COMPUTERIZED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING THE EXCHANGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS

A method and system for sending, receiving and managing the exchange of messages between an intranet and multiple external users using a secure server as an intermediary interface for Internet communications. In one form, the secure server operates in a replication mode with a Lotus Domino server wherein secure transmissions are designated by an @secure URL. In another form, secure transmissions are implemented by establishing a secure connection to the secure server using a browser addressing the server URL. The server operating system interfaces with the intranet so that the intranet user can use standard groupware, such as Lotus Notes, to create, send and receive secure documents. External users are notified by normal e-mail of the presence of secure documents at the server and must connect to the server in a secure mode to retrieve documents. Responses to documents are automatically returned to the sender's e-mail server using secure transmission.