A system is provided that uses identity-based encryption (IBE) to allow a sender to securely convey information in a message to a recipient. A service name such as a universal resource locator based at least partly on the name of an organization may be associated with a local key server at the organization and a public key server external to the organization. Users at the organization may use the service name to access the local key server to obtain IBE public parameter information for performing message encryption and to obtain IBE private keys for message decryption. External to the organization, users may obtain IBE public parameter information and IBE private keys from the public key server using the same service name. The local key generator and the public key generator may maintain identical copies of the same IBE master secret.