Billions of people use email to communicate. But when it comes to sending confidential documents, email is not always the most secure method. With data breaches and cyber threats increasing it’s crucial to know how to secure the transmission of sensitive information via email.
In most instances it’s not a good idea to send confidential information via an email that is not encrypted message or as an attachment. This includes personal information such as social security number and passport information, as well as bank account details and business confidential documents. However, if you are required to send confidential information in an email there are a few steps that you can do to protect yourself and your recipients.
A disclaimer is a way to warn recipients about risks. However, they rarely have any significant impact as they aren’t legally binding and simply emphasize that the contents of the email are confidential.
Other alternatives include using an encryption service which is more efficient and requires that both the recipient are using systems that allow it (e.g. S/MIME or PGP are two options. You can also use programs to compress files prior transferring them via email. This can help reduce the size of the document and make it more difficult for hackers to intercept your communications. You can also secure the document with a password. the file so that it is impossible to open.
By setting a time limit you can make sure that only the intended recipient has access to the document for a certain time. For https://empirevdr.com/dangers-of-using-email-for-exchanging-confidential-documents/ business emails, enabling two-factor authentication in your email platform can enhance security.