Enhanced security with GC Mail
GC Mail is a centrally supported, common solution providing local government with a trusted, robust, affordable and secure way to send emails and attachments across the wider government community. It enhances, rather than replaces, existing email services based on applications such as Microsoft Outlook and Novell GroupWise.
GC Mail uses infrastructure provided by the Government Connect Secure Extranet (GCSX) to deliver emails securely. It integrates seamlessly with secure email systems in the wider Government Secure Intranet (GSi) community such as Criminal Justice Information Technology and the NHS.
Why GC Mail?
In the bid to deliver high quality, cost effective joined up citizen services local authorities are increasingly required to share sensitive and personal citizen information with delivery partners. The ever-present risk of data loss incurred with physical transfer of data can be removed by using secure electronic communications channels instead.
For local authorities, GC Mail is:
Secure: Sensitive information contained in GC Mail emails is safe from risk of intercept or delivery to the wrong address.
Cost effective: Courier and fax costs are removed simply by enhancing existing email assets and using this low-cost secure e-channel.
Efficient: Removing the manual re-keying of data frees up resources and speeds up information flows, offering significant productivity gains over courier or postal transfer routes.
How does GC Mail work?
How does GC Mail work?
GC Mail is only accessible via GCSX. Emails addressed to a secure domain are routed using existing email clients via GCSX, rather than through normal ‘non-secure’ Internet channels. Secure emails can thus be sent to other councils connected to GCSX, or to central government departments and agencies via GSi.
Email Addresses: The standard email address format for GCSX ends in @mycouncil.GCSX.gov.uk, clearly differentiating it from other email address (eg, @mycouncil.gov.uk). Senders can therefore be assured that the mail’s destination is reached via a secure network. Policy requires that sensitive information be sent only to GCSX, GSi and other approved secure communities. Only email users within the secure community will be able to receive emails routed in this way as it is routed over the private Wide Area Network, and the data is therefore kept separate from Internet traffic.
Secure Network: GC Mail is accessed via GCSX, the secure network to which all English and Welsh local authorities are now connected. The GCSX Mail Relay service scans all incoming emails for viruses and sends them on to the relevant recipient(s).
Restrictions: The size of an email and its attachment is currently restricted to 25MB on GC Mail. The maximum number of recipients per email is 150. Larger emails, or emails to more than 150 recipients, will be rejected and the sender notified.
Requirements for the GC Mail Service: GC Mail is only available to local authorities who have subscribed to Government Connect, complied with the Code of Connection (CoCo) and connected to GCSX. The CoCo stipulates the processes and standards an authority must adhere to in accordance with best practice security standards.
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