The service - which uses the Private Post technology of Internet security outfit Trend Micro - allows e-mails and attachments to be digitally signed and encrypted, keeping them safe from prying eyes while in transit.

Paul Pettitt, managing director of Origo, comments: "The financial services industry is facing growing risks with data leakage and e-mail is a big part of the problem. FSA guidelines make clear the need to improve the situation and for regulated firms to face up to and address the compliance risk."

Origo has initially engaged with a number of product providers, including Norwich Union and Skandia, and a range of their business partners, to evaluate the proposition, he says.

Chris Abrathat, head of e-commerce marketing at Norwich Union says: "The e-mail compliance risk facing the industry has been a concern for Norwich Union and its customers for some considerable time. We are keen to be among the first in the industry to take steps to provide e-mail security for ourselves and our customers rather than waiting to react to a future security incident."

Origo and Norwich Union are aiming for their initial pilot to be completed by the end of the year, with a live service launching in January. Other firms will be able to continue their own separate pilot testing as necessary before also going live.

Commenting on the pilot, David Sandy, head of IT at Sesame says: "We support the adoption of an industry standard as this enables consistent provision of security at each stage of communication between adviser, consumer and product provider. Private Post offers the added incentive that it is available free of charge to the consumer."

Origo additionally plans to make the desktop software available to advisers free of charge, on the same basis as its Unipass digital certification service.