Secure Email and PCs

Hello all, i am involved in a new business venture and have decided that we will have encrypted data on the hard drives, and that when sending emails between my colleagues and myself i would like them encrypted, so here goes with the questions

1. What Server?
2. What OS?
3. what mail software?
4. What Lap tops?
5. What encryption Seagate Hardware or Software?
6. What email clients best to encrypt the messages and attachments?
7. Help any other ideas?

Or for that matter can anyone think of anything else, i know this is all subjective but any advice/guidance would be appreciated as there is a plethora of people out there with wonderful claims.

Thank you

Marcus

 

I'm not sure OS or actual laptop type matter as much as choosing a good whole disk encryption software. I use IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads and encrypt them with Truecrypt. Thinkpads are rock solid laptops (i.e. durable) and Truecrypt hasn't let me down yet. You can get Thinkpad T40/41/43 series on ebay for a few hundred bucks used.

I don't encrypt email (other than encrypting my webmail session with https) but have a look at Thunderbird with the enigmail extension using GnuPG. If you research the underlined terms above, you'll get a good idea of how it works. But remember, I don't encrypt email, so I'm just suggesting some free software to tinker with and learn about how it works.

Important to research is the right security software setup. You'll find tons of info on that here. Even if you encrypt a disk, you're still vulnerable while unencrypted. Make sure you study up on best practices for staying safe!
good luck!

 

Fontaine

Thank you, i will look at that, it seems there are so many things to work between these days

IT seems i can spend a fortune on stuff through some bunch of IT Specialists and get thier favoured solution but its hard to understand what is needed and what is best.

Thank you once again

Marcus

 

Hello, if possible try to opt for a unix based server such as freebsd,linux,solaris etc. more stable and genrally more secure.
sunmicrosystems even have an option to loan a server for free for like 60days. plus option of linux,windows or solaris as OS.

 

If you`re interested in encrypting emails i can recommend "eCipher" which i`m currently running myself. It works with most email clients such as Outlook, Thunderbird, Yahoo, Gmail etc. It uses strong encryption algorithms (AES 256 & RSA 2048 bit) and you can also assign additional protections to your email messages such as, Prevent Forwarding, Prevent Printing, Print Copy, and Prevent Save as…

See eCipher webpage here:http://www.ecipher.com/

 

This is a small/medium business?

If new to this I would suggest Microsoft's Small Business Server with Exchange. I bought a nice little server last year, a HP ProLiant G5 Server, Xeon processor - £180 with no OS. Have a look in the business section of your local supplier and see what their best price is, also ask them about renting the equipment.