Secure e-mail communication — Comparison and selection of encryption solutions using an utility value analysis approach

E-mail is one of the most frequently used means of communication. Confidentiality, integrity and authenticity are often indispensable in e-mail communication, especially in business use. However, these security objectives can only be guaranteed with the help of additional encryption solutions. Today, there are a variety of client, gateway and software-as-a-service solutions for e-mail encryption. Companies are faced with the challenge of finding the most suitable solution for them. Our research work presents findings from a utility value analysis which provides a comprehensive process for selecting an appropriate solution for securing e-mail traffic. We present the basic principles behind the utility value analysis and how it is used for the evaluation and selection process of e-mail encryption solutions. In addition, we document how our methodology was applied in a practice-based project to make a selection decision between six existing encryption solutions.