Is Outlook Connector a Security Threat to Exchange?
Corporate LAN, Exchange 2007, Exchange security, Exchange Server, LAN Security, MAPI, Outlook 2007, Outlook Connector, Outlook security
I'm a chemical engineer working for a small mid-west company (300 - 400 people). I'm an IT guy at heart from my IT support days in college where I was doing PC repair, setting up small LAN's and troubleshooting server issues. I installed Outlook Connector on my Desktop at work so I see my hotmail account in Outlook '07 (I think it's an Exchange '03 or '07 environment). When an IT guy saw this in my outlook program one day, flips out on me, calls the Leader for the IT group, and I get talked down to by him and was simply told that MAPI accounts are forbidden, 3rd party add-ons are forbidden (Outlook Connector 3rd party???), and that Outlook connector with hotmail presents a significant security risk to the company Exchange server and LAN. I complied and asked the question why is the risk higher with outlook connector than when I simply open hotmail through my browser? He simply said there was a big difference, but wasn't able to give me a straight answer. Can someone confirm that Outlook connector is a security risk and explain to me why?
Software/Hardware used:
Outlook 2007 in an exchange 2007 environment
Software/Hardware used:
Outlook 2007 in an exchange 2007 environment
ASKED:
August 15, 2010 11:52 AM
UPDATED:
August 16, 2010 2:23 PM
Answer Wiki:
The risk should be similar. Outlook would simply be downloading the emails and storing them either in a PST file or on the Exchange server. In either case any risk would be to your computer getting a virus or you getting tricked into a phishing scam. There would be no risk to the Exchange server.
If connecting to a MAPI or POP3 account why use the connector, why not just setup another account in Outlook and use that to download your mail?
To see all answers submitted to the Answer Wiki: View Answer History.
RSS - Discussions Help
Discuss This Question:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
