Government agencies face a communications dilemma. On one hand, officials are asked to share more information with other agencies, businesses and citizens. On the other, they are under pressure to boost data protection. E-mail, the ubiquitous communication backbone, lies at the center of this quandary. Applications ranging from emergency response to e-government depend on e-mail. But e-mail's universality and openness, typically considered strengths, can be security weaknesses.

Secure e-mail solutions aim to keep information flowing while providing greater protection. Solutions include a variety of encryption schemes to secure messages as they travel across cyberspace. Each encryption approach has nuances. Some solutions use multiple encryption protocols, allowing customers to select the right security tool for each messaging job.

By John Moore at USA Today.

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