What is Email Encryption?
Email Encryption use a string of characters, called an encryption key, within an encryption algorithm to convert an email from a readable format, to unreadable code. Once encrypted, a decryption key is needed to decrypt the data and convert it back to readable code.
Why do I need encrypted email?
Think about of what type of information you, or your employees have sent by email and what you might send in future. Does this include confidential information regarding your company, customers, family, or yourself?
Now consider what the consequences could be if those emails were intercepted by Cyber Criminals or by someone with ill intent.
Email encryption prevents the content and attachments of email messages from falling into the wrong hands. With end-to-end email encryption only the sender and the intended recipient will be able to decrypt and read the encrypted email messages.
The difference between secure and encrypted email
As explained before, when and email is encrypted it is converted from a readable format, to an unreadable code.
Secure email is email that cannot be accessed by anybody other that the sender and the intended recipients. Even on the servers of the email service providers.
Encryption is one part of secure email, but the decryption key and data on the servers of the service provider must be secure as well to ensure that the email is secure.
How do I encrypt email and send encrypted email and attachments?
To encrypt and send encrypted email, you will need an email service provider with encryption capability.
You need to ensure that you use an advanced encryption service. Keep in mind that encryption is only one part of the factors that you will have to consider when securing your email.
You also need to ensure that you use a service provider with high levels of encryption, that will keep your email secure and encrypted, not only while the email is “in transit”, but also while on their server and when you delete an email, that it is truly deleted.
ProtonMail is a service provider who has taken these factors into consideration when they designed their system.