7-Zip Encryption

How to Use 7-Zip to Encrypt Files and Folders

7-Zip is open source software used to compress or zip files secured with encryption.

When you send or transfer files that contain Personal Identifiable Information (PII) or other confidential and sensitive data the files must be encrypted to ensure they are protected from unauthorized disclosure.

Z-Zip, like WinZip, creates a container called an archive that holds the files to be protected. That archive can be encrypted and protected with a password. 7-Zip is free software that can create Zip files that can be opened with WinZip or other similar programs.

Right click on the file or folder to be encrypted, then select 7-Zip, then Add to archive

Change the name of the archive you wish to create

Change the Archive format to "Zip"

Change the Encryption Method 

Change the method to “AES-256″. Making this change increases the level of the encryption but requires that the recipient has a unzipping program capable of decrypting AES-256.

Enter a Password

Use a strong password with at least 8 characters and containing upper and lower letters and a minimum of one number.

Select “Ok” to create the encrypted archive file. The new archive file will be located in the same folder as the original.

**Best security practices recommend that you do not email the password with the Zip file as it could be intercepted in transit. It is better to call the recipient of the Zip file and convey the password over the phone.**