Trend Micro Incorporated, a leader in Internet content security, has announced its entry into the email encryption marketplace with the launch of Trend Micro Email Encryption Client 5.0 and email encryption for InterScan Messaging Hosted Security (IMHS). 
“The solution enables small, medium and large businesses to encrypt email communication to any valid email address without recipient pre-registration or the need for certificate management, making it easy for the intended recipient to open the encrypted email,” the company said in a statement. 
“Email facilitates today’s business, but email is inherently insecure.  Email is typically transmitted as clear text along unencrypted communications pathways and unencrypted email risks being compromised as it travels from sender to recipient along the Internet.  Businesses need email encryption to ensure the privacy of their internal and external communication, to help with compliance and regulations (such as HIPAA, SOX, GLBA, PCI or the UK Data Protection Act), and to protect their intellectual property.”
Based on the technology acquired with the purchase of Identum in January 2008, Trend Micro’s initial email encryption solution is integrated with IMHS, providing automated, policy-based encryption for emails filtered through Trend Micro’s hosted email security.  Trend Micro also offers Trend Micro Email Encryption Client 5.0 plug-in software which supports popular email clients that enables encryption from sending desktop to receiving desktop for “power users” who require maximum security.  These hosted- and client- encryption solutions can be combined to provide an overall encryption solution, including perimeter, policy-based encryption to automate the encryption of particular types of content and user-designated and client-based encryption to protect content in specific emails. 
The Trend Micro email encryption solution provides in-the-cloud encryption key management that avoids the burdens of key management servers and administration.  Since identity-based encryption uses no certificates, customers can avoid the certificate management headaches that often plague PKI technology.
“Businesses require secure email encryption solutions that include privacy and help them comply with regulations, but at a low administrative overhead,” said Punit Minocha, vice-president of business development for Trend Micro.  “We are delighted to offer our customers the security and ease-of-use that identity-based encryption provides, combined with our in-the-cloud key management. This initial solution is a solid foundation for future expanded encryption offerings.”
Trend Micro Email Encryption Client 5.0 supports popular email clients such as Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express.  Email can be encrypted and decrypted using the Trend Micro Email Encryption Client, or recipients can use an optional browser-based download reader to locally view encrypted email.