Techniques for enabling improved electronic mail handling in communication networks include a method of handling an electronic mail message in an electronic mail system. The method includes establishing a secure connection between a client of a message sender and a server of a message recipient in the electronic mail system. The method also includes participating in an authentication exchange to verify the identity of the message sender. The method further includes the message sender depositing an electronic mail message with the server of the message recipient upon successful verification of the identity of the client of the message sender.