Google Message Encryption

Superior Protection of Critical Electronic Communications


Google Message Encryption service, powered by Postini, provides on-demand message encryption for your organization to securely communicate with business partners and customers according to security policy or on an “as needed” basis.
Without the complexity and costs associated with legacy on-premises encryption technologies, Google Message Encryption service makes encrypting email messages easy and affordable. The policy-based solution enables your organization to send encrypted email to any recipient.

Google Message Encryption service enables:

  • Secure messaging between business partners, customers, or individuals without any additional software, hardware, or technical training
  • Automatic enforcement of organizational email encryption policies based on individuals, groups, or specific message content
  • User-initiated encryption for confidential messages to any email recipient
  • Auditable protection of emails containing regulated or company proprietary information
  • Centrally-managed security policies and reporting

How Google Message Encryption Works:

Google Message Encryption service secures outgoing email to the Postini data center using a secure SSL/TLS encrypted connection. At the data center, messages are scanned for viruses and messaging policy compliance.

Based on centrally managed policies, messages are encrypted for each intended recipient. Encrypted messages are either delivered directly to the recipients’ inbox or stored on a web-based portal for secure pickup.

Inbox delivery
The inbox delivery method delivers email directly to the recipients’ email application
as an encrypted attachment. Recipients can view their messages by opening the
attachment and providing their password. If the recipient does not have an existing
password, the recipient is stepped through a simple, one-time registration. No
additional software is required.
Inbox-Delivery Inbox delivery flow
Portal delivery
Using the secure portal delivery, email notifications are sent to intended recipients letting them know a message is waiting for them. The notification message includes a link to the portal and instructions on how to view the encrypted message using their web browser.

Clicking on the link directs recipients to the secure portal. Using the full-featured messaging console, recipients can view, reply to, and compose new messages securely.
portaldelivery Portal delivery flow
User initiated encryption
Administrators can create rules that enable individual users to initiate secure delivery for designated messages. For example, a user can simply mark a message as “confidential” in their email client to trigger the automatic encryption.

Delivery failure notification
Google’s Message Encryption service automatically notifies the sender if the recipients do not view the encrypted messages. This provides the sender with confidence that the message delivery was successful.

Integrated service component
Google Message Encryption is tightly integrated into patented, on-demand architecture that also provides additional security and compliance solutions, including spam protection, anti-virus, and email archiving.