How to Redact Email Archives
Learn professional email redaction techniques for GDPR compliance and data protection
What is Email Redaction?
Email redaction is the process of permanently removing or obscuring sensitive information from existing email archives that have been exported from email platforms. This is essential when processing .mbox and .pst files for legal discovery, FOI requests, or compliance purposes where sensitive data needs to be protected before sharing or archiving.
Manual vs Automated Email Redaction
Manual Redaction
- Time-consuming and error-prone
Each email file (.mbox/.pst) must be reviewed individually
- Limited to basic tools
Export to PDF, then manually black out text
- No specialized email archive support
Most tools can't process email archives efficiently
Automated Redaction
- Process entire email archives quickly
Bulk processing of hundreds of exported emails
- Native .mbox and .pst file support
Designed specifically for email archive processing
- Professional PDF exports
Generate shareable documents from redacted email archives
How RedactBox Simplifies Email Redaction
1. Upload
Upload your .mbox or .pst email files directly to our secure platform
2. Review & Redact
Use our intuitive interface to highlight and redact sensitive content
3. Export
Download professional PDFs with all redactions permanently applied
Common Email Redaction Use Cases
Legal & Compliance
- Subject Access Requests (SAR)
- Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
- Legal discovery and litigation
- GDPR compliance documentation
Education & Public Sector
- Student record protection
- Staff email archives
- Public information requests
- Regulatory compliance reporting
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get emails from Gmail or Outlook for redaction?
You need to export your emails from Gmail, Outlook, or other email platforms as .mbox or .pst files. These exported archives can then be uploaded to RedactBox for processing, redaction, and conversion to shareable PDFs.
What file formats does RedactBox support?
RedactBox supports both .mbox and .pst files, the most common formats for email archives. MBOX files are exported from Gmail, Google Vault, and many email platforms, while PST files are exported from Microsoft Outlook and Purview. Upload your email files to process and redact them.
Is RedactBox reliable for compliance and legal use?
RedactBox provides professional-grade redaction tools designed for compliance with GDPR, FOI requests, and legal discovery. The platform allows precise manual redaction control while streamlining the workflow for processing large email archives.