S/MIME Email Certificates

S/MIME Email Certificates offer a secure, straightforward way to protect your email communications. These certificates, issued by trusted third parties known as certificate authorities, ensure that your emails are encrypted with 256-bit encryption, safeguarding sensitive information from prying eyes. Additionally, they verify your email’s authenticity to prevent phishing attacks or spoofing. Reliable email security that works seamlessly.

Certificates

Validations

Prices

	Lowest Price	Email Secures	Validation	Issuance Time
VerokeySecure Email Fast Issuance Multiple Emails	$ / yr $ Saved	Encryption & Signing	Email	5-10 Minutes	Buy Now
DigiCertEmail Certificate Multiple Emails	$ / yr $ Saved	Encryption & Signing	Email	5-10 Minutes	Buy Now
SectigoPersonal Authentication Certificate Fast Issuance	$ / yr $ Saved	Encryption & Signing	Email	10-15 Minutes	Buy Now
Business Certificates VerokeySecure Employee Email Employee Name Shown Multiple Emails Top Recommendation	$ / yr $ Saved	Encryption & Signing	Business OV	1-3 Days	Buy Now
VerokeySecure Business Email Business Name Shown Multiple Emails	$ / yr $ Saved	Encryption & Signing	Business OV	1-3 Days	Buy Now
DigiCertPremium Client Certificate Multiple Emails Shows Name or Email	$ / yr $ Saved	Encryption & Signing	Business OV	1-3 Days Instant	Buy Now
SectigoBusiness Authentication Certificate Shows Business Name in Certificate	$ / yr $ Saved	Encryption & Signing	Business OV	3-5 Days	Buy Now

Not sure which one?

Try our new SSL Selector to get the right Certificate for your requirements...

Why buy an SMIME Email Certificate?

Simple, Effective Email Message Encryption for Businesses & Individuals

Email encryption is indispensable in today’s digital landscape, where over 300 billion emails navigate the internet daily, many of which are vulnerable to interception. For email users, securing emails for both individual and business accounts is crucial to protect identities and maintain the integrity of communications. S/MIME Certificates, also called Personal Identification Certificates or Secure Email Signing Certificates, offer a robust solution. As a widely supported security standard across major email applications like Apple Mail, Microsoft Outlook, and various mobile OS email apps, S/MIME ensures that every email is not only signed to validate senders and their email addresses but also encrypted to shield against unauthorised access, phishing, and message tampering.

Girl on laptop with a display behind her show an email inbox with a blue shield and padlock

End-To-End Encryption

In an era where cyberattacks are increasingly sophisticated, safeguarding sensitive communications like financial agreements, medical records, and tax documents is crucial. S/MIME Certificates offer a seamless solution for email encryption, essential for personal and small-business email security. Utilising public key encryption, these certificates facilitate end-to-end encryption, ensuring that data at rest on email servers is protected. By using a Digital S/MIME certificate, users can encrypt and digitally sign every email, effectively shielding against phishing, spoofing, and man-in-the-middle attacks. This robust encryption ensures your digital signature remains tamper-proof while enhancing the security of your communication systems against unauthorised interference.

More than Emails, Documents too

Beyond securing email communication, S/MIME Certificates also help with document integrity and enhanced security measures. They play a crucial role in data security by preventing data theft and ensuring compliance with regulations like PCI-DSS and GDPR, which mandate robust measures when transmitting sensitive information electronically. They enable the digital signing of documents created in platforms such as Microsoft Office and Open Office, ensuring the authenticity and unaltered status of the document from sender to receiver. Additionally, S/MIME Certificates facilitate the implementation of two-factor authentication for accessing organisation intranets and systems. This added layer of security verifies user identities more robustly, significantly enhancing protection against unauthorised access and bolstering overall system security.

How Email Certificates Work

S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) certificates are specialised Digital Certificates designed to secure email communications from end to end. Utilising Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), S/MIME Certificates enable the digital signing of encrypted messages, ensuring email exchanges’ authenticity, integrity, and privacy.

Digitally Signing Emails

Hash the Email

The sender’s email client uses the Private Key to generate a digital signature by generating an email’s hash. This is the unique signature that can only be generated by the private key.

Sign the Email

The signature and Public Certificate are attached to the email, validating the sender’s identity and that the message has not been altered.

Verify Email Signature

The recipient will receive the email and validate the hash signature using the Public Certificate.

Encrypting Emails

Encrypt the Email

The sender’s email client encrypts the email using the recipient’s public certificate, which was previously sent via a signed email.

Decrypt the Email

The recipient will receive the email and then decrypt it using their Private Key, which is paired with the Public Certificate used for the encryption.

Do S/MIME Certificates have what you need?

Features for Email, User and Document Security

We have several S/MIME Certificates available, each with features to suit specific use cases of encryption, verification, and security.

256-bit Encryption

At the heart of Digital Certificates is 256-bit encryption, offering the gold standard in security. This ensures your emails are encrypted and fortified against breaches, safeguarding your communication with ironclad protection.

Platform Support

S/MIME certificates are universally compatible with major email applications. Whether using Apple Mail, Microsoft Outlook and Exchange, or email apps on mobile operating systems, S/MIME provides seamless and secure integration, ensuring broad applicability across devices and platforms.

