An Post device aims to ensure e-mail can be sent securely

Post.trust, an e-security division of An Post, will introduce an e-mail security product this month targeted at firms that employ more than five staff members. The move marks An Post's most significant advance into the technology sector since it sold its internet service providers to Esat Telecom for £115 million (€146 million) in 1999.

Safemail is designed to ensure that e-mails can be sent securely within an organisation or to an external audience. It also delivers a valid online digital identity.

An Post has invested £5 million in Post.Trust to develop Safemail, which uses security and authentication technologies such as public key infrastructure - a blend of software, encryption technologies and services which enables businesses to secure their communications over the internet. This software can support digital signatures.

Safemail also incorporates technologies that enable e-mail management, online authentication, and integration with bricks-and-mortar retail networks.

Much of this technology has been supplied by a number of technology partners such as Microsoft, Baltimore Technologies, Arcot and Critical Path.

"Safemail can authenticate every individual employee of a firm and every e-mail they send through digital signatures," according to Mr Mick Ryder, marketing manager of Post.Trust. "It can also encrypt those e-mails."

Unlike some authentication procedures that use a smartcard to hold a digital identity, users of Safemail will use a miniature compact disk and enter a personal identification number to validate their identities.

This process enables individual employees to access, send and decrypt e-mails by using their validated identities. But it will also enable firms to take away access from certain employees.

Companies will be able to use Safemail if they use Microsoft or Lotus mail servers, and it is simple and easy to use, according to Mr Ryder.

Post.Trust will partner four Irish resellers to market Safemail in the Irish market. It also hopes to introduce it internationally next year.

Safemail will cost about €200 per computer for companies with less than 50 employees. Discounts will be available for deals of more than one year, said Mr Ryder.

Post.Trust is also developing a Web-based e-mail security product that would enable individuals who do not own their own mail server to use the security features. The division hopes to introduce this product by the second quarter of 2002.

The technology suite used by Post.Trust in its Safemail product may also be used for a number of other services, according to Mr Ryder. "It's not just about messaging. It could be adapted to send documents securely over the internet or for secure payments," he said. The introduction of Safemail marks a process of diversification for An Post but, according to Mr John Cronin, managing director of Post.Trust, it is merely complementing existing services.

"The delivery of letters is still growing, despite the rise of e-mail, said Mr Cronin. However, he added, Safemail and the development of Post.Trust is a step towards the future. It also represents An Post's first significant move into the high-tech sector since it sold internet service providers Postgem and Ireland On-line to Esat.