S/MIME Certificates

SECURE EMAIL ENCRYPTION SOLUTIONS

S/MIME certificates are crucial for secure email communication, providing authentication, data integrity, and confidentiality through advanced encryption technologies. By leveraging a public key infrastructure (PKI), S/MIME enables users to send emails securely, ensuring the sender’s identity is verified and the message remains untouched during transmission. This article explains how S/MIME certificates work, their benefits, and why they are essential for protecting sensitive information in professional communication. Enhance your email security and foster trust between parties with the use of S/MIME certificates.

To obtain this type of SSL/TLS certificate, an organization must confirm details, including the legal company name, location, and domain name ownership. A vetting process must then be completed by a human before the certificate is issued. Sectigo, a leading Certificate Authority (CA), offers both single-domain and multi-domain (UCC / SAN) Extended Validation Certificates.

Personal Email Security (S/MIME)

Used for personal email

£ 12.99

Up to 20% off with multi-year

Enables end-to-end encryption of emails

Digitally sign emails to prevent email fraud

Supported by Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, and other popular email clients

Enables digitally signing Microsoft Office files (docx, pptx, xlsx etc.)

Validates’ email address only

Server Linux

4.5 Save Time and Money with a

Multi-Year Plan

Email security just got easier. With coverage ranging from 1 to 2 years, Nisse-SSL’s multi-year plans offer instant savings and consistent coverage in a simplified, long-term solution. Nisse-SSL secure email certificates guarantee my best price, locked in for 2 years.

Validation Requirements

Using several sophisticated security features, S/MIME email certificates give users the confidence to trust their digital correspondence and help them avoid many of today’s attacks on email users and enterprise infrastructure. To enable this authentication process, you need to be aware of certain steps when ordering and receiving your Nisse-SSL S/MIME certificate. Learn more about the requirements, prerequisites, and issuance process.

System requirements

A desktop or laptop computer is recommended for collecting your email signing certificate (as opposed to a mobile phone or tablet).

Certificates can be ordered using any modern browser, such as Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Opera, or Safari.

Use the same system for ordering and collecting the certificate in pkcs12 format. The private key is stored in the Crypto store of the machine from which the order was placed. The PKCS 12 file is protected using a password and can be transferred securely to other systems.

Prerequisites

When ordering a Sectigo secure email certificate, you must submit a Certificate Signing Request (CSR).

A CSR (PKCS#10) is a standardized way to request signed certificates from a certificate authority. A CSR is a file that contains the public key of the subject of the certificate along with other certificate attributes like Subject Name, Public Key Algorithm, etc.

You can submit a CSR that you created yourself, or it can be generated for you on the Sectigo website during the order process.

Order Overview

The process for ordering and collecting your certificate has four stages:

Order the certificate. At checkout, enter the registered domain of your email address (the part after the @) in the Primary Domain field. For example, for Anya.Alice@example.com you would enter example.com
Request the certificate. You must provide your personal details for the certificate, along with a CSR.
Download the certificate.
Install the certificate.

Note: Due to the validation requirements, there may be a delay between when you place your order and when you receive your certificate.

Once the order is submitted, it is validated by Sectigo. While it is being validated, the order status is Pending.

An order confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address, where you can use the Validation Manager button to check the status of your order.

Once the order has been approved, its status will change to Active. You can proceed to create the certificate request.

How they work

When a user sends an email using S/MIME, the sender’s email client first creates a unique digital signature. This signature is generated using the sender’s private key, which is part of a public-private key pair. The recipient can verify the signature using the sender’s public key, ensuring that the message has not been tampered with in transit. In addition to signing emails, S/MIME also allows for message encryption. The sender encrypts the contents of the email with the recipient’s public key, making it unreadable to anyone without the corresponding private key. Only the intended recipient can decrypt and read the email. This two-step process of signing and encryption is fundamental to how S/MIME improves email security.

What are S/MIME Certificates?

S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) certificates are essential for secure email communication. They enable users to encrypt email messages and ensure authenticity through digital signatures. By employing S/MIME certificates, organizations can protect sensitive information and maintain privacy in their correspondence.

The Role of SSL and its Importance

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is another fundamental technology that ensures secure online transactions. While S/MIME certificates are limited to email, SSL certificates authenticate websites, allowing secure connections between users and services. Both technologies are vital for protecting sensitive information and enhancing trust in digital communications.

Integrating S/MIME with SSL for Enhanced Security

Combining S/MIME certificates with SSL certificates can significantly elevate your security protocols. By ensuring that email communications are encrypted with S/MIME and that interactions on your website are secured with SSL, you create a robust defense mechanism against potential cyber threats. This integration not only protects sensitive data but also enhances the overall trustworthiness of your organization.

Enhanced Security with NISSE-SSL

NISSE-SSL offers a reliable platform for obtaining both S/MIME and SSL certificates. Their services ensure that your communications are secure and your identity verified, a must in today’s digital landscape. By leveraging both types of certificates, organizations can enhance their security posture and protect their reputation.