What is secure messaging?

Secure messaging is the transmission of messages using a platform that ensures confidentiality, authenticity, and integrity.

Consumers can use a secure messaging application to ensure that private communications are kept private.

They're also useful for ensuring that any messages received are genuine. In a world where “smishing” (SMS phishing) is on the rise, this has never been more vital. In a recent survey, three in four respondents reported their organization had been the victim of an attempted smishing scam between 2021 and 2023.

As potential messaging uses continue to expand, businesses can also use secure messaging solutions to protect against data breaches. This is particularly vital in sectors such as healthcare, finance, and corporate communications, where sensitive information is frequently exchanged.

A secure chat app often uses encryption protocols and multi-factor authentication to ensure messages sent are only visible to their intended recipient.

How does secure messaging work?

Secure messaging relies on advanced encryption and security protocols to ensure that messages remain confidential and unaltered. These mechanisms protect messages both in transit (while being sent), and at rest (when stored on a device or server).

Secure messaging uses two key technologies to ensure messages are kept secure:

• End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): Messages are encrypted on the sender’s device and remain encrypted until they reach the intended recipient’s device. Only the sender and recipient possess the decryption keys, making it impossible for service providers, hackers, or even government agencies to intercept and read the messages.

• Transport Layer Security (TLS): While E2EE ensures message confidentiality, TLS encrypts data while it is transmitted between servers, protecting it from interception by third parties. This is particularly crucial for secure messaging applications that sync across multiple devices.

Step-by-step: How secure messaging works

If you’ve ever wondered what a message’s journey looks like when sent from a secure app, you’ve come to the right place.

1. Message creation: The sender writes a message in a secure messaging app.

2. Encryption process: The app encrypts the message using an advanced encryption algorithm (e.g. AES-256, RSA).

3. Secure transmission: The encrypted message is sent over a secure channel, often using TLS to protect it in transit.

4. Recipient verification: The recipient's device verifies the sender’s identity and checks for tampering.

5. Decryption: The recipient's device uses a decryption key to convert the encrypted message into readable text.

6. Access control: If additional security measures are enabled (e.g., silent authentication), the recipient must verify their identity before viewing the message.

Secure messaging platforms often provide additional security features for added peace of mind. These could include self-destructing messages, biometric authentication, and hidden chats.

Use cases of a secure messaging platform

An ever-increasing number of people use secure messaging applications, both for business and pleasure. In 2025, the messaging security market size is estimated at over USD $10 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to over USD $20 billion by 2029.

Here are a few use cases for secure messaging platforms:

• Healthcare: Hospitals and clinics of all sizes are turning to secure messaging platforms to facilitate communication with patients and between healthcare professionals. Research found that as many as 70,000 secure messages were sent daily at 14 hospitals and 263 outpatient clinics in the St. Louis area alone.

  Secure messaging solutions in the healthcare industry must be compliant with regulations like HIPAA, and allow patients and providers to communicate with the strictest confidentiality.

• Corporate communications: Enterprises often employ secure messaging to protect intellectual property and maintain confidentiality in internal communications. Secure messaging platforms offer encrypted channels that employees can use to stay connected, even when they’re not together in the office.

  This is more crucial than ever considering the increasing trend toward remote work. It’s estimated that almost 30% of the world’s workforce is now working remotely at least some of the time.

• Legal and financial services: Professionals use secure messaging to transmit sensitive legal and financial documents, even using eSignature software where appropriate to securely capture legally binding signatures remotely.

• Personal communication: Individuals concerned about digital privacy will use secure chat apps in their day-to-day lives to keep their conversations private. Many of the 13 most popular messaging apps worldwide have encryption and other security features enabled by default.

• SMS and rich message marketing: Businesses can engage customers with promotions, updates, two-way communication, and personalized offers through SMS marketing. In 2025, around 66% of businesses are using SMS marketing software to text their customers.

  By leveraging secure chat apps, businesses can verify their sender authenticity to reduce consumer mistrust, enhancing engagement with richer media and interactive messages.

  Additionally, secure messaging helps ensure compliance with data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA, which is vital for avoiding the costs and reputational damage associated with a breach.

Benefits of using a secure messaging application

Adopting a secure messaging application offers several advantages for businesses.

Enhanced privacy 

Secure messaging platforms help ensure that only the intended recipient can access the content of a message. This level of security is crucial for businesses handling sensitive customer data, proprietary information, or confidential communications.

Unlike traditional SMS or email, which can be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized parties, encrypted messaging protects conversations from prying eyes. This added layer of privacy fosters a secure communication environment, allowing businesses to discuss internal matters or customer interactions with confidence.

User trust

Customers and business partners are increasingly concerned about data security. By adopting a secure messaging platform, businesses demonstrate a commitment to protecting user information, which can enhance customer loyalty and trust.

When customers know their personal and financial details are safeguarded, they are more likely to engage with a brand. In fact, 75% of customers say they won’t purchase from a brand they don’t trust to safeguard their data.

