Email encryption: What it is, how it works & more

Email encryption is a critical defense mechanism used to protect sensitive information from cybercriminals who may intercept emails or hack into servers. It involves converting email content into ciphertext, a format that can only be decrypted by authorized recipients, ensuring data confidentiality and privacy. There are two primary types of email encryption: Transport Layer Security (TLS), which secures emails in transit between servers but not in the recipient's inbox, and End-to-End Encryption, which encrypts emails from the sender to the recipient without intermediaries having access. Popular protocols for end-to-end encryption include PGP and S/MIME, both of which rely on asymmetric cryptography to secure email content and verify sender identity through digital signatures. While TLS is widely used, particularly by services like Twilio SendGrid, which offers opportunistic TLS encryption as a default, encryption remains crucial for regulatory compliance, protecting sensitive data, and maintaining trust and security in email communications.