*Email encryption is critical for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information during transmission. Without encryption, emails are vulnerable to unauthorized access and modification, leading to potential data breaches. Furthermore, encryption provides an additional layer of authentication, as it verifies the sender's identity.
When selecting encryption on the email message in Outlook, there are four encryption options:
- Encrypt / Encrypt-Only
- Do Not Forward
- Central Washington University – Confidential
- Central Washington University – Confidential View Only
This document only addresses the first option, “Encrypt / Encrypt-Only”. The additional features (do not forward, view only, etc.) include encryption as a part of their process but introduce other potential complexities that users choosing these options should understand before applying them.
EMAIL ENCRYPTION - QUICK START GUIDE:
1. Within Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the Web, create a new email and add any information or attachments as normal. Apple Mac users must use Outlook on the Web for email encryption.
2. In the menu bar at the top of the email, select the “Options” tab.
3. Select the button with the lock icon, “Encrypt”, to display encryption options, select the email account you're sending from (if more than one account is listed in your Outlook client), then select “Encrypt” or “Encrypt Only”, depending on the version of Outlook being used.
4. The top of the email should now indicate that encryption is enabled for this message, so it is now secure to send.
EMAIL ENCRYPTION - FULL GUIDE:
1. Within Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the Web, create a new email and add any information or attachments as normal Apple Mac users must use Outlook on the Web for email encryption.
2. In the menu bar at the top of the email, select “Options”
(Microsoft Outlook Version 1.2024.103.100, Client Version is 20240112004.08)
(Microsoft Outlook for Microsoft 365 MSO Version 2310 Build 16.0.16924.20054)
(Outlook on the Web)
3. Select the button with the lock icon, “Encrypt”, to display encryption options, then select “Encrypt” or “Encrypt Only”, depending on the version of Outlook being used.
4. The top of the email should now indicate that encryption is enabled for this message, so it is now secure to send.
