Insecure Email Practices by Government Offices and Employees put our Sensitive Data at Risk 

Insecure Email Practices by Government Offices and Employees put our Sensitive Data at Risk An alarming trend has emerged in government offices, where large numbers seem to be relying on free email services such as Gmail for official communications. Currently, the government of Nepal has announced that it will adopt professional email to improve the security of its email communication, but most of the government offices still rely on free email.
 
This raises a key question: Is a lack of awareness about the availability of secure and professional email services provided by the National Information Technology Center (NITC) leading to this level of reliance on free email?
 
Government offices that collect and store sensitive information often require secure and effective communication tools. However, many are still too late to convert from free email services to professional and government email solutions. With these professional email systems, you can get domain-friendly features with the latest security features.
 
What is a business email?
 
Professional email is an email service that allows you to use a custom domain, such as “example.com.np,” instead of a generic email provider’s domain. It is generally used for formal and official communication in associations, companies, professionals, government agencies, etc.
 
Business emails often have special features and security measures that are suitable for business communication.
 
 
Let’s look at an example:
 
I would like to take Kathmandu Metropolitan City as an example. Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s website is kathmandu.gov.np/, and it uses KathmanduMetropolitan@gmail.com for free email.
 
If Kathmandu Metropolitan City uses a commercial email, info@kathmandu.gov.np,
 
may be mayor@kathmandu.gov.np, etc.
 
How do I get a professional email?
 
The National Information Technology Center (NITC) and the Department of Information Technology have been providing free professional email to all government offices in Nepal. This step has been taken to improve the security and efficiency of government communications.
 
NITC provides a custom email domain like @example.gov.np to every government office. It allows government offices to create professional email IDs that reflect their organization’s name and location.
 
You can apply for a professional email by going to the email server under service within the https://nitc.gov.np link or by clicking here.
 
 
 
Why not use free email in government offices?
Free Gmail accounts are not as secure as professional Gmail accounts. Because it lacks strong security systems like spam and virus protection, two-factor authentication, and data encryption. This inherent vulnerability makes such free email services more susceptible to hacking and potential data breaches. Government offices are often collecting and communicating highly sensitive information, including the personal data of citizens. Therefore, using freely available email can lead to serious consequences for both the government and citizens.
 
Therefore, getting and using the free professional email service provided by NITS to government offices and employees is the need of the day. As the digital landscape evolves, ensuring that government employees are well-informed about the options available to them is critical to the protection of sensitive government data and effective communication.