Secure messaging platforms help provide secure customer support channels and encrypted payment confirmations to reassure customers their sensitive information is safe.

Not only that, but they also allow businesses to own their brand, and assure their customers that they’re a legitimate and reputable organization. Using these platforms, brands can showcase their company name and logo directly on the recipient's lockscreen when making a call, or create authentic content that really stands out using Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging.

Regulatory compliance

Many industries, such as finance, healthcare, and legal services, are subject to strict data protection regulations, (e.g. GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc.). Secure messaging platforms help businesses comply with these regulations by ensuring that communications remain encrypted and protected from unauthorized access.

Features like message expiration, audit logs, and access controls further strengthen compliance efforts, reducing the risk of data breaches that could lead to legal penalties or reputational damage.

Data integrity 

Ensuring that business communications remain unaltered and authentic is essential for maintaining operational integrity. Secure messaging platforms prevent data tampering by encrypting messages, ensuring they cannot be modified by third parties. 

Some platforms also provide digital signatures or message verification tools, allowing businesses to confirm the authenticity of received communications. This is especially beneficial in sectors where accurate records are critical, including during contract negotiations, financial transactions, and regulatory reporting.

Protection against cyber threats 

Traditional communication methods like SMS and email are prime targets for cyber threats, including phishing attacks, SIM swapping, and messaging fraud. Secure messaging platforms significantly reduce these risks. By mitigating them, companies can prevent financial losses, data leaks, and reputational harm.

Secure file sharing

Beyond just text-based communication, businesses often need to share sensitive files such as contracts, financial statements, and customer records. Many secure messaging platforms provide encrypted file-sharing capabilities, ensuring that documents are transmitted safely without risk of interception or unauthorized access.

Some platforms even include access control settings, allowing businesses to restrict who can open, edit, or download shared files, further enhancing security.

Improved efficiency

In addition to security advantages, secure messaging platforms can also help to improve operational efficiency. Features such as real-time collaboration, message recall, and automated workflows allow employees to streamline internal and external communication and collaboration, improving their productivity. 

Cost reductions

Secure messaging platforms can save businesses money in the long term, by cutting costs related to regulatory fines and inefficient processes. They also help to reduce the significant financial impacts of data breaches; the average cost of a data breach in 2024 was estimated at USD $4.88 million.

What features do the best secure messaging providers offer?

Secure messaging platforms boast a wide range of security features to enhance their users’ privacy:

• End-to-end encryption: Guarantees that only intended recipients can access the message content.

• Audit logs: Documenting events within the software is vital for helping organizations to meet legal requirements, such as audit logs and data residency options.

• Secure messaging API: Enables businesses to integrate secure communication features into their applications.

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security when logging in, limiting unauthorized access.

• Zero-knowledge encryption: Some secure messaging platforms implement a zero-knowledge architecture, ensuring that even the service provider does not know users’ private keys or message content. For example, a platform may cryptographically hash passwords before storing them in their database.

• Multi-device support: Ensures secure synchronization across various devices without compromising security.

• AI-driven threat detection: Modern secure messaging platforms incorporate AI-driven threat detection to analyze incoming messages for signs of phishing, impersonation, or malicious links.

• Security testing: The most trusted platforms will be transparent about their security practices, and actively disclose vulnerabilities. To detect these, developers must conduct regular audits of their application security, as well as periodic third party testing.

• System security: As well as protecting messages on your device, developers should take steps to ensure data is protected on the backend. The most security conscious developers will use firewalls and logical access controls to protect their servers from unauthorized system access,  keeping them up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Enhance customer trust with secure messaging 

Keeping customer conversations safe is a must in today’s digital world. With cyber threats on the rise and privacy regulations tightening, businesses need a messaging solution that’s not only secure but also flexible and easy to use.

That’s where Vonage Messages API comes in. It lets businesses connect with customers across multiple channels—including SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Viber—all while keeping messages secure.

It even supports RCS messaging; the next generation of SMS that offers features like encryption, read receipts, and high-quality media sharing.

Vonage Messages API ensures messages stay private with encryption and authentication features, helping businesses of all sizes protect sensitive data and prevent phishing scams. Applications can be secured with JWT authentication, and the signed callbacks feature helps to better secure social messages by adding incoming message validation.

Meanwhile, Vonage Verify API enables you to implement two-factor authentication (2FA) across as many channels as you need to multiple channels – including SMS, voice, WhatsApp, and email.

Vonage Messages API is also great for customer interactions—whether it’s sending appointment reminders in healthcare, secure banking alerts, or even interactive promotions with rich media.

A variety of crucial updates, alerts, and notifications can be sent to customers on their preferred messaging and social platforms, which they can then reply to in the manner that suits them best.

This helps to keep customers engaged and strengthen your relationship with them by wowing them with media-rich features, while simultaneously reducing the costs accrued from missed appointments, delivery attempts, or support fees.

Customers want to feel confident that their information is safe, and businesses want to reach them on the platforms they use most. With Vonage, companies can do both. Explore Vonage Messages API now.