Jeff, thank you for the info. I will start looking into the terminology you mention. We own a domain name for vanity email purposes, but the site isn't active. We don't have our own server or anything like that, either. It's a small operation, with 5 of us each working out of our homes on stand-alone terminals. My software is a product by Corbel; I'll check into anything they may offer in the way of my client's uploading info. I've run across 3 or 4 different companies that may have the product I'm looking for, today. I'll keep researching, I know it must be out there, something for the 'sort of' computer literate. haha

Anonymous wrote:I'm most concerned with the transmission of data right now, as the software I use for my actual work is (or at least is marketed as being) secure.

I'll be 100% honest here, you completely lost me at public key cryptography! lol I'm using windows and microsoft outlook. I frequently receive emails from financial institutions that look like regular emails, but they are links to their site where I log on for the secure information. I'm guessing there are companies out there that would do the same for my small business, but I don't even know where to begin in my google search. Do you think it's worth looking into my own S/Mime/PGP (whatever those are) or just outsourcing this? Any recs? My daughter suggested something about Google Cloud, but so far I haven't looked into it.

I figured that you would understand a lot of the vocabulary, but just Google a few terms. What is the software that you use for your work? That company might have some options. I have never investigated outsourcing options because I would simply set up my own system. Does your company have a website? An SSL-enabled website would also allow secure transfer.

I'm most concerned with the transmission of data right now, as the software I use for my actual work is (or at least is marketed as being) secure.

I'll be 100% honest here, you completely lost me at public key cryptography! lol I'm using windows and microsoft outlook. I frequently receive emails from financial institutions that look like regular emails, but they are links to their site where I log on for the secure information. I'm guessing there are companies out there that would do the same for my small business, but I don't even know where to begin in my google search. Do you think it's worth looking into my own S/Mime/PGP (whatever those are) or just outsourcing this? Any recs? My daughter suggested something about Google Cloud, but so far I haven't looked into it.

There are really two issues here: 1) the transmission of the data; and 2) the storage of the data. For the first, you could employ some form of public key cryptography which would include S/Mime or PGP. How you use those depends on the operating system and email program you are using. They can be a pain to set up, but once you get them working they are pretty smooth. Then, once you get the information, you are responsible for keeping it private. I would decrypt it, print it, and file it if you normally keep hardcopy files, and then delete the electronic version. If you want to keep the electronic version, you could keep the encrypted email, but that may not be as secure as it seems. Or, you could save it to another file, encrypt that file, and delete the email. You could use PGP for that encryption as well. Whatever you do, don't rely on simple password-protected documents such as MS Word and the like provide.

I have a business question, and am starting with DCUM, since it's been such a help in my parenting and personal life. Hoping someone here maybe works in IT and can offer some advice.

I own a small business where I annually require my clients to send me their employees' personal information ~ names, social security numbers, compensation, dates of birth, etc. I am having more and more clients want to email me this data, rather than send hardcopy, but I feel uncomfortable receiving it via email, even when password protected. Are there any sites or systems that will allow me to receive this sensitive data in a very secure way?

Thanks for any advice that can be offered!