Clear-Text — Unencrypted e-mail which can be read by the recipient without a key and without entering a username and password. For the TG Portal, when an e-mail sent from TG is encrypted, a notification e-mail is sent to the recipient in clear-text format with instructions on how to access secure encrypted messages.

Encryption/Decryption — The process by which messages are rendered unreadable as the message is in transit, and are rendered readable after they arrive at the destination.

Gateway-to-Client — A system of e-mail exchange between two companies when one company has implemented a company-wide encryption standard but the second company has implemented an encryption standard that allows a specific personal computer to decrypt messages, with the action taking place out of sight of the users. A user at the second company will obtain decryption software and install it on their computer. When the company using company-wide encryption software e-mails an encrypted message received by a user at the second company, the software on the user's computer will decrypt the message without any further action on the user's part.

Gateway-to-Gateway — A system of e-mail exchange between two companies when each company has implemented a company-wide encryption standard that results in all encryption and decryption taking place out of sight of the users/recipients. The two companies exchange encryption keys, and when any individual from one company sends e-mail to any individual at the second company, the company-wide solutions encrypt and decrypt the message, and the message appears in the recipient's inbox without any further action on the recipient's part.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act or GLB — Federal law which regulates all businesses falling under the definition of "financial institution". GLB defines non-public financial information, states that non-public financial information is private information, and requires that all business subject to GLB take steps to safeguard that information from unauthorized disclosure. GLB has regulations enacted by the Federal Trade Commission and other functional regulators which go into more detail regarding requirements.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA — Federal law which mandates that all entities which fall into one of three categories defined in HIPAA protect the non-public health information of its customers and employees.

Key or Encryption Key — The unique code which encrypts and decrypts messages.

Key Exchange — Providing one entity's unique code to another entity, and vice versa, so that both entities can send and receive encrypted e-mail to each other without further action on the part of the recipients. Typically this key exchange is performed by institutional technical staff.

NPI or Non-Public Personal Information — Information which is not public and which identifies a specific individual or financial relationship of that individual. Generally, NPI is considered to be Social Security numbers, account numbers, addresses and telephone numbers if they are not listed, names and other identifying information. The definition of what constitutes NPI may vary from state to state, from agency to agency, or from business to business. Subcategories include non-public health information and non-public financial information.

Portal — Page on a company's Web site (commonly at companies who have implemented a company-wide encryption standard; for example, TG) which allows authorized users access to encrypted e-mail intended for them. This page requires verification of the user's identity, most commonly through a username and password, before the message is unencrypted and thus accessible.

Portal Solution — An encryption standard in which the encrypted messages are stored on the company's server (commonly at companies who have implemented a company-wide encryption standard; for example, TG), and trigger a clear-text message to be sent to the recipient's inbox, directing the recipient to the secure portal from which the recipient may access the encrypted message, most commonly through a username and password.

Registered User — An encryption user who accesses e-mail through a portal by entering unique information to verify identity (generally a username and password).

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