PKZip Software Review

Save and send files securely from Microsoft Office

PKZIP's integration with Microsoft Office allows you to save zipped and encrypted files directly to your storage media from Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. By simply selecting "Save as Secure ZIP File," your files are compressed and encrypted automatically.

Compress and encrypt email attachments

In addition, PKZIP’s integration with Microsoft Outlook, combined with an enhanced user interface, makes it easy to compress and passphrase-encrypt files from within the Outlook email client or from the desktop with just one click. Files can also be edited directly within the zip archive after they have been zipped, eliminating the time-consuming process of unzipping, editing, and then rezipping.

In addition, toggle buttons on the toolbar allow users to pre-select compression options specifying when they want their files automatically zipped or encrypted. These options can also be preset by an administrator using the optional policy lockdown feature.*

Ensure recipients can open and view files

PKWARE® ensures that message recipients can open and view zipped/encrypted files.

ZIP Reader is a free tool for viewing zipped files created by any standard ZIP solution. It can also decrypt PKZIP passphrase protected files, as well as those digitally encrypted and/or digitally signed with SecureZIP®.

With ZIP Reader by PKWARE, senders can be assured that any Windows user will be able to open files – even if the recipient does not currently own a ZIP product.

Centrally administer compression policies*

PKZIP’s centralized policy management via the Microsoft® Management Console (MMC) allows organizations to enforce data security and compression policies for file transfer and storage. This ensures consistent compression and passphrase security practices are adhered to.

Administrators can centrally set end-user options so that select file types are automatically zipped, encrypted, or both when sent via email. Additionally, each policy file is digitally signed so PKZIP knows if it is valid or invalid; this ensures policy files cannot later be altered by unauthorized parties. End-user options for enforcing or prohibiting compression capabilities can be set for specific individuals or entire user groups.