Client Authentication

Our selection of S/MIME Certificates includes options that support client authentication. This feature allows users to verify their identity on servers or websites through a unique Digital Certificate, enhancing security protocols and user verification processes.

Email and Document Signing

Beyond authenticating email sender identity, our certificates extend their utility to document integrity. Utilise them to digitally sign Microsoft Office documents (.docx, .pptx, .xlsx, etc.), adding an extra layer of authenticity and security to your essential files.

Multiple Email Addresses

Catering to professionals and organisations requiring versatility, our Verokey and DigiCert S/MIME Certificates support the inclusion of multiple email addresses within a single certificate. This flexibility is crucial for streamlining management and ensuring consistent security across various email identities.

Fast Business Issuance

Time is of the essence in business operations. Once you complete your business validation with DigiCert or Verokey, you’re set for instant approval and issuance of client certificates. This efficiency enables rapid deployment, ensuring your email security infrastructure keeps up with your business needs.

What our Customers say...

We are committed to providing outstanding customer service, guaranteeing that our customers always enjoy a top-quality experience.

Trevor Hart

Very happy with the service from SSLTrust! I had to organise a code signing certificate with a hardware token. Having somewhere local made the process much smoother for verification. Support is also very quick to answer which is a great change!

Anthony Fielding

Paul from SSLTrust came to my rescue after another supplier let me down due to horrendous support and a useless certificate. Paul took the time to understand my requirements and he held my hand through every step of the process. Now my application is code signed. It was a breeze and my confidence in the process is restored. Thank you.

Email Security Experts are ready to help.

Contact our support regarding your Email Security Certificate inquiries via email, live chat, or a quick phone call. We’re here to help!

Jeremy Schatten
SSL/TLS Platform Expert
Jeremy is our expert when it comes to installing any SSL Certificate and configuring a system to best security practices.
Hollie Acres
SSLTrust Account Manager
Hollie has been part of the SSLTrust team since it was established. She is a qualified Mechanical Engineering and IT professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

: Choose a Certificate Authority (CA): Select a reputable CA that offers S/MIME certificates.
Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR): Generate a CSR from your email client or during the configuration of your new certificate.
Submit Your Application: Fill out the configuration form to request the new Certificate, attaching your CSR if necessary.
Verify Your Identity: The CA will require you to verify your identity and email address through documents or an online verification process.
Install Your Certificate: Once verified, you'll receive your certificate. Follow the CA's instructions to install it on your email client.
Remember, the process can vary slightly between CAs and email clients.
: As of the last update, Gmail’s web interface does not directly support the installation of S/MIME certificates for email encryption and signing. Instead, S/MIME support is available for Google Workspace users and requires administrative setup. Here’s a general guide for Workspace admins:
Access Google Admin Console: Log in to your Google Workspace admin account and navigate to the Admin Console.
Go to Gmail Settings: In the Admin Console, find and select 'Apps' > 'Google Workspace' > 'Gmail' > 'User settings'.
Enable S/MIME: Look for the S/MIME setting and enable it. This option allows users to send and receive encrypted emails.
Upload Certificates: Admins can upload S/MIME certificates for individual users or instruct users on how to upload their certificates through their account settings.
Note: The process might vary based on updates to Google Workspace or Gmail. Always refer to the latest Google Workspace documentation or support for accurate instructions.
: Obtain Your S/MIME Certificate: Purchase or acquire a certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). Download the certificate to your computer.
Open Outlook: Launch Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
Access the Trust Center: Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings...
Email Security: In the Trust Center, navigate to the Email Security tab.
Import the Certificate: Under Digital IDs (Certificates), click on Import/Export to open the Import/Export Digital ID dialog. Choose Import existing Digital ID from a file and browse to select your downloaded S/MIME certificate file. Follow the prompts to complete the import.
Configure Settings: After importing, you can configure your S/MIME settings, such as choosing to sign and encrypt emails by default.
Note: These instructions are tailored for recent versions of Microsoft Outlook. Steps may vary slightly depending on your Outlook version.
: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) are both security protocols used for different purposes:
Purpose:
SSL is primarily used for securing connections between web browsers and servers, ensuring that all data passed between them remains private and integral.
S/MIME is used to secure email communications by providing message encryption, integrity checking, and sender authentication through digital signatures.
Application:
SSL certificates are installed on servers to secure online transactions, logins, and data transfer.
S/MIME certificates are used within email clients to secure email messages sent and received by the user.
Encryption:
SSL provides a secure channel for all data types, encrypting the entire communication session.
S/MIME encrypts the content of emails specifically, ensuring that only the intended recipient can read the email's content.
While SSL and S/MIME enhance the security of digital communications, their applications and mechanisms of action differ, catering to specific aspects of internet security.
: It’s hard to argue whether S/MIME is better than TLS or vice versa since they serve different purposes. S/MIME authenticates and encrypts individual emails. TLS (aka SSL) authenticates and encrypts the connection between email servers.
: SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is a protocol that facilitates sending emails over the internet while S/MIME authenticates and encrypts the emails themselves.