Email security is a term for describing different procedures and techniques for protecting email accounts, content, and communication against unauthorized access, loss, or compromise. Email is often used to spread malware, spam, and phishing attacks. Attackers use deceptive messages to entice recipients to part with sensitive information, open attachments, or click on hyperlinks that install malware on the victim’s device. Email is also a common entry point for attackers looking to gain a foothold in an enterprise network and obtain valuable company data.

Email encryption involves encrypting, or disguising, the content of email messages to protect potentially sensitive information from being read by anyone other than intended recipients. Email encryption often includes authentication.

An email encryption solution reduces the risks associated with regulatory violations, data loss, and corporate policy violations while enabling essential business communications. The email security solution should work for any organization that needs to protect sensitive data while still making it readily available to affiliates, business partners, and users—on both desktops and mobile devices. An email encryption solution is especially important for organizations required to follow compliance regulations, like GDPR, HIPAA, or SOX, or abide by security standards, like PCI-DSS.