
Ongoing reporting on HIPAA breaches and OCR settlements underscores how much scrutiny falls on how medical documents are stored, sent, and received. Sending records through a controlled, access-logged channel rather than an unmanaged machine reduces the mishandling risks that show up repeatedly in breach analyses.
HIPAA Journal →
PCI DSS Fax Compliance — FAQ
You can fax credit card information if you use a PCI-compliant fax service with encryption. However, best practice is to minimize faxing of full card numbers. Send FAX Mail encrypts all transmissions.
Send FAX Mail provides the encryption, access controls, and security measures needed for PCI DSS compliance. Our Business and Enterprise plans include the security features payment card industries require.
PCI DSS violations can result in fines from $5,000 to $100,000 per month. Card brands can also increase transaction fees or terminate your ability to process cards.
If necessary, use an encrypted fax service like Send FAX Mail. Consider masking all but the last four digits of the card number. Securely destroy faxed authorizations after processing.
PCI DSS-compliant faxing starts at $39.99/mo
Encrypted transmission, audit logs, secure storage. No enterprise contract needed.
7-day free trial · No credit card required