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Protect Your Privacy: Steps to Encrypt Emails in Outlook

25th October 2024

Categories: Office 365

Reading Time: 2 minutes

There are all sorts of encryption protocols out in the marketplace that will help you secure your emails so that your company or personal information doesn’t end up in the hands of a cyber hacker.

 

Microsoft Outlook offers various encryption options, such as Office Message Encryption (OME) which is for general use and S/MIME if you have higher security needs. Whichever option you choose, not only will you be part of the solution in protecting your company from unauthorised access, but you will be moving towards even deeper compliance, with data protection mandates, like GDPR. Better still, OME doesn’t cost anything as it’s included in your Microsoft 365 account.

Microsoft Outlook offers various encryption options”

Here are five easy, step-by-step methods to encrypt your emails in Outlook.

 

  1. Encrypt a Single Email
    • Open a new email message in Outlook.
    • Go to the “Options” tab.
    • Click on “Encrypt” and select the encryption option that suits your needs (e.g., “Encrypt-Only” or “Do Not Forward”).
    • Compose your email and send it as usual.

 

  1. Encrypt All Outgoing Emails
    • Go to “File” > “Options.”
    • Select “Trust Center” and then “Trust Center Settings.”
    • Navigate to “Email Security.”
    • Check the box for “Encrypt contents and attachments for outgoing messages.”
    • Apply the settings to ensure all future emails are encrypted.

 

  1. Using S/MIME for Encryption
    • Ensure both you and the recipient have S/MIME certificates installed.
    • Exchange public keys with your recipient to enable encrypted communication.
    • Follow the same steps as above to encrypt individual emails.

 

  1. Encrypting Emails with Office 365 Message Encryption (OME)
    • If you use Office 365, you can leverage OME for email encryption.
    • Open a new email message and go to the “Options” tab.
    • Click on “Encrypt” and select “Encrypt-Only” or “Do Not Forward.”
    • Send your email securely using OME.

 

  1. Verify Encryption
    • After sending an encrypted email, you can verify its encryption by checking the sent items folder.
    • Look for a padlock icon next to the email, indicating it was sent encrypted.

 

By following these steps, you can significantly enhance the privacy and security of your email communications in Outlook. Encrypting your emails helps protect sensitive information and ensures that your messages are only accessible to the intended recipients. If you encounter any issues, consult your IT department or email provider for additional support.

If you would like to find out more about how secure your email data is, contact the team at: sales@cnc-ltd.co.uk or call us on 01273 384 100.

Protect Your Privacy: Steps to Encrypt Emails in Outlook

By Gary Jowett

Gary has always focused on making sure the most appropriate solution is provided to help customers, not just what's new and shiny. With over 30 years in the IT industry Gary has the experience to tell the difference between something that's game-changing or is just a passing fad!
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