We offer Advanced Security based on Secure MIME (S/MIME). S/MIME allows users who need to send and receive confidential messages to digitally sign and/or encrypt them. Advanced security uses industry standard cryptography methods to provide security. Digital signatures ensure that messages aren’t modified during transit. They also prevent forgeries by allowing users to place the equivalent of their signatures on messages. The recipient can then be certain that the message originated from the sender. Data encryption provides confidentiality by ensuring that only the intended recipients can read a message.
To use this method, you must obtain a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificate. We recommend you contact the NIH Service Desk for assistance with this task. They are staffed with qualified personnel to assist you. For more information about this service, or to request a certificate, you may go to PKI.NIH.GOV.
For a secure method of sending email and large files without PKI, please refer to the Secure Email/File Transfer Service.
