Secure File and Email Transfer

[Daniel Bennett <dbennett () PCT EDU>]

Hello All,

I am conducting some research to determine the route that other universities are taking in securing files/emails when 
needed.  I have found three solutions and I am wondering which of them other universities are implementing or if they 
are using other methods.

The three are:

1.       Public Key Infrastructure, issuing public/private keys to all employees.  This is time consuming and requires 
key exchanges.  I find this to require lots of time which translates into money to maintain and support.

2.       Third party mediator.  This is where an institution sends a file/email to a third party over a secure channel. 
 Then the receiver is told by the third party that a file/email is waiting and they log into a site to download/view 
through a secure https connection.

3.       Use secure ftp.  Setup a secure ftp server and give vendors a username and password and they are notified when 
something is waiting for them.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thank You,

Daniel R. Bennett
Pennsylvania College of Technology
IT Security Analyst
CompTIA Security+
570.329.4989