On Tuesday (April 12, 2005), UNMC, UMA and The Nebraska Medical Center, will launch an encrypted e-mail system within the campus electronic mail systems. The system is necessary to safeguard patient privacy and protected health information (PHI).
Encrypted e-mail is the translation of e-mail data into a secret code. To read an encrypted e-mail, you must have access to a secret key or password that enables you to translate (decrypt) it. E-mail sent BETWEEN individuals with an address of nebraskamed.com or unmc.edu will not be impacted because this e-mail does not traverse the Internet.
Regular Internet e-mail can be intercepted and read (think of it as a postcard going through the US Postal Service). Encrypted e-mail cannot be easily intercepted (think of it as a letter inside of an envelope.) Encrypted messages are only accessible by using information contained in the unique hyperlink supplied in the notification e-mail sent to its intended recipient(s). To open the message, the recipient also must know the password registered for the receiving e-mail address.
These security measures ensure that no one except the intended recipient can read the message. Because every message is digitally signed, the recipient has irrefutable proof of the sender’s identity.
To ensure encryption of a particular message, type “private” or “confidential” at the beginning of the subject line.