Outlook encrypted email

Email security is a vital aspect of online communication, especially for businesses and organizations that deal with sensitive or confidential information.



One way to enhance email security is to use encryption, this scrambles the content of an email so that only the intended recipient can read it. Encryption can protect your emails from hackers, identity thieves, and unauthorized access.

In this article, we explore how to send and open encrypted emails using Outlook, we will also compare the encryption features of Microsoft 365 and Office 365, two subscription-based services that offer Outlook and other productivity tools.

Outlook encrypted email
There are different ways to send encrypted emails using Outlook, depending on the type of encryption you want to use and the version of Outlook you have.

Here are some of the most common methods:

S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) encryption: This is a standard protocol that uses certificates to encrypt and decrypt emails.

To use this method, you need to have a digital ID (also known as a certificate) issued by a trusted authority, and you need to exchange certificates with your recipients before sending encrypted emails. S/MIME encryption works with any email provider, but it requires some setup and maintenance. S/MIME encryption is available in Outlook for Windows, Mac, and web.

Office Message Encryption (OME): This is a service that allows you to send encrypted emails to anyone, regardless of their email provider. To use this method, you need to have a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription that includes OME, and you need to enable OME in your Outlook settings.

OME encrypts your emails using Azure Rights Management (Azure RMS), which is a cloud-based service that manages encryption keys and permissions. OME works with Outlook for Windows, Mac, web, iOS, and Android.

Encrypt-Only: This is a simplified option that allows you to send encrypted emails without requiring certificates or Azure RMS.

To use this method, you need to have a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription that includes OME, and you need to enable OME in your Outlook settings. Encrypt only encrypts your emails using Microsoft’s servers, and your recipients can view your emails either by signing in with a Microsoft account or by using a one-time passcode. Encrypt-Only works with Outlook for Windows, Mac, web, iOS, and Android.

To send an encrypted email using any of these methods, you need to compose a new email in Outlook and click on the Options tab. Then, depending on your version of Outlook, you will see either a Permissions button or an Encrypt button. Click on the button and choose the type of encryption you want to use.

You will see a lock icon next to the Send button indicating that your email is encrypted. Then, you can send your email as usual. How to open encrypted emails using Outlook If you receive an encrypted email in Outlook, you will see an icon indicating that the email is encrypted.

Depending on the type of encryption used by the sender, you may need to do one of the following steps to open the email: Office Message

Encryption (OME): If you have a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription that includes OME, you can open the email as usual. If not, you will see a message asking you to sign in with a Microsoft account or use a one-time passcode. You need to follow the instructions to verify your identity before you can open the email.

S/MIME encryption: If you have exchanged certificates with the sender before, you can open the email as usual. If not, you will see a message asking you to install the sender’s certificate. You need to follow the instructions to download and install the certificate before you can open the email.

Encrypt-Only: If you have a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription that includes OME, you can open the email as usual. If not, you will see a message asking you to sign in with a Microsoft account or use a one-time passcode. You need to follow the instructions to verify your identity before you can open the email.

Microsoft 365 encrypted email
Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are two subscription-based services that offer Outlook and other productivity tools.

Both services include OME (Office Message Encryption) as part of their plans, but there are some differences in their encryption features: Microsoft 365 offers more advanced encryption options than Office 365, such as sensitivity labels and data loss prevention policies.

These options allow you to apply different levels of encryption and protection to your emails based on their content and recipients.

Microsoft 365 also offers more flexibility in choosing the type of encryption for your emails. You can use either S/MIME encryption or OME encryption for any email provider, while Office 365 only supports OME encryption for non-Microsoft email providers.

It has higher security standards than Office 365 for storing and managing encryption keys. Microsoft 365 uses a dedicated hardware security module (HSM) to store and protect encryption keys, while Office 365 uses a software-based key vault.

Email encryption is a powerful way to enhance your email security and protect your sensitive or confidential information. Outlook offers different ways to send and open encrypted emails, depending on the type of encryption you want to use and the version of Outlook you have.

Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are two subscription-based services that offer Outlook and other productivity tools, and they have different encryption features and options.

By using email encryption, you can unlock the secrets of Outlook and enjoy a more secure and private online communication.