Document security has traditionally been difficult, expensive and time consuming - something the average desktop user was not able or willing to take advantage of. Until now, says Atttach Plus, a developer of secure document encryption tools for e-mail attachments.

The company has just announced the availability of Attach Plus 2.2.7 for major e-mail clients, bringing - the company says - the advanced features of PDF and ZIP encryption within reach of the average business desktop user. It is compliant with the HIPAA requirement "Technical security mechanisms" 45 CFR Part 142, S 142.308 (d) for medical records sent via the Internet.

Attach Plus enables users to easily encrypt their documents or print output by converting the document as it is attached to an e-mail with a few simple mouse clicks. The result is an industry-standard secure PDF, ZIP or network shortcut placed conveniently in the body of a new or existing e-mail message.

By running in conjunction with a HIPAA compliant and configured e-mail system, medical professionals can therefore inexpensively roll out a document encryption tool to every user in the organization without changing their existing e-mail software. Attach Plus also gives users the ability to send a secure network file or folder as a shortcut which is based on their existing network security settings.

Attach Plus was originally designed to meet the needs of Financial Advisors to reduce the time and complexity it takes to secure a digital document. Today, firms across the legal, insurance, healthcare, mortgage, and human resources industries find Attach Plus a large productivity boost by reducing the amount of time it takes to send their clients secure information and a vast reduction in paper they send to clients via mail or fax.

"Attach Plus has given us the ability to seamlessly send confidential e-mail from our insurance software using Outlook. Previously we would have to use the insurance proprietary software that did not work with our other programs. Attach Plus gave our users the bridge to export sensitive information to a program (Outlook) which they were already accustomed to using. It also allowed our IT department to eliminate 3 different programs that were used to provided the security of Attach Plus document encryption," said Oscar Miniet, CIO, Head-Beckham Amerinsurance (HBA), Inc.