Please recommend FAX to folder solutions in AWS

1) I need to be able to receive faxes + metadata from and AWS EC2 platform running linux (1st choice).

To every receive a FAX requires a POTS (plain old telephone system) line, because all the FAX data protocols run over an analog POTS connection.

This means to receive a FAX directly to a machine, requires an analog phone line running to the machine.

Likely there's no hosting company which will provide you this. Especially AWS.

2) I want to receive the faxes in a folder (automated) or in S3 (pref), and I want to use the metadata to alert our system that the fax has arrived (the information will be put into a database).

See #1.

3) Can you recommend a solution that you know will work?

There are two types of solutions.

a) You can use a FAX service which converts an incoming FAX to an email + just have it delivered to you. Metadata will be embedded in FAX, like sending number + date received... if that's what you mean by metadata.

b) You can run a POTS line into your business or residence to receive FAXes + then do whatever you like with the data files.

For example, I have Google Fiber with a POTS adapter, on which I run an old school (physical/real) FAX machine.

4) I keep coming up with solutions that will put the information into an email only.

I'm unsure what you imagine you might do with an actual binary FAX file. This will just be a string of bits. To do anything with the FAX, you'll have to run some sort of FAX binary to text convertor, or all you will have is a very large .bmp image (or whatever format your FAX machine generates).

Note: Very few FAX machines actually provide a way to even have access to their binary data. Most convert this data to some sort of image file.

This means on of your considerations will be exactly what type of FAX machine you choose.

Since you don't mention why you wish to have raw binary FAX data, unsure what suggestion to make for machine you'd acquire.

Good Morning David, thank you for the thorough response.  There is no option of a physical fax system for my project.  I am trying to automate incoming faxes for processing.  In my mild mannered day job we have a ton of incoming fax lines into a fax server where I can see the metadata through their interface.   I am hoping that there a fax service I can use that will receive the fax and give me an API so I can pull the fax and the associated  data (from what number, time, date ).  

Meanwhile...  In my super hero night job
If I use one of the services that just puts the fax into an email, then I will have to have someone manually going through the faxes.  This may be my only option though.  We are going to be discouraging the use of faxes by charging fees for it's use.  but I think I have to have an option for this.

1) FAX Pull API.

Doubtful you can find anything like this, because this is far more complex than just sending an email.

2) Maybe mention why FAX -> email is a problem for you.

3) If I use one of the services that just puts the fax into an email, then I will have to have someone manually going through the faxes.

Unsure what this means.

FAX -> email services automatically send you an email. What you do with that email (human review or machine/code processing) is up to you.

Email is just text... which can be processed by whatever code you setup.

2) Maybe mention why FAX -> email is a problem for you.

I am trying to minimize my liabilities for compliance reasons.

(And minimize my labor costs through automation)

I sifted through a ton of vendors until I found exactly what I had been searching for

A service like https://replixfax.com/how-cloud-faxing-works/ might work.

This services can delivery FAX messages via email or directly to a folder somewhere... although... seems like the security problems delivering to a folder suggest FAX -> email is likely more secure.

The devil is always in the details.   Your security is going to be as strong as your weakest link.  HIPAA complaint fax services can deliver the fax, using TLS.  And from what I have found, then you have to setup an alerting service or then process the fax.