Digitalization has swept the world — books, music, movies, and photos have all gone digital. It’s convenient and saves us space in our homes and offices.

As the CEO of a tech company for the past 36 years, I’ve had to adapt and stay ahead of the trends to help my clients operate on the cutting edge of their industry. 

There’s no indication that digitalization is slowing down — is physical mail next? Virtual addresses have enabled business owners to read their mail from anywhere in the world. 

As the nature of work changes, workplace flexibility becomes increasingly important. Virtual addresses give you the freedom to work from anywhere in the world while being able to read your mail as easily as an email.

 

What is a virtual address?

A virtual address or virtual mailbox provides individuals and businesses with a real physical address for receiving mail. Virtual addresses can be found in many countries, but they are most popular in the United States.

Users can view and manage their postal mail online. Business owners frequently use a virtual address rather than their home address for privacy and professional reasons.

Virtual addresses are often used by home-based businesses, companies who wish to keep their physical location private, and companies who need a U.S.-based mailing address.

Traditional PO Boxes are cost-effective when it comes to receiving mail and protecting your privacy, but you still have to physically pick up your mail at the post office or a PO box service.

 

How does it work? 

A virtual address service provides you with an address. The virtual address service receives mail sent to that address. Then trained administrative professionals scan and upload the digitized mail to a cloud-based service where you can view it. These professionals can also act as a “spam filter” by sorting out junk mail from important documents. You can also request to have mail or packages forwarded to a physical address if need be.

 

Benefits of a virtual address

There are many benefits of using a virtual address, including the following:

  • You can keep your physical location private.
  • You can appear more professional if you are a small business owner working from home. 
  • You can have a virtual address in a different state or country from the one you live in.
  • Your virtual address can be accessed from anywhere in the world, giving you more freedom.

 

Is a virtual address secure?

Virtual addresses are generally considered to be safe and secure. However, there are some things that you should keep in mind to ensure that your virtual address is as secure as possible.

First, make sure that you choose a reputable virtual address provider. There are many virtual address providers to choose from, and not all of them are created equal. Do some research to find a provider that offers good security and customer service.

Second, make sure that you keep your virtual address information private. Don't share your virtual address with anyone unless you trust them completely.

Bottom line, virtual addresses are probably more secure than receiving mail at home. Think about it… bad actors can easily intercept your mail just by gaining access to your mailbox.

Additionally, most people simply discard unwanted mail into their trash — making it easy for bad actors to grab and learn who they need to spoof in order to create a convincing phishing email and ultimately hack you.

RIP to Physical Mail…

Do you think physical mail is still necessary?

The thought of having important documents or sensitive information stolen or lost is unsettling. Emails have already taken over most business communication, and most bill services have the option to go paperless. Why worry about physical mail when you could digitize it?

 

Scott KreisbergStay Safe,
Scott Kreisberg
CEO of One Step Secure IT