Mastering Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1

Overview

E-mail has become what most businesses consider their most critical application, and as such, users demand access to their e-mail around the clock, whenever and wherever they may be. Throughout the various versions of Exchange, the remote access options have improved, with each version offering more. The remote capabilities of Exchange allow a user to have access to their mailbox from almost anywhere in the world and have allowed the hosting industry to expand rapidly. Users no longer need to be located with the e-mail server to have full access and the full functionality that Exchange can offer.

Traditionally, remote access to e-mail meant a basic Web interface or a complex virtual private network (VPN) deployment to provide the full Outlook client for remote staff.

Exchange 2003 changed all that. Outlook Web Access (OWA) became functional enough to use as a primary e-mail client. The introduction of RPC over HTTPS allowed administrators to provide the full Outlook and Exchange experience without a VPN. Then with the growth of mobile communications, Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) allowed e-mail to be available on the move, wherever you could get a mobile phone signal.

Exchange 2007 builds on the enhancements that Exchange 2003 introduced. There is a new Outlook Web Access that just gets better with every version of Exchange. RPC over HTTPS gets a new name (well overdue) and is now known as Outlook Anywhere. ActiveSync has also been enhanced, but some features will require the next version of Windows Mobile 6. Exchange 2007 also continues to provide access using more traditional methods, the old favorites POP3 and IMAP.

When considering what remote access options to offer your user community, you do need to consider security requirements as well. E-mail can often contain sensitive information and without a secure deployment can actually put your network at risk. Fortunately, it is possible to secure all of the remote access methods to e-mail, a process that protects your network without compromising functionality. Securing access to e-mail using Exchange is discussed in Chapter 20, "Securing Exchange Server," and all techniques discussed in this chapter should be considered along with the security needs of your organization.

Topics in this chapter include the following:

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