Fastmail vs ShieldBox
for Healthcare Providers
in Australia
Healthcare providers face the strictest email compliance obligations in Australia. See why medical practices are switching from Fastmail to ShieldBox for Privacy Act and My Health Records Act compliance.
Fastmail is Australian-owned but not Australian-hosted. Your emails sit on US servers — making them subject to the CLOUD Act and outside Privacy Act jurisdiction. No ASD Essential Eight alignment for regulated sector use.
Key Risks for Healthcare Providers
Using Fastmail
Compliance Obligations for Healthcare Providers
Why Fastmail cannot satisfy the compliance requirements of Australian healthcare providers.
All healthcare providers regardless of size must comply with the Privacy Act 1988. Fastmail stores email on USA servers — creating ongoing APP 8 cross-border disclosure obligations for every patient email.
Registered healthcare providers have specific obligations around MHR data in email. Fastmail's offshore storage creates unauthorised access risk under the Act.
Healthcare is the highest-reporting NDB sector. Fastmail does not provide the breach detection and 30-day OAIC notification workflow that Australian healthcare providers need.
AHPRA-registered practitioners have professional obligations to protect patient confidentiality. Offshore email creates a structural confidentiality risk that cannot be mitigated contractually.
Why ShieldBox Wins for Healthcare Providers
ShieldBox is the only email platform that satisfies all three layers of Australian healthcare email compliance: Privacy Act 1988, My Health Records Act 2012, and AHPRA professional standards.
Fastmail vs ShieldBox for Healthcare Providers — FAQs
Can I use Fastmail for my Australian medical practice?
No. Fastmail stores email on USA servers, creating ongoing APP 8 cross-border disclosure obligations for every patient email. The My Health Records Act 2012 also creates specific risks when clinical data is stored offshore. ShieldBox's Australian-hosted email eliminates both risks.
Is Fastmail compliant with the My Health Records Act 2012?
No. Fastmail stores email on USA servers. The My Health Records Act 2012 creates specific obligations for registered healthcare providers around MHR data in email — offshore storage creates unauthorised access risk under the Act.
What email retention period applies to Australian healthcare providers?
State health records legislation requires clinical records to be retained for 7 years from the date of last contact. For patients who were minors, records must be retained until the patient turns 25 or 7 years from last contact, whichever is later. ShieldBox's 7-year archive satisfies this — Fastmail does not provide equivalent Australian-hosted archiving.
Why are Australian healthcare providers switching from Fastmail to ShieldBox?
Australian healthcare providers are switching from Fastmail to ShieldBox to eliminate APP 8 cross-border disclosure obligations, satisfy My Health Records Act requirements, and meet AHPRA professional conduct obligations. ShieldBox is the only email platform built specifically for Australian healthcare compliance.
Switch from Fastmail to ShieldBox
Start for free — no credit card, no US servers, no CLOUD Act exposure. Built for Australian healthcare providers.