Secure Email

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I send a secure email using Office 365?

O365 delivers multiple encryption options to help us meet our needs for email security. We can also develop custom sets of email content permissions to meet business needs. The same email encryption options are available in both the Outlook Client and in Outlook Web Access. This article describes how to use the email encryption feature in Office.

About the Outlook message encryption feature:

The email encryption feature lets you share private and restricted information in a confidential manner while ensuring that your email message stays encrypted and does not leave Office 365. This email encryption will work with all internal and external recipients no matter what email system they use. When an email is encrypted, the recipients must be authenticated, and encryption cannot be removed.

What encryption types are available to me and what do they mean?

Encrypt Only

The recipients have all usage rights except Save As.

Do Not Forward

Recipients can read and reply to the email but cannot forward, print, save or copy content.

Northern Illinois University – Confidential

Recipients can read, reply and forward the email, but the content cannot be copied, printed or saved.

Northern Illinois University – Confidential View only

Recipients can only view the information in the email. They cannot reply, forward, print, copy or save the content.

Do messages remain Encrypted after a recipient forwards the encrypted message?

Yes. If an encryption option that allows forwarding is used, any recipient can forward the encrypted email. The forwarding action is done inside of the secure portal where they can see the encrypted message. The forwarder will get a notification when performing this action.

If the forwarder does not forward the message via the secure portal and decides to forward the encrypted notification, the forwarded recipient will not be able to view the encrypted message.

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