Hello and welcome to web informant.t.v. I am David Strom your host and reviewer. Today, we look at the voltage security network a new way to exchange encrypted emails. Tens years ago I co wrote the book on internet email with one of the creators of the pop protocols Marshal Rose. We said that this state of standards was best describe as the sucking chest wound because we were both very dissatisfied with the standards and products of secure email. Today there is hope as the number of regulations and complains rules multiple, corporations need better tools to ensure that their email messaging network is secure. Anyone can read an ordinary emails and these are just a few of the acronyms that make from more compelling case for secure emails where customer privacy and confidential business communications is important. So, before I talked about the voltage security network let us look at the various options there are for secure email.
Network computing magazine created this slide, which shows you three different encryption models. Best is from end to end, so that no one can read message or intercept them except the intended recipients. Next is boundary to boundary so that encrypted messages are sent over the internet, but otherwise available in clear text across the internal corporate network it is easy to implement which is why it is attractive.
Finally, is this staging server model, which uses a web portal. Let us look at the similar products that have been around for a few years? Hush mail offers end to end web encryption for free, but it does not work with Microsoft outlook in exchange.
PGP has a universal gate way and it has a universal server that works with your corporate email tools, but need some effort to manage certificates. Tumbleweed has both boundary and staging products but the staging server only send links that require another step to download and decrypt any messages. Cisco acquired iron port and they have also a boundary encryption products with several size but very expensive appliances. Voltage security has several kinds of encryption solutions that began by providing there secure email file and data base encryption appliances that are on some of the worlds largest email encryption implementations and took this experience and use it as a basis for voltage security network or VSN. So what is involved with making it work for your enterprise? It is relatively painless, as you can see here are the steps. You need to edit a name DSN records that points to a special sub domain mail server that voltage maintains. This server requires it own SSL certificate I got mine from go daddy for 30 dollars a year.
Then, voltage sets up your server they send you a custom MSI windows install file, where you can create the file your self if you want to run multiple domains. You distribute this file to your users and plug it into both outlook and outlook express. Here is the requirements for using VSN you will notice that missing from this list is any mentioned of Microsoft exchange VSN do not need it and if you do not use any of this products you can still send, receive messages, using the web portal at voltage cost zero download messenger. As long as your browser support a 128 bit encryption you are good to go. It is a very affordable 65 dollars and these both includes secure email, and secure file services, and I have not mentioned this but VSN add special menu option in internet explorer you can right click on any file or group of files and simply encrypt them on your desktop.
So, here how it works it is very easy you will notice that your correspondence can be branded with a corporate logo. And there are some other examples where you can brand or customize this page as well. If you have a new account you have to register on the server with a name and a self selected password. This is part of VSN on demand provisioning, so you do not tie up a lot of time with managing search and keys. We will fill out this form, click continue, you get this message in your email that is a confirmation message to make sure it is you. And then you just click on this link to verify the transaction and you are done. Once you have gone to this process it is easy you compose a new message and you will see there are two items that have been added. We are looking at the outlook express, similar screens are in the out look. There is a send secure button at the top; all you have to do is click on that when you are done. Your message is send encrypted. Voltage handles all the rest, exchanging the search, encrypting and decrypting it sends transparent as can be.
I wish there was something sexier to show to show you here but the naked simplicity of the process is really what it counts. You will also see a voltage menu item that has been added here you click on that that brings up the encryption manager where you can keep track of your various email identities and add recipients to your list. In ordinary operations you do not have worry too much about it.
So what do I like and dislike about the product it is simple and easy to use no mass no fuss. However, the initial setup is going to involve a few different people in your organization and the online docs are somewhat confusing. These are minor issues; once you are set up you are good to go.
Thanks for watching web and informant.t.v. This is David Strom. Feel free to contact me at David@strom.com.
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