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PDM IT Help Center

Outlook Email Encryption Options

Microsoft Office offers several encryption and restriction options to make email more secure. Keep reading to understand the various options. 

Note: Even with encryption, email cannot be considered totally secure. Never send sensitive data over email; use Secure Share or PennBox instead.

  • Encrypt-Only: Encrypts the message and its attachments during transit and at rest. Recipients can still forward, print, or copy the content.
  • Do Not Forward: Encrypts the message and applies restrictions, preventing recipients from forwarding, printing, or copying its content. They can only reply to the message.
  • Confidential (using Office Message Encryption): This is a sensitivity label that can be applied in Outlook. It provides more robust protection and can be configured to have different restrictions for internal and external recipients.
    • For internal recipients: The "Confidential" flag encrypts the email and may add restrictions like "Do Not Forward," but recipients can still view the message within the O365 environment.
    • For external recipients: The email is encrypted, and recipients will receive a link to view the message. They will need to sign in or use a one-time passcode to open it, and they will be subject to the restrictions set by the sender.

Find instructions for sending an encrypted email here.

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