Corporate spam filters can prevent junk mail from polluting email inboxes and posing security risks. The best filter depends on factors such as the number of email accounts, server ownership, and budget. Simple filters work on a per-account basis, while stronger filters work at the network level. Regular updates are necessary to keep up with evolving spam. Choosing the right filter requires research and consideration of installation and maintenance.
Spam, otherwise known as junk mail, can be a real problem for a business. When spam is not filtered, it can pollute corporate email inboxes with so much junk that legitimate communications go unnoticed or fail to get through, and can present a security risk by introducing viruses or other malware onto corporate computers. Selecting a corporate spam filter can alleviate many of the problems businesses encounter with spam. However, there are different types of corporate spam filters, and choosing the right one depends on a variety of factors. The best choice for your business will depend on how many email accounts your company supports, whether or not you own your own server, and how much you’re willing to spend.
The simplest corporate spam filters work like the spam filters in your personal email settings. They are programmed to flag email messages sent to more than a certain number of recipients, usually in the hundreds, and are also trained to identify certain keywords that frequently appear in spam messages. This type of spam filter blocks spam on an account on a per-account basis, i.e. it will block spam in each account, and each account will have its own quarantine or block list.
Anti-spam software that works at the account level is usually easy to install and is often purchased as a simple anti-spam software package. It’s a good solution for a small business with a limited number of computers and email accounts to monitor, and works well for email accounts that route through a larger server that the company doesn’t entirely own. An account-based spam filter eliminates electronic spam, but leaves much of the spam control up to the individual user.
For companies that have their own email servers, a stronger anti-spam proxy program, anti-spam firewall, or anti-spam gateway program may be a more effective solution. This type of corporate spam filter works at the larger network level to prevent any identified electronic spam from gaining access to any corporate email account. Installing a proxy or gateway system is usually more complicated than simply installing anti-spam software. A company’s technology department is typically charged with maintaining and updating a server-based spam program, and special training and support is usually required.
Spam filtering solutions for businesses vary in cost, both upfront and pending maintenance and upkeep. Spam is in many ways an evolving problem. It tends to adapt to filtering technology, finding new ways over time. Part of the cost of any corporate spam filter is regular updating and proactive monitoring to ensure that email security threats are not only blocked for now, but will remain blocked in the future. This requires time, installation monitoring and updates, and often additional email bandwidth.
Choosing the best corporate spam filter is primarily a matter of choice and long-term goals. There are a variety of spam filters on the market. Once you’ve identified vital information about your company’s spam filtering needs, including the size of your business, the number of computers you’ll need to cover, whether you own your own server, and how often and volume your employees use e-mail – it’s time to do some research. Review the available options and ask questions about installation and maintenance. Talk to your engineering department, if you have one, about realistic installation goals. So sit back and enjoy the peace of mind of working without the threat of spam.
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