There are many commercial packages that provide data encryption, network security and other features. Commercial vendors make encryption technology easy to use by helping them with installation, setup and the support of experts. They also provide simple user interfaces that make them easy to use. The cost for this level of involvement and support is high.
As an alternative to these commercial applications, free encryption technology can be found on the Internet; however, they may require a high degree of technical understanding because the installation, setup, use and management fall on the shoulders of the business and its users.
Users must rely on Internet mailing lists and newsgroups for information, as dedicated support resources are often unavailable. In short, there are monetary and complexity costs that need consideration with both commercial and alternative packages.
For an introduction of encryption technology, a good starting point is the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) software application. This package provides the user with capabilities to encrypt, digitally sign and verify data including files and email. A version of the software is available free of charge for private, non-commercial use from www.pgp.com. Commercial organizations are required to purchase the software. A freely available alternative to PGP called GNU, is also available. Other encryption software can also be downloaded freely from the Internet.
