Secure email explained in less than 500 words

Almost everyone uses e-mail on a daily base. But does this always happen securely, when we share sensitive data? That seems to be a problem in a lot of sectors. When we look at data leaks, caused by e-mail, in which data is unexpectedly shared with the wrong persons, numbers don’t lie. However, secure e-mail doesn’t have to be a obstacle, as long as we know what to look out for. And that is precisely what organizations come up against. Therefore, we will explain what secure email looks like, in less than 500 words.

What is secure e-mail? Why is this important? Everything you need to know about secure email 

For every possible danger, a good email security solution

It is good to realize which dangers there are. In this way, it is easy to determine how to address these hazards. The right email solution will therefore incorporate the right functionalities for this. 

Before sending

When composing an email, chances are that sensitive information is being shared. In this case, you’d prefer that only the authorized recipient gets access to your email. But what if you added the wrong recipient? Or, you unexpectedly added the wrong file to your email? Without notifications, it is very likely that you will proceed with your email, which will be sent and delivered to the wrong person. The consequence? A possible data leak.

Some examples of features your email solution should have:

• Smart scans could recognize sensitive information, while composing the email 
• Check, confirmation on files and recipients
• Retention period: how long would you like files to be available?
• Maximum amount of downloads
• Two-factor authentication of one-factor authentication

During sending

There are several dangers for emails along the way. What if your email is not sent over a secure connection or if your email is intercepted, while it is not properly encrypted? Unfortunately, cyber criminals are always on the move: with the right software and the latest technologies, they can make attempts to intercept data. If your email is not properly protected at this stage, your data may still be captured during sending.

Some examples of features your email solution should have to prevent data leaks:

• End-to-end encryption with zero-knowledge
• Secure TLS-connection
• API to integrate with different applications
• SMTP Relay Service

After sending

Have you shared sensitive data with the wrong person? Then there is a chance that a data breach will occur, if the recipient opens your message. Once sent, there isn’t much you can do. All you can hope for is that your email won’t be read.

Some examples of features your email solution should have to prevent data leaks:

• Tracking sent emails
• Blocking emails, files or recipients

Would you like to know more about secure emailing?

Secure email is one thing you can consider if you’d like to keep your data secure. But, there is more. If you wish to stay up to date, read our page about secure emailing or keep an eye on our blogs. We are happy to share all tips and tricks with you.