Network Scanning — Is It Right For You?

By Vicki Amendola, Integrated Solutions magazine

Before implementing any network scanning program, it is imperative to ensure access to an existing secure network that includes secure file storage. In some cases, the need for security may be determined by governmental regulation or compliance mandates, such as Sarbanes-Oxley or HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). In others, it may have more to do with a company's own internal processes, such as when employee files are being scanned. Security implications can even have an impact on who in the organization has the ability to scan and retrieve files.

"With more people having system access through network scanning, companies need to consider security," says Kodak's Markham. "Hardware manufacturers are working with software developers to establish security measures that ensure authentication and document security. This can include integrated user authentication on the hardware along with a standard log-in procedure." Security features such as SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) and LDAP (lightweight directory access protocol) authentication are also available that enable users to safely transfer scans and protect digital files.

Other challenges can be directly related to not fully understanding a company's existing network. "Examples of issues that could arise include technical incompatibility with the network file server [i.e. Windows, Linux] and the possibility of slow network performance caused by increased data transmission," says Scott Francis, senior director of product marketing, Fujitsu Computer Products of America. "To prepare for these challenges, companies should ensure that the network scanner is compatible with the existing network prior to purchase." Francis adds that performing proper pilot testing will alleviate this challenge and identify if additional network bandwidth will be necessary.

Used with permission from Integrated Solutions magazine