Enterprises live and breathe on sensitive information, including financial records, strategic plans, product blueprints, or executive communications. These files aren’t just data - they’re the backbone of trust, compliance, and accountability.
For years, many organizations have turned to PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) to protect their most valuable documents. On paper, it seems like the obvious choice. In practice, PGP creates more headaches than it solves. What once looked like strong encryption has become a barrier to productivity, collaboration, and compliance.
It’s time to look at why PGP fails in the enterprise and what the alternative is.
In PGP, key management is complex. Every user must generate, store, and share their own keys, which means IT spends endless time chasing lost keys, forgotten passphrases, and device changes. This results in fragile security and frustrated teams.
Solution: No manual key handling. Employees authenticate with YubiKeys, smart cards, or their corporate directory login. IT keeps control through existing systems like Active Directory and LDAP — so users stay secure without ever touching a key.
PGP’s “Web of Trust” relies on people manually verifying each other’s keys. In reality, very few do so. Trust becomes an assumption, not a guarantee, which is a dangerous gap for enterprises handling sensitive files.
Solution: Enforce policy-driven trust. Access is tied to data classification rules and enterprise directories. If a file is marked confidential, only approved identities can open it. Verification isn’t left to individuals - it’s automatically built into the system.
PGP is notoriously difficult for everyday employees, since it offers many technical choices or generates too many cryptic errors. No amount of training can fix the fact that the software itself is confusing. Adoption stays low, mistakes stay high.
Solution: Use encryption that is as easy as creating a .zip file. Employees simply drag, drop, and encrypt. The intuitive, identical GUI and CLI work across Windows, macOS, and Linux, while training isn’t needed, since adoption comes naturally.
PGP doesn’t integrate with enterprise directories, so IT can’t simply use Active Directory or LDAP groups for file sharing. Every user has to manage their own keys, and external partners must set up PGP themselves — something most can’t or won’t do. This makes secure collaboration slow, complicated, and unreliable.
Solution: A more integrated file encryption solution makes collaboration seamless by connecting directly with Active Directory and LDAP. Internal users are recognized automatically through their directory identity, while external partners can be added easily with a secure password. Teams and partners get the access they need without technical hurdles, and workflows stay intact.
PGP was never designed for enterprise IT. It demands specialized knowledge, constant training, and heavy support just to keep running. It doesn’t align with compliance processes like onboarding, offboarding, or audit trails.
Solution: File encryption that is purpose-built for enterprise reality. It plugs into the identity systems companies already use, like Active Directory and LDAP. IT teams can control access centrally, enforce compliance policies, and onboard or offboard employees smoothly — all without disrupting end users.
Most PGP tools are open-source, maintained by communities. While powerful, they come with no guaranteed support. If something breaks, enterprises are left on their own. That’s a risky position when sensitive files are on the line.
Solution: Choose a supported, maintained solution from a trusted provider, chosen by authorities and backed with high-level customer support. Enterprises get accountability, updates, and assurance, not guesswork.
PGP places the burden of encryption on individuals. It assumes perfect users in an imperfect world. The result? Lost data, broken workflows, and frustrated IT teams.
FQX File Encryptor flips the model. It takes encryption out of the hands of individuals and embeds it into the enterprise systems you already use. The outcome is simple:
Employees stay productive without wrestling with keys.
IT retains control through directory integration and policies.
Compliance requirements are met without relying on user discipline.
Because in the enterprise, security isn’t just about strong algorithms. It’s about building systems people can actually use - without compromise.
If your organization is still struggling with PGP’s complexity and limitations, now is the time to rethink how file encryption should work.
Discover how FQX File Encryptor can protect your sensitive files without the pain >>>
Contact us to see how FQX can transform the way your enterprise secures information.