What is the best secure messaging portal for businesses in 2024?

**End-to-End Encryption**: Secure messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp utilize end-to-end encryption, meaning that only the communicating users can read the messages.

This encryption works by encoding the message on the sender's device and only decoding it on the recipient's device.

**Open Source Code**: Signal is an open-source platform, which means its source code is available for anyone to inspect, suggesting a higher level of security as any vulnerabilities can be identified and fixed by the community.

**Data Minimization**: Many secure messaging applications operate under a principle known as data minimization, which means they collect the least amount of data possible.

For instance, Signal collects only the phone number of its users and nothing else.

**Limited Data Retention**: Secure messaging services often limit data retention.

For instance, Signal does not store message content on its servers, while WhatsApp reportedly deletes data after it has been delivered.

**Functionality Beyond Messaging**: Some secure messaging portals integrate features like video calling and file sharing, similar to platform functionalities in regular messaging apps but with a focus on maintaining security and privacy in all forms of communication.

**Decentralized Alternatives**: Applications like Session and Briar utilize decentralized networks, removing the central server as a point of attack or data collection, which significantly enhances user privacy.

**Use of Stickers and Media**: Secure messaging platforms often provide the ability to share media and stickers while ensuring that these interactions are protected under the same encryption measures as text messages.

**Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)**: Many secure messaging services utilize multi-factor authentication to reinforce security, requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods before gaining access.

**Zero-Knowledge Proofs**: Some platforms employ a principle known as zero-knowledge proofs, which allows one party to prove to another that a statement is true without revealing any additional information apart from the validity of the statement itself.

**Unique Encryption Keys**: Each conversation on some secure messaging apps utilizes unique encryption keys.

This means that even if two users have multiple chats, each chat will have its own encryption key, enhancing security further.

**Regulatory Compliance**: Secure messaging platforms catering to business needs often comply with strict regulations like HIPAA or GDPR, ensuring that both user data and communications remain secure while adhering to legal standards.

**Peer-to-Peer Technology**: Some of the most secure messaging solutions operate on peer-to-peer technology, which enables direct communication between users without routing messages through central servers, reducing the opportunity for interception.

**Encryption Algorithms**: Many secure messaging apps employ advanced encryption algorithms such as AES and RSA, which are standard in ensuring a high level of security.

These algorithms are constantly being updated to fend off new threats.

**User Control Over Data**: Secure messaging platforms often give users more control over their data, such as the option to delete messages that will be removed from both the sender's and recipient's devices after a specified duration.

**Bug Bounty Programs**: Platforms like Signal and Telegram run bug bounty programs to encourage ethical hackers to find and report vulnerabilities, whereby developers can address potential security issues in real-time.

**Extensive Audits**: Many secure messaging services undergo regular security audits by third-party experts to identify weaknesses and bolster their systems against breaches.

**Granular Privacy Settings**: Users of secure messaging apps often have access to granular privacy settings, enabling them to manage who can contact them, see their profile information, or add them to group chats.

**Military-Grade Security**: Certain secure messaging services advertise their security as "military-grade", which often means employing encryption standards that are considered secure enough for use by armed forces.

**Artificial Intelligence in Security**: Some companies leverage AI to monitor for suspicious activity or potential breaches, using machine learning algorithms to identify anomalies in communication patterns.

**Global Userbase Variability**: The choice of a secure messaging portal can also depend on regional regulations and user preferences, particularly in countries where privacy laws are robust or where governments impose restrictions on communication channels.