In 2024 alone, millions of malicious emails targeted the construction and design industries across Australia and New Zealand. This is why security obligations aren’t just technical, they’re regulatory too. Consequently, email encryption services are a fundamental service keeping sensitive data secure. Government guidelines now encourage or require encrypted transport protocols like MTA-STS. Then, the data protection frameworks are getting tighter.
Based on our experience working with clients, many AEC businesses managing those kinds of security and regulations can find it complicated. That’s why we’ve spent years supporting AEC teams with robust, ISO 27001-certified email protection services. And the following guide breaks it all down: how it works, which providers stand out, and what to consider before making a call.
What are Email Encryption Services?
Email encryption services are a set of actions to scramble your emails into unreadable ciphertext. The goal is only the intended recipient can decrypt and read it.
Technically, encryption prevents unauthorised access during transit, reducing the risk of data leaks, fraud, and interception by cybercriminals. Simply put, encryption ensures your confidential communications stay that way, even if intercepted during transit.
There are two main types of encryption in play. One is end-to-end encryption, where content stays encrypted from the sender to the receiver. The other is transport-level encryption, like TLS, which protects data while it moves between mail servers.
If you’re unsure how the technical side works, we’ve unpacked it in detail in email encryption works here.
Benefits of Using Email Encryption Services
The benefits of using email encryption services are quite significant. At the core, it ensures confidentiality. Yup, only your intended recipients see what’s inside. This matters when you’re sharing architectural plans, budgets, or contract terms across multiple stakeholders.
In AEC projects, it means anything.
Encryption also helps you meet compliance standards, from GDPR to ISO 27001. This is especially important if your projects involve international partners.
For firms using Office 365 email encryption, it adds another layer of built-in security, useful for mitigating risks from internal mistakes or external threats.
In the end, all those technical benefits mean building trust. Clients and collaborators feel more at ease knowing you take their data seriously.
Curious about setting strong foundations? Our guide on email security best practices can help your team start right.
Top Encrypted Email Providers
With many security considerations, we know choosing an email encryption provider can feel a bit overwhelming. Many options exist, each with its strengths. Some are known for their free email encryption tiers, which can be a great starting point. Others offer more robust features tailored for business.
ProtonMail
ProtonMail is a well-regarded name, based in Switzerland, known for its strong privacy laws. They offer end-to-end encryption. This means your emails are encrypted before they even leave your device, and only the recipient can decrypt them. ProtonMail uses robust OpenPGP standards. They even have a zero-access architecture, which means even ProtonMail can’t read your emails.
The big benefit key for AEC industries is the secure sharing of large CAD files via encrypted links. But please note that the free plan storage is only at 1 GB. And the encryption only applies fully if both sender and receiver use ProtonMail. But still, ProtonMail is gaining ground in Australia, especially among legal and finance teams. For more insight, check out our thoughts on the 5 most secure email providers in Australia.
Tutanota
Tutanota takes encryption seriously, offering built-in E2E across email, calendar, and contact lists. Based in Germany, it uses its own open-source cryptographic protocols and doesn’t rely on PGP. They use a combination of AES and RSA or elliptic curve cryptography. Their free plan gives you a good taste of their service with 1GB of storage.
The problem is that emails to non-users require password links. Then, custom protocols make interoperability harder. Tutanota appeals to users who want privacy baked in from the start. While it’s less known in Australia, it’s ideal for teams who need comprehensive encrypted communication.
Fastmail
Fastmail is an interesting one, especially for us here in Australia. Fastmail is headquartered in Melbourne. And of course, trusted local support is great for Australian AEC businesses. While not strictly an end-to-end encrypted service by default, Fastmail strongly emphasises privacy and security. They don’t do ads, and they encrypt your data in transit and at rest. For us, Fastmail has great UX and mobile experience.
Fastmail is ideal for AEC firms looking for a reliable email encryption provider without overcomplicating the stack. It’s especially useful if you’re after something that plugs into Outlook or Apple Mail without extra training.
Hushmail
Hushmail offers encrypted email with a focus on compliance. A key differentiator for Hushmail is its features tailored for specific industries, like healthcare, offering HIPAA-compliant forms and e-signatures. While their interface might seem a bit dated to some, their commitment to PGP encryption is solid.
Please note that Hushmail doesn’t offer a free tier. Their service is subscription-based. For businesses, especially in legal or healthcare, Hushmail’s focus on compliance and secure forms can be a significant advantage. While not mainstream in AEC, it can be useful if your firm handles legal contracts or tender documentation requiring signature workflows and compliance assurance.
Mailfence
Mailfence offers a full suite, email, calendar, and document storage, all encrypted and based in Belgium under strict privacy laws. It’s one of the few that supports both PGP and collaboration tools. They provide good compatibility with standard email protocols like IMAP and SMTP. For many industries, that means a great thing if you want to integrate with existing email encryption software or clients
For us, Mailfence is a smart pick for smaller firms that need encrypted tools without losing core productivity features. Ideal for those transitioning from Gmail or Outlook setups.
Table Comparison of Top Email Encryption Providers
A side-by-side table below will compare ProtonMail, Tutanota, Fastmail, Hushmail, and Mailfence on key attributes. We hope the direct comparison below can make choosing an email encryption provider easier.
| Provider | Encryption Type | Free Plan | Pricing (AUD, Monthly) | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProtonMail | End-to-End (PGP) | ✔ 1GB | Mail Essentials: A$12,18/user/monthMail Professional: A$17,41 /user/monthProton Business Suite: A$12,18 /user/month | Swiss jurisdiction, secure sharing | Limited storage, no native integration |
| Tutanota | End-to-End (custom) | ✔ 1GB | Essentials: A$10,46/user/monthAdvanced: A$13,94/user/monthUnlimited: A$20,91 /user/month | Encrypts contacts/calendar, no ads | Limited interoperability |
| Fastmail | Transit (TLS) | ❌ (trial only) | Basic: A$54 for 12 monthsStandard: A$90 for 12 monthsProfessional: A$162 for 12 months | Native domain support, strong UX | No E2E, not zero-access |
| Hushmail | OpenPGP | ❌(trial only) | From A$18,72/month for healthcareFrom $16,84/month for small businessFrom $16,84/month for lawFrom $93,64/year for personal use | Secure forms, PGP flexibility | Outdated UI, no free plan |
| Mailfence | OpenPGP | ✔ 500MB | Entry: A$5,46/monthPro: A$14,83/monthUltra: A$45,27/month | Suite-based, flexible protocols | Small free tier, dated design |
Please note, the pricing in the table comparison above is per May 2025. The pricing may vary depending on your region, time, taxes, exchange rates, subscription term, and product options.
We encourage you to visit the official email provider website to confirm the latest prices. Or you can contact Interscale for reliable email protection services in the Australian context.
Secure Your Email with Interscale Solutions
The reality is, cyber threats aren’t slowing down. If anything, they’re getting smarter. But so are we. With tailored email protection services, Interscale helps AEC firms across Australia build smarter, safer communications. All without adding complexity to your day-to-day operations.
Our solutions combine ISO 27001-certified protection with cloud-based ease. Whether you’re after encrypted attachments, secure message delivery, or advanced archiving, we are ready for you. All built around Proofpoint Essentials and tailored for Australia’s regulatory landscape.
If you’re unsure where to start or simply want to explore email encryption services that match your scale and software stack, we’re ready to talk. Book a free discussion session with our team. In that meeting, you can get clear answers from people who’ve done this before.
Book your free call on Calendly now. It could be the 30 minutes that secures your next 30 projects.
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