Activate STARTTLS on the organisation’s email server

Activate STARTTLS on the organisation’s email server to authenticate and ensure the confidentiality of all emails between the organisation and other organisations that have activated STARTTLS.

STARTTLS is a protocol command used to inform the email server that the email client wants to upgrade from an insecure connection to a secure one using TLS or SSL. This protocol command is used in SMTP and IMAP protocols, whereas the POP3 protocol uses STLS, which is a slightly different encryption command.

The data to be transmitted must be protected using cryptographic methods. The protection of the confidentiality and integrity of the data transmitted applies to the internal and external network and to all systems that can transmit data. These include:

• Servers
• Computers
• Mobile devices
• Printers

The data to be transferred can be protected by physical or logical means.

• Physical protection is obtained from a protected distribution system, for example an optical fiber line, which has sufficient protection to prevent, for example, electromagnetic leakage and controls to prevent its unauthorized use.
• Logical protection is achieved with strong encryption of communications.