Paubox blog: HIPAA compliant email made easy

Integrating Paubox Email Suite with popular email providers

Written by Tshedimoso Makhene | November 09, 2024

Paubox Email Suite offers a robust, HIPAA compliant email solution that encrypts your emails automatically—no extra steps for the sender or recipient. If your organization uses a popular email provider, integrating Paubox with these systems can streamline secure communication. Paubox Email Suite is designed to be compatible with popular email providers like Gmail, Office 365, and Microsoft Exchange. 

 

What is Paubox’s Email Suite?

Paubox’s Email Suite is a comprehensive email solution designed to provide secure, HIPAA compliant email communication for businesses, particularly in healthcare and other industries that handle sensitive information. Unlike traditional email encryption methods that require recipients to take extra steps (such as entering passwords or using secure portals), Paubox automatically encrypts emails in transit and at rest, ensuring that sensitive data is always protected. The platform integrates seamlessly with popular email providers like Gmail, Office 365, and Microsoft Exchange, making it easy for organizations to adopt without disrupting their existing workflows. 

Paubox also includes advanced features like encrypted email archiving, compliance tracking, and detailed reporting, helping businesses meet regulatory requirements and safeguard their communications. With its user-friendly interface and focus on simplicity, Paubox streamlines secure email communication, making it accessible for users at all levels.

 

Integrating Paubox with popular email providers

Integrating Paubox with Gmail (Google Workspace)

Gmail, part of Google Workspace, is one of the most widely used email platforms globally. According to Demand Sage, it has over 1.8 billion active users globally–that’s approximately 21.95% of the world’s population. Fortunately, Paubox seamlessly integrates with Gmail to provide automatic email encryption. When you set up Paubox with your Gmail account, every email sent from or received by your domain will be encrypted, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations.

 

Key steps for integration:

  1. DNS configuration: You'll need to configure DNS records, including MX records, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. This step is essential for Paubox to route emails securely through your domain.
  2. Automatic encryption: Paubox automatically encrypts both inbound and outbound emails, so no manual steps are required from the sender or recipient.
  3. Once set up, you can rest easy knowing that your Gmail-based email communications are fully protected.

Related: How to set up HIPAA compliant emails on Google

 

Paubox and Microsoft Office 365 integration

Microsoft Office 365 is another widely adopted email platform, with nearly 321 million users as of April 2022. Integrating Paubox with Office 365 enables you to send encrypted emails without requiring recipients to use a separate portal or encryption key.

Key steps for integration:

  1. DNS settings: Like Gmail, you must adjust your DNS settings, including MX records, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to ensure your email traffic routes securely through Paubox.
  2. Seamless Encryption: With Paubox, you won’t need to manually encrypt emails—everything is automatically encrypted and compliant with HIPAA standards.
  3. User management: If you're using Office 365 for user management, Paubox integrates directly with your Microsoft interface, simplifying administration.

With Paubox, your organization’s emails sent via Office 365 are encrypted and secure, helping you meet compliance requirements without added hassle.

Related: How do I make my Microsoft 365 account HIPAA compliant?

 

Integrating Paubox with Microsoft Exchange

Microsoft Exchange remains a popular email solution, especially for enterprises with 3 billion mailboxes. Integrating Paubox with Exchange ensures all email communications are encrypted, regardless of whether the sender or recipient uses Exchange.

Key steps for integration:

  1. SMTP relay configuration: Set up SMTP relay settings in Exchange to route email traffic through Paubox, ensuring secure transmission.
  2. Paubox admin settings: Manage all settings through the Paubox admin panel.
  3. DNS configuration: As with Gmail and Office 365, DNS settings (MX records, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) need to be adjusted for optimal integration.

Related: Is Microsoft Exchange HIPAA compliant? (2024 Update)

 

Testing the integration

Once you’ve configured the integration, you must test the setup by sending test emails. This ensures that emails are correctly encrypted and routed securely. Paubox provides detailed logs and tracking features, so you can easily verify that everything is working as expected.

 

FAQs

Is there any need for the recipient to take action?

No, recipients do not need to take additional steps to receive encrypted emails. Paubox ensures emails are automatically encrypted and decrypted without requiring recipients to use passwords, download special software, or visit a secure portal.

 

How does Paubox help with compliance?

Paubox helps organizations meet HIPAA and other regulatory requirements by providing secure, encrypted email communication. It offers compliance tools like email logging, archiving, and reporting, ensuring that businesses can track their communication for audit purposes and demonstrate adherence to privacy regulations.

 

Is Paubox suitable for small businesses?

Yes, Paubox is suitable for businesses of all sizes, including small businesses that need to comply with HIPAA regulations. Its user-friendly interface and easy integration make it an accessible solution for teams without extensive IT resources.