SystemAssure
Fixed Fee Computer Support Services for Small Business
Spam Management – On Premises or In The Cloud
Spam Management Options
There are 2 major choices for Spam Management, do you do it in house (on Premises) or in the cloud?
The important thing is that whichever route you take, on premises or in the cloud, that you have a Spam Management solution to protect your email systems and your computer network.
Spam, or Junk Mail, is a major headache for business and is one of the major entry points for Malware into computer networks. The term Spam comes from the Monty Python sketch where you got ‘Spam with everything’.
On Premises Spam Management Solutions
Within this sub category there are 2 further options:-
- Software
- Appliance
Software - Anti-Spam software installed onto your Exchange, mail server or SBS Server.
Appliance – A dedicated piece of hardware which sits between your Internet connection and the mail server.
Whichever of the ‘On Premises’ options you go for, software or appliance, there is a large choice of vendors who offer solutions. All at different price points and different supported email volumes.
Cloud Spam Management Solutions
With Cloud based Spam Management solutions there is nothing to install on your computer network, just a small configuration change so that your email flows via the Spam Management Service before being delivered to your mail server.
Relative Merits of Cloud or On Premises
Service Description |
On PremisesSoftware |
On PremisesAppliance |
Cloud |
| Images |
Software Spam Management |
Appliance Spam Management |
Cloud Spam Management |
| Reduces Mail Traffic | No | No | Yes |
| Simple to Install | No | Yes | Yes |
| Saves Mail Server CPU load | No | Yes | Yes |
| Removes Spam | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Protects Network | No * | Yes | Yes |
| Provides email Continuity | No | No | Yes |
| Remote Upgrade | No | Yes * | Yes |
| Zero Capital Expense | No | No | Yes |
| License only number required | No | No | Yes |
Reduces Mail Traffic - With a cloud based Spam Management solution the Spam is removed before it hits you mail server and internet connection. This saves clogging up your Internet connection with unwanted traffic.
Simple to Install - The software solution will need to be installed on your mail server and configured. This will need appropriate permissions on the server and may require that your server is re-booted before it starts protecting your mail server. The Appliance solution will just need to be plugged in and then follow a configuration ‘Wizard’. The Cloud solution will require 2 configuration changes: (1) Change the MX record which is where your incoming email is delivered to. (2) Change the outbound email to route via your Cloud provider.
Saves Mail Server CPU load – Both the Cloud solution and the Appliance solution offload the Spam Management from the mail server. Whereas the Software solution adds additional work on the mail server as every email has to be checked for spam.
Removes Spam - All of the solutions are effective in cleaning and removing Spam.
Protects Network – All of the solutions protect your network from Spam, however with the software solution the email has to be delivered into your mail server before it can be inspected. In most cases this will not cause a problem,but it does leave the software solution open to vulnerabilities as the Spam, and any potential Malware, has reached your server.
Provides email Continuity - Most of the Cloud Spam Solutions provide a degree of email contingency, either just for mail delivery or for both the sending and receiving of email. i.e. Should your Internet connection be down for any reason the email will still be received by the Cloud Service, rather than just fail to be delivered. The Cloud Service that we use also provides a Web Mail interface, so that you can continue to send email.
Remote Upgrade - The Cloud Service will be upgraded to the latest version without you having to do anything, its included as part of your subscription. The software solution will require a manual upgrade if the software changes. The Spam definitions and algorithms on all of the solutions will be updated regularly.
Zero Capital Expense – With both the Software and Appliance solutions you need to buy something, capital expense. With the cloud solution you only have a small monthly subscription so the costs are much lower.
Next Steps with Spam Management
Our recommendation, for most organisations, is that they implement a Cloud based Spam Management solution. This is based on; the cost of implementation for small networks, the accuracy of the spam management and the ease of management.
Contact us by completing the Sales Enquiry form on the right or by calling us on 01489-897760 to discuss your Spam Management requirements and we can discuss the options and provide you with the best Spam Management solution for your business.
