Zix Corporation (ZixCorp), (Nasdaq: ZIXI), a leader in email data protection, has partnered with LAWtrust to enable South African businesses and government organizations to easily protect personal information in email and meet regulatory obligations under the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act.

LAWtrust, a specialist security solutions provider, builds trust in information systems through establishing authenticity, accountability and privacy in data messages. With South African organizations relying on email for daily communication, Zix® Email Encryption enhances LAWtrust's portfolio of industry-leading information security products and services, addresses a significant risk to the protection of personal information and assists with compliance of the POPI Act.

The POPI Act established minimum requirements for the processing of personal information of South African citizens, including security measures for the integrity and confidentiality of personal information. Among the POPI Act security requirements, public and private entities are responsible for identifying risks, implementing safeguards and verifying the safeguards are effective and maintained. Promoted and enforced by an Information Regulator, any person who fails to comply with the POPI Act can face penalties of up to 10 years in prison and up to R10 million (US $695,000) in fines.

"Our customers rely on us to address their most pressing information security needs, and with the amount of personal information contained in email messages and attachments, email is a top security priority for compliance with POPI," said Christi Maherry, Chief Executive Officer of LAWtrust. "In evaluating email encryption solutions, Zix was the best fit for LAWtrust and our customers. Its powerful policy filters and leading ease of use will ensure our customer needs are fulfilled without disrupting their business."

LAWtrust will offer ZixGateway®, a policy-based email encryption solution. Using robust policy filters, including a custom POPI filter, ZixGateway automatically scans and encrypts emails with personal information and other sensitive data. With automatic encryption, ZixGateway reduces human error and removes employee hassle, so encrypted email is as convenient as regular email.

Encrypted emails are then delivered to recipients in the most secure, easiest method possible. Delivery methods include TLS, a mobile-friendly secure Web portal or Zix's unrivaled transparent delivery method that automatically decrypts encrypted emails without requiring any extra steps or passwords.

"For more than 15 years, Zix has been a trusted partner to U.S. organizations in government, finance, insurance and healthcare which are required by federal regulations to safeguard personal information. Our experience in regulated industries and expertise in email data protection align well for delivering seamless service to international markets. The South African market represents a solid first step in our international strategy," said David Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of ZixCorp. "We are proud to partner with LAWtrust and appreciate the company's confidence in Zix as we work together to educate its customers and other South African organizations about the risks of exchanging email and the value of our industry-leading, easy to use email encryption and DLP solutions."