Securities and Exchange Commission 

Office of Information Technology

SEC External Guide for Using the E-mail 

Encryption Solution

The Securities and Exchange Commission 

National Exam Program Hotline (202)551-3925 

Washington, DC
E-mail Encryption Solution

What is the E-Mail EncryptionSolution?

The SEC E-Mail Encryption Solution allows External Users to compose encrypted e-mails to SEC users 

by using the E- Mail Encryption Solution.

The functionality covered in this guideis:

 How an External User can use the e-mail encryption solution to create a secure e-mail inbox.

 How the External User can read, send and receive e-mail messages to/from an SEC employee 

using the secure e-mail encryption solution.

 What the External User must do to create an e-mail message.

 What the External User must do to attach a file to an encrypted e-mailmessage.

How to Create an E-mailAccount

In order for an External User to communicate with an SEC employee, he/she must create a special e-mail 

account to send and receive e-mail to/from the SEC.

1. In order to create an e-mail account, the External User must first receive an encrypted e-mail message 

from an SEC user. When the user clicks on the message, they will receive an invitation to view the 

secure message and can click on the link to register for an account. Click the “Click Here” link.

2. In the registration window, create a password and a password reminder phrase and thenclick

Submit Password.

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To create passwords use the following structure:

 Alphabetic and numeric characters

 Uppercase and lowercase characters

 At least one special character such as: $@!&#

 Password will expire after 60 days, after which you will be prompted for a new one 

upon logon. Your account will still be active.

3. Add this web link https://web1.zixmail.net/s/login?b=sec to your Favorites list, so you can easily 

enter your e-mail account in the future.
E-mail Encryption Solution

Reading an Encrypted E-mail Message

To read an e-mail message sent by an SEC user:

1. Click the “Click Here” link in the e-mail message from the SEC user

OR

Open Internet Explorer or other web browser application and navigate to the secure e-mail website 

(https://web1.zixmail.net/s/login?b=sec).

2. When the logon screens appears, enter the ID (e-mail address) and password.

3. Click Sign In.

4. After signing-in to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) EncryptedE-mail 

Portal, the Inbox willappear.

5. To read an Encrypted e-mail message, click on the hyperlink located under the Subject field as 

illustrated below.

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6. To open and view an attachment received in the Encrypted E-mail, click on to the hyperlink under the

Attachment field to open.

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Replying to an Encrypted E-mail Message

To reply to an e-mail message:

1. Click the Reply or Reply to All buttons as shown in the opened e-mail below.

2. Enter your message text and click Send when finished.

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Creating an Encrypted E-mail Message

To compose an encrypted e-mail message:

1. Click the Compose tab within theInbox.

2. In the To field, enter the e-mail address(es) for the mail recipients. Separate each e-mail address 

with a comma or semi-colon.

3. Click on Cc to add additional mail recipients, and then enter a Subject for yourmessage.

Note: An External user can only send encrypted mail to a SEC e-mail address 

(i.e.name@SEC.GOV). All mail sent from the SEC secure portal is automatically encrypted 

regardless of its content.

4. To attach one or more files, click on the Attach File button.

5. Click on the Choose File button to search for the file.

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6. After the file is located, click Add File. The file(s) will appear in the Attachments window. To remove a 

file, click on the file in the Attachments window and click Remove File.

7. After all attachments have been added, click Attach.

Note: You may attach as many as 10 files up to a total of 15 MB.

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8. Complete the body of the message, and then click the Send button. The message will be sent to the 

SEC user.

Things to Remember

 You can attach up to 15MB of information, up to 10 files of 1.5 MB each.

 All unread messages will be removed from the Encrypted e-mail inbox in 60 days.

 Each message will have the date of its expiration at the bottom of the message.

 An External User can only send encrypted mail to an SEC mail address (i.e. 

name@SEC.GOV).

 Attachment files may contain financial or sensitive information.

 The SEC secure portal e-mail will automatically encrypt mail text and attachments.

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