S/MIME Certificates For Digitally Signing Emails

We're pleased to announce that from today the service can provide end user certificates, which are used for digitally signing and encrypting emails. These are called S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) certificates.

S/MIME are installed on email clients which then enable the end user to send digitally signed emails, giving recipients assurances that the email originated from the sender's account. By signing emails, recipients can also have confidence that the contents of the email has been been altered in transit.

Signed emails display to recipients the email address account on the S/MIME certificate, and users can click on the red rosette icon to see more information about the sender.

Users with S/MIME certificates installed can exchange encrypted emails between each other, where sensitive or personal information is being exchanged.

S/MIMEs also have the adding benefit of being able to digitally sign documents such as Microsoft Office and Open Office documents, according to BEIS guidelines on Qualified Electronic Signatures.

If you are a registered user for your organsiation's Certificate Service account you can now log into the portal to see more information.