Email is now the preferred method to communicate information quickly, efficiently and economically. It’s a fast and easy alternative to traffic congestion, postal delays, interruptions to fax machines and busy phone lines. It’s convenient, but it’s not always safe when it comes to sharing confidential information. Once your confidential information is removed from your server, you have no control over the location it goes to or if anyone has access to it. Even if your emails are encrypted, which provides an additional layer of security however, it won’t protect you from Home Page the kind of man in the middle attacks that may occur.
Cybercriminals can use confidential information in documents of customers to commit identity theft and other illegal acts. Cyberattacks against email servers may also result in the destruction or theft of files.
It’s possible to exchange confidential documents safely via email, provided you follow the best practices and have an NDA in place. Security in email can be enhanced by limiting the number of identifiable items in the message. Making sure your files are password-protected and adding a confidentiality declaration to your signature automatically are easy steps.
For greater security email providers like Gmail and Outlook are now offering S/MIME encryption for email that allows users to sign digitally their attachments and emails, ensuring the integrity of the document and protecting it from “man in the middle” attacks. This option also requires a certified certificate to be installed on the receiver’s computer, which can add an additional layer of security.
