Configure and manage anti-spam policies

To enhance email security and protect your organization from unwanted spam messages, you can configure and manage anti-spam policies in Microsoft 365 Messaging. This article will guide you through the process using the recommended approaches provided by Microsoft.

Step 1: Access the Exchange Admin Center

To begin, log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using your administrator credentials. Once logged in, navigate to the Exchange admin center. Here you’ll be able to configure the anti-spam policies.

Step 2: Create a New Anti-Spam Policy

In the Exchange admin center, select the “protection” tab, and then click on “spam filter.” From the “spam filter” page, click on “policies” and then on the “+” sign to create a new policy. Give the policy a name that accurately represents its purpose.

Step 3: Customize Anti-Spam Settings

After creating the policy, you can customize the anti-spam settings according to your organization’s requirements. The anti-spam policy offers various options that allow you to control how spam messages are handled.

• Configure the spam filter settings: Microsoft automatically applies recommended settings to your policy. However, you can modify the settings based on your needs. Use the sliders to adjust the aggressiveness of the spam filter, choosing a level that balances false positives and false negatives.
• Customize the action for spam messages: Choose the desired action to take when a message is identified as spam. You can move it to the recipient’s “Junk Email” folder, quarantine it, or delete it.
• Whitelist and blacklist senders: Under the “Allowed Senders and Domains” and “Blocked Senders and Domains” sections, you can whitelist trusted senders or domains while also blocking specific ones.
• Sender reputation: Configure sender reputation settings to control how messages from specific senders are treated. For example, you can assign higher spam confidence levels to certain domains.

Step 4: Review and Enable the Policy

Once you have customized the anti-spam policy settings, review the policy to ensure it aligns with your organization’s email security requirements. After you are satisfied with the configuration, enable the policy by clicking on the “Save” button.

Step 5: Monitor and Adjust

After enabling the anti-spam policy, it is important to monitor its effectiveness. Regularly review the anti-spam reports available in the Exchange admin center to gain insights into the number of spam messages caught and the actions taken.

If you find that the policy is blocking legitimate emails or allowing spam through, you may need to adjust the settings accordingly. It’s an iterative process that requires fine-tuning to provide the best protection for your organization.

Conclusion

Configuring and managing anti-spam policies in Microsoft 365 Messaging is crucial for maintaining a secure email environment. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create custom policies that align with your organization’s needs and effectively filter out spam messages. Remember to regularly monitor and adjust the policies to ensure optimal performance in protecting your organization’s email infrastructure.