Did you know that 94% of malware<\/a> is delivered by email? That\u2019s a scary stat. What\u2019s scarier is not knowing how to protect your emails and your recipients. Lucky for you, there are a couple simple ways that offer better protection for your email communications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a Microsoft Outlook user and wondering how to encrypt an email in Outlook, we\u2019ve got you covered. Below, we take a look at how to encrypt an email in Outlook 2016 and 2010. We\u2019ll go over what your email encryption options and what you need to encrypt your emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Encryption<\/a> is the process of scrambling readable text (known as plaintext) into what looks like unreadable data (known as ciphertext) using a cryptographic key. However, you can decrypt this unreadable message using a unique but related cryptographic key. Essentially, a public key is used to encrypt, and a private key is used to decrypt. There are many types of encryption, and it is used in a variety of formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In regard to encrypting an email, encryption is generally used to ensure that the email does not get intercepted while going from the sender to the recipient. As mentioned, the sender would encrypt using the public key and the recipient would decrypt with the private key. This ensures that only the recipient can read the contents of the email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve heard the term end-to-end email encryption<\/em>, this means that the email is encrypted while it is on your own email provider\u2019s server, while it is in transit and once it lands in the recipient\u2019s inbox. This means it can\u2019t be tampered with at any point. End-to-end email encryption is a safe way to send emails with sensitive information, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to securing your email communications, email encryption is necessary to meet certain government data privacy laws and industry regulations. Most notably, email encryption is mandatory for emails containing HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) or FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) related information. It is also highly recommended for anyone handling sensitive data in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With email encryption, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to know more about encryption? We got you covered with more resources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended Read: What is Asymmetric Encryption? Understand with Simple Examples<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended Read: Explained: Hashing vs. Encryption<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n When looking at ways to encrypt your email, you have to talk about S\/MIME. An email security protocol called secure\/multipurpose internet mail extension; S\/MIME certificates are used for end-to-end email encryption. Once you go through a validation process from a trusted CA, you\u2019ll be issued a S\/MIME certificate. Because it comes from trusted roots, these S\/MIME certificates will tell email clients (such as Outlook) that you\u2019re trustworthy, which means that your S\/MIME certificate will be supported by such mail clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As mentioned, S\/MIME certificates provide end-to-end encryption for your emails. They also allow the recipient of the email to verify the identity of the sender. This is done with the use of a digital signature. Only you can sign an email with your unique digital signature, allowing your recipient to verify it is you sending the email. This is not to be confused with an electronic signature, which is just a typed name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With end-to-end encryption and the digital signature, your email will be protected from being tampered with at all times and your recipients will be able to verify your identity. To learn more about S\/MIME, their validation levels and the features they come with, I recommend reading our recently published blog on the topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended Read: What Is S\/MIME? What It Is & Why You Need It<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who want to know how to encrypt an email in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2010, and Microsoft 365, <\/a>you\u2019ve come to the right place. You have two encryption options in which Outlook supports (per Microsoft Support<\/a>). They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One option when you\u2019re trying to figure out how to encrypt an email in Outlook is with<\/a> an S\/MIME certificate. In order to use an S\/MIME certificate, you need to purchase a certificate, generate a CSR, go through the validation process, export the certificate and import it to Outlook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To send an encrypted email, both the sender and recipient need to have S\/MIME certificates and the sender needs to have a copy of the recipient\u2019s public key. The easiest way to get this by having the recipient send you a digitally signed email (which automatically sends the public key) before you send them an encrypted message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following video titled \u201cHow to Install an S\/MIME Certificate With Outlook on Windows 10\u201d covers this process more in-depth. This is a very similar process for all newer versions of Outlook and most S\/MIME vendors.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is Email Encryption?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Email Encryption Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Is S\/SMIME and What Is an S\/MIME Certificate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Encrypt an Email in Outlook<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to Encrypt an Email in Outlook Option 1 \u2013 Use an S\/MIME Certificate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n