SECURING YOUR DATA

Restricting access to local databases
If you create a new database, or a new local replica of a database, on your hard drive, the database is encrypted by default with the Medium Encryption setting. This means that the database can only be opened with the User ID that was used to create it.

When you provide local security for a database or database replica to which you have Manager access, IBM® Lotus® Notes® encrypts the database using your public key from your User ID. You are the only one who can then decrypt the database because you have the corresponding private key in your User ID. Nobody else's User ID can open the database.

Note If you use a disk compression utility, databases using medium or strong encryption will not use significantly less disk space.

To change the default encryption settings for new local database replicas

You can set Notes to leave new local databases or replicas unencrypted when you create them. You can also change the default encryption setting.

1. Click File > Security > User Security.
Macintosh OS X users: Notes > Security > User Security.

2. Click Notes Data > Databases.

3. To turn off encryption for new local databases, select "Do not locally encrypt."

To encrypt existing local databases

1. Open the local database.

2. Click File > Application > Properties.

3. Click the "Database Basics" tab, and then click the "Encryption Settings" button.

4. Select "Locally encrypt this database using" and then one of the following options:

5. (Optional) By default, your User ID is listed as the only User ID that can open the database when encrypted. If you would rather give a different person access to the database, click "For," then choose an address book and person from the "Select name" dialog box.
Note You may need to compact the database in order to fully remove the previous encryption settings.

See Also