frequently asked questions about Sfax

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a digital signature and an electronic signature?
Sfax users sign documents with a “digital signature” and are provided a unique digital certificate (provided by SecureCare Technologies which is a digital certificate authority) at the time of registration. The digital certificate is tied to the digital signature that resides on the Sfax secure remote servers. Having a digital certificate on secure remote servers allows Sfax users to safely digitally sign faxes from any computer with an Internet connection. Users do not have to worry about what happens to their digital certificates if they change computers.

A ‘digital signature’ is legally more acceptable than other types of ‘electronic signatures’ as it offers both signer and document authentication. Signer authentication is the capability to identify the person who digitally signed the document.  Document authentication ensures that the document or transaction (or the signature) cannot be easily altered. The process of creating a digital signature and verifying it accomplishes the essential effects that a handwritten signature does today for many legal purposes.

Electronic signatures often are nothing more than an image of a signature. Electronic signature implementations may offer no greater security than that of a password.  Furthermore, with ‘electronic signatures’ there is no way of verifying whether a document has been altered since the time that it was signed so there not true document authentication.

How easy is Sfax to install?
There is nothing to install and no hardware or software to purchase. You can get started right away with minimal set up and training. Sfax is designed for small, medium or large organizations that have multiple locations across town or across the country.

Optionally, we have fax print driver for individual computers or for Citrix networks which will allow you to send a fax directly from any application without the need to save it as a document. This saves time even more time when sending faxes.

Do I have to change my fax number?
No, although you might do as we provide you with a toll-free number. Initially, you will want to keep your current fax number or numbers to make sure that you get faxes that are sent to you by those that have your current fax number. The easiest way to do this is to call your phone company and have them forward your current number to one of your new Sfax numbers that we provide. Over time you may want to phase out your old fax number and replace it with your new Sfax number. This will give you time to get the word out about the new numbers you will receive.

What if I want more than one fax number?
You can have as many Sfax numbers as you like. Each plan has a specific number included but you can purchase more if needed. See our pricing plan for details. Having a Sfax number for each person that sends and receives faxes ensures that the faxes are routed to the correct inbox. We can help you with the correct set-up depending on your desired workflow.

Can I export Sfaxes to another application such as a document management system or electronic medical record? 
Sfaxes can be saved or exported as a PDF or TIFF image then moved into another application. Alternatively, we can work with your software vendor to further automate this process.

Do I need to have Sfax integrated into my current application?
Sfax can be used as a standalone application that works with any application you use. Integration with your software vendor can reduce the number of clicks and make it even easier to send and receive faxes. We are happy to work with your software vendor to integrate Sfax into your application if desired.

Can I import my address book?
Yes. Importing your address book makes it easier to send faxes without having to manually look up a fax number and enter it. This is an easy process and we will help you to make sure it is done correctly.

Can I create my own cover pages?
Yes. You can upload your current cover pages, create custom cover pages or use the system default cover page. You can have as many different cover pages as you like and can chose from the one you want when sending a fax.