Messaging services provider FrontBridge Technologies has launched a hosted email security service to let companies encrypt messages without the need to run in-house encryption systems.
FrontBridge Secure Email is a policy-based system that can be set to encrypt messages in relation to rules, keywords or users. Craig Whitney, the company's European director, said the ability to send emails securely without needing complex in-house systems should app- eal to businesses.
"There is a gap between security and usability in most models. We can close that gap," Whitney added. The system can also be used on an ad-hoc basis, with users clicking a "send securely" button on their email client, said Whitney.
It is a hosted service, so Secure Email removes the need for a key server at the customer site. The public key for reading the message is the recipient's email address, removing the need for certificates typically required by public key infrastructure (PKI) encryption. Users have to download a small client application to encrypt messages, but recipients can read the email via a standard web browser.
The system can also help firms comply with laws relating to email, said Jeremiah Glodoveza, marketing manager at FrontBridge. He added that this had attracted many firms, particularly in the US.
Security vendor CipherTrust said it is seeing a growing demand for compliance tools. Chief executive Jay Choudry added, "Email is a means for moving around information. If it's not protected, vital information can be exposed."
Choudry predicted that the need to comply with regulations will encourage more use of email management systems. "And not just for regulatory compliance but to aid compliance with company policy too," he added.
