How to Send an Encrypted Email
Email encryption provides an additional layer of security when sending an email. Email encryption is available to anyone with a YaleConnect Office 365 account. Email encryption converts the message and any attachments into unreadable cipher text. Only the recipient will be able to view the message.
When should I use email encryption?
You should encrypt emails whenever you send confidential data to external email providers.
EliApps is considered an external email provider.
What is an external email provider?
Examples of external email providers include:
- EliApps (@bulldogs.yale.edu) This is also known as Google Apps for Education.
- Gmail (@gmail.com)
- Comcast (@comcast.net)
- Yahoo! (@yahoo.com)
Internal Office 365 email addresses end in yale.edu or ynhh.org.
Confidential data includes high and moderate risk data.
What confidential data should I encrypt?
Confidential data includes high and moderate risk data. Important examples of confidential data you should encrypt when transmitting over email include:
- Social Security numbers
- Protected health information (PHI)
- Clinical trial data
- Credit card numbers
- Grades for assignments and courses
- Trade secrets
- Disciplinary records
- Salary and tax records
These are a few examples of confidential data. Learn more about sensitive data types.
How do I send an encrypted email?
You can create and send an encrypted email in three steps:
- Open your Office 365 email account, in either the Outlook app or the web portal.
- Compose a new message.
- In the beginning of the subject line of the message, include the word 'encrypt' with brackets around it. For example: SUBJECT: [encrypt] Please review today
Need help?
We are here to help you with questions regarding encrypted email. You can use one of these options:
- Contact the ITS Help Desk via phone or email. Phone: 203-432-9000 Email: helpdesk@yale.edu
- Contact your local IT Support Provider
- Visit the Yale ITS Email Encryption Knowledge Article