Over the years, I've had several clients use S/MIME to authenticate and encrypt e-mail messages. Unfortunately, encrypting anything end-to-end has problems, including those associated with scanning incoming encrypted messages, checking for data leaks, or indexing for later retrieval. When my clients turn on S/MIME, they are pretty much turning off easy e-mail scanning and retrieval.
Two weeks ago, I asked readers and vendors to submit solutions to the S/MIME problem of anti-malware scanning, indexing, and encrypted message retrieval. You didn't let me down. In fact, I got so many responses that I felt kind of dumb. But that's what I love about the computer security world: It's too big to be an expert in everything.
[ Check out the InfoWorld Test Center's roundup of e-mail security services. | Learn why securing e-mail but not large file transfers is a bad idea. ]
I knew from the start that the solution I envisioned was some sort of e-mail gateway that could handle the user's PKI asymmetric keys, performing the desired service before encrypting or decrypting the e-mail and sending it on its way. Essentially, the pathway would look something like this:
S/MIME E-mail Client <-> Anti-malware Scanner\Archiver\Data Leak Prevention <-> Encryption Gateway <-> Internet <-> Other Recipient(s)
The key question is, how would the S/MIME client and encryption gateway interact? Would the S/MIME client even know there was a change? Would the sender be required to share their S/MIME private key with the encryption gateway? How would it handle recipients on the other side?
Martijn Brinkers, author of Djigzo open source e-mail encryption gateway, sent in his solution. Djigzo can function like a normal e-mail server (called an MTA, mail transfer agent), but it can also participate in S/MIME and PDF encryption. Although the user's existing digital certificate can be imported into Djigzo, the MTA contains its own PKI digital certificate server. You can create and send new PKI digital certificates to both internal and external users, who can then install them locally so that their e-mail clients can participate in S/MIME. Djigzo supports many clients, including Outlook, Gmail, Applemail, Thunderbird, and Lotus Notes. It has fairly good documentation with lots of step-by-step screenshots.
As expected, Djigzo will automatically decrypt incoming messages being sent to internal users. Then the unencrypted message can be scanned, archived, or checked for data leaks.
Get the independent advice and expertise you need to support a virtual workforce.
The increase in Linux popularity has increased the frequency and sophistication of malware attacks. Read this 2 page white paper now to learn how you can protect your Linux environment with real-time protection that is certified by all major Linux vendors.
Download now »
Ensuring acceptable application delivery will become even more difficult over the next few years. As a result, IT organizations need to ensure that the approach that they take to resolving the current application delivery challenges can scale to support the emerging challenges. This handbook elaborates on the key tasks associated with planning, optimization, management and control and provides decision criteria to help IT organizations choose appropriate solutions.
Download now »
A common misconception is that mid-range storage requirements are dramatically different than that of a larger enterprise. Mid-range storage users may require less capacity, but they have similar functionality and management requirements. This ESG paper examines mid-range storage needs and reviews a new solution that adjusts size while retaining value, performance and functionality.
Download now »
This white paper provides guidance on how to develop a strategic approach to managing and monitoring logs, a key function required for compliance with many regulatory mandates and a critical defense against security threats.
Download now! »
Learn about the processes and technologies that support security information management (SIM) operations, as well as the business case for SIM. The series examines different options for implementing SIM and gives you evaluation criteria for selecting the best option for your organization.
Download now! »
Learn the strategies, actions, and capabilities that Best-in-Class organizations employ and technologies they choose to obtain superior performance against various security performance metrics. This report provides guidelines for identifying which security solutions to consume as a MSS and defines best practices for choosing and managing MSSPs.
Download now! »
789 Recommendations
