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Email remains the backbone of business communication, but it’s also a major security risk. Whether you’re sending financial documents, client records, or internal strategy memos, email is a prime target for interception and data leakage.
With Microsoft 365 E3, you can enable Office 365 Message Encryption (OME) a powerful, policy-driven solution that helps you protect sensitive communications without disrupting productivity. It combines native usability with compliance-grade security, making encrypted email accessible to organizations of all sizes.
This post explores how E3 users can configure, automate, and use Office 365 encryption to ensure confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
From business contracts to employee information, email often contains data covered by:
Unencrypted email can be intercepted at various stages of delivery. Without protection, a misdirected email or an intercepted message could lead to costly breaches, fines, or reputational damage.
Office 365 encryption, built into Microsoft 365 E3, ensures that only the intended recipient can access message content, no matter where or how it’s delivered.
Office 365 Message Encryption (OME) is a cloud-based email encryption solution that integrates with Exchange Online. It uses Microsoft Purview Information Protection (formerly Azure Information Protection) and Microsoft Entra to apply protection automatically based on content or policy.
With OME, you can:
It’s a seamless way to bring confidentiality, compliance, and control to your communications.
With an E3 license, your organization gains:
Unlike third-party plugins, OME in Microsoft 365 E3 is built in, user-friendly, and managed through the same compliance and security center.
Here’s a basic guide to enabling and configuring Office 365 encryption in your E3 tenant:
Ensure that your tenant has Purview rights management activated. This enables encryption policies and labeling features.
In the Exchange Admin Center:
Create a label like “Encrypt – External Only” in the Microsoft Purview Compliance Center, and publish it to users. This lets users manually select encryption when composing sensitive emails.
Educate staff on when and how to apply encryption:
Send encrypted messages to Gmail or Yahoo users. They will receive a branded Microsoft message with a link to view the secure content via browser authentication.
When an external recipient gets an encrypted message, they’ll be guided to:
They can reply securely, view attachments, and interact as they would with a normal email, all while your organization maintains full control over the content.
This removes the friction usually associated with encrypted email platforms.
There are two primary ways to apply OME:
Both methods support audit logging and alerting, especially when used with Purview and Defender for Office 365.
To get the most from OME in E3, follow these recommendations:
By integrating email encryption into everyday workflows, you increase adoption without burdening your staff.
Legal
Send case details or contracts with “Do Not Forward” restrictions to clients or external counsel.
Finance
Protect spreadsheets with PII or financial forecasting before sending to vendors or banks.
Healthcare
Ensure emails that include medical records or referrals comply with HIPAA by encrypting messages by default.
Government & Public Sector
Transmit internal documents securely between departments or to citizens using OME with public email providers.
With Microsoft 365 E3, organizations don’t need to rely on expensive, third-party email security platforms. Office 365 encryption is already included, ready to be deployed and scaled across your business.
By using Office 365 Message Encryption (OME) alongside Purview and Exchange rules, you can secure sensitive communications, streamline compliance, and boost user trust without sacrificing productivity or ease of use.
Ready to Secure Your Email with Office 365 Encryption?
Get started with Microsoft 365 E3 and deploy OME for encrypted email that protects sensitive data and aligns with modern compliance demands. Simple. Effective. Built for your business.
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