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Securing
This section describes security features, including execution control lists, IDs, and TLS.
Encryption
Encryption protects data from unauthorized access.
Mail encryption
Mail encryption protects messages from unauthorized access. Only the body of a mail message is encrypted; the header information such as text in the To, From, and Subject fields is not.
Viewing the signing and encryption status of Notes® mail
There is an icon on the status bar that indicates the signing and/or encryption status of an open Notes® mail message.

Securing
This section describes security features, including execution control lists, IDs, and TLS.
- Overview of Domino security
  Setting up security for your organization is a critical task. Your security infrastructure is critical for protecting your organization's IT resources and assets. As an administrator, you need to give careful consideration to your organization's security requirements before you set up any servers or users. Up-front planning pays off later in minimizing the risks of compromised security.
- Server access for Notes® users, Internet users, and Domino® servers
  To control user and server access to other servers, Domino® uses the settings you specify on the Security tab in the Server document as well as the rules of validation and authentication. If a server validates and authenticates the Notes® user, Internet user, or server, and the settings in the Server document allow access, the user or server is allowed access to the server.
- The database access control list
  Every .NSF database has an access control list (ACL) that specifies the level of access that users and servers have to that database. Although the names of access levels are the same for users and servers, those assigned to users determine the tasks that they can perform in a database, while those assigned to servers determine what information within the database the servers can replicate. Only someone with Manager access can create or modify the ACL.
- Domino® server and Notes® user IDs
  Domino® uses ID files to identify users and to control access to servers. Every Domino server, Notes® certifier, and Notes user must have an ID.
- The execution control list
  You use an execution control list (ECL) to configure workstation data security. An ECL protects user workstations against active content from unknown or suspect sources, and can be configured to limit the action of any active content that does run on workstations.
- Domino® server-based certification authority
  You can set up a Domino® certifier that uses the CA process server task to manage and process certificate requests. The CA process runs as a process on Domino servers that are used to issue certificates. When you set up a Notes® or Internet certifier, you link it to the CA process on the server in order to take advantage of CA process activities. Only one instance of the CA process can run on a server; however, the process can be linked to multiple certifiers.
- TLS security
  Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a security protocol that provides communications privacy and authentication for Domino® server tasks that operate over TCP/IP.
- TLS and S/MIME for clients
  Clients can use a Domino® certificate authority (CA) application or a third-party CA to obtain certificates for secure TLS and S/MIME communication.
- Encryption
  Encryption protects data from unauthorized access.
  - Encryption standards
    HCL Domino® observes a number of encryption standards, in particular, standards that are required or regulated by the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS).
  - Configuring encryption for ID files
    Any ID used with the current HCL Notes® client benefits from the strong security provided by AES encryption.
  - Mail encryption
    Mail encryption protects messages from unauthorized access. Only the body of a mail message is encrypted; the header information such as text in the To, From, and Subject fields is not.
    - Encrypting mail
      Encrypt outgoing, incoming, and saved mail to protect messages while they are in transit and stored in mail databases on the server. Users can encrypt outgoing mail messages sent to recipients who use either Notes® or S/MIME. If recipients prefer to receive mail in MIME format, then encrypted mail will be in S/MIME format. Users can encrypt incoming and saved mail only if they use Notes mail.
    - Configuring AES for mail and document encryption
      You can set up mail document encryption with AES through the use of a Security Settings document and a policy. You can also set AES encryption as the default method of encryption for S/MIME mail, with or without SHA-2 signing, using a NOTES.INI setting in a desktop policy.
    - Viewing the signing and encryption status of Notes® mail
      There is an icon on the status bar that indicates the signing and/or encryption status of an open Notes® mail message.
    - Using X.509 certificates for mail and document encryption
      You can set up the use of X.509 certificates for mail and document encryption for users who run Notes® 8.0.1 or later. Messages retain the Notes format and full message fidelity. This configuration is particularly useful when smart cards are used.
    - Using S/MIME format when sending encrypted mail
      Administrators can specify that encrypted mail sent to users be converted to MIME and encrypted using S/MIME with this setting. This feature provides end-to-end encryption.
  - Configuring the level of port encryption and authentication
    You can control the level of port encryption and authentication that is used on an HCL Domino® server.
  - Electronic signatures
    Electronic signatures are closely associated with encryption. An electronic signature verifies that the person who originated the data is the author and that no one has tampered with the data. Users can add an electronic signature to mail messages and to fields and sections of documents. A database designer controls whether or not users can sign fields and sections of a database can be signed; individual users can choose to sign mail messages.
- Web-based authentication
  Define and set up authentication methods for web users, for example through basic password authentication, passkeys, time-based one-time password, or single sign-on.
- Using a credential store to store credentials
  A Domino® server can use a credential store application as a secure artifact repository. Examples of secure artifacts include authentication credentials and security keys.
- History of supported key sizes in Notes and Domino
  Understand the RSA key sizes supported by Notes® and Domino® from past releases to the current release.

Viewing the signing and encryption status of Notes® mail

There is an icon on the status bar that indicates the signing and/or encryption status of an open Notes® mail message.

About this task

Clicking on this icon opens a properties box for the message that provides the following information:

Whether the mail message is encrypted. If encrypted, the following information is provided:
- Bulk key type and whether a FIPS 140-2 certified library was used for the bulk key encryption
- Type of key management key and whether a FIPS 140-2 certified library was used with that key
Whether the message is signed. If signed, the following information is provided:
- Signer's hierarchical name
- Whether the signature used with the message is valid, or if it has expired
- The signing algorithms used
- Whether a FIPS 140-2 certified library was used for the signing operation