Office 365 Message Encryption — now rolling out!

In November 2013, Microsoft has announced Office 365 Message Encryption, a new easy-to-set-up-and-use email service that allows you to send encrypted mail to anyone. Today, we’re announcing the general availability of Office 365  Message Encryption.

To start using the message encryption service today, you can purchase a subscription for Windows Azure Rights Management, which  also includes Information Rights Management capabilities, giving you a comprehensive solution to help protect your internal and external communications. Windows Azure Rights Management is already included with Office 365 Enterprise E3 and E4. If you are licensed for one of these plans, you will automatically have access to Office 365 Message Encryption. Users who have an existing subscription to Office 365 E3, Office 365 E4, or Windows Azure Rights Management will begin to see the Message Encryption service light up.

Office 365 Message Encryption is an enhanced version of Exchange Hosted Encryption (EHE), with the addition of a new set of features. Watch this short video to see how easy it is to send email with enhanced security, and learn how your organization can start using Office 365 Message Encryption today.

Video Get Started – http://www.microsoft.com/resources/technet/en-us/office/media/video/video.html?cid=otc&from=sharepermalink&VideoID=c55540e7-f7f0-42f5-b254-4b2d2fbb1d63&src=v5%3aembed%3asyndication%3a&src=v5:share:sharepermalink

If you’re using Exchange Server 2013, you’ll be able to access Office 365 Message Encryption, too, either by using Exchange Online Protection (EOP) or by using hybrid mail-flow.

Help documentation for Office 365 Message Encryption is now available on TechNet.It covers in detail the requirements and steps needed to enable Office 365 Message Encryption. You can refer to this information to set up the new service and also to learn more about how to use it. Existing EHE users will be upgraded to Office 365 Message Encryption, and a separate EHE upgrade center has been set up to explain the upgrade process and guide you through it.

Encryption is a vital part of our security and compliance vision for the future and an ongoing focus of our investment. Our announcement of Office 365 Message Encryption last November was positively received by many of you, and we look forward to your adoption of the service.

Hover to enlarge image

A diagram showing the workflow through which Office 365 Message Encryption protects encrypted emails from being read by unauthorized users, while allowing straightforward access by authorized recipients.