Desktop Email Encryption

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  • 1.  Encryption Desktop email encryption in Xenapp 6.5

    Posted Jul 15, 2015 07:37 AM

    Hello, all,

     

    The goal is to have Encryption Desktop and Microsoft Outlook published in Xenapp 6.5, and use them for mail encryption only.

     

    Both applications are published in Xenapp, and when started in succession (Encryption Desktop first), encryption works beautifully.

     

    However, it would be nice to have just one icon for this, in order not to confuse users.

     

    I've tried to publish a batch file  that starts both applications, but with mixed results - seems that Encryption Desktop has to be started completely before Outlook is started. Also, when Outlook is closed, Encryption Desktop is still shown in the tray.

     

    Is there a way to start Encryption Desktop first, or automatically in a way that the user isn't aware of it's presence.

     

    I am, of course, aware that Encryption Desktop is not supported in Xenapp, but, other than issue mentioned, mail encryption seems to work just fine.

     



  • 2.  RE: Encryption Desktop email encryption in Xenapp 6.5
    Best Answer

    Posted Jul 15, 2015 11:55 AM

    Since the drive encryption does not work in Xenapp, Symantec Encryption Desktop can't be listed as supported for that platform.  From what I have seen, everything works other than the drive encryption, but since one part fails, it has to be labeled unsupported.  As such, none of the components get tested in Xenapp, so it is a "use at your own risk" scenario.

    If you are using an encryption management server, you can set the policy to hide the PGPtray icon in the system tray.  Otherwise on standalone applications it is under Tools>Options, on the General tab.  Uncheck the box for "Show PGP Icon in the Windows System Tray".

    To get Outlook to function properly with the product, the PGPtray.exe process must be running.  The best scenario for this would be if you can get the PGPtray application to run on startup.  That would best mimic the use case in a standard, non-virtualized environment.  I believe Citrix has tols for that.

    Otherwise, you could just include a 'pause' in your launch script, to give PGPtray.exe a chance to load before Outlook pops up.  My system takes around 3 seconds before it fully loads PGPtray.  I would imagine that if you set it for 5-7 second pause, it should work.  I would recommend using something like:
    timeout /t 5 /nobreak

    The nobreak flag forces the user to press Ctrl-C to quit, or to wait for the specified time.  You could include some output to let them know something like "Preparing Outlook for email encryption" or whatever other text you might want the user to see.