Mimecast, the online platform we use for our email management, security and archiving, has recently undergone an update to version 2009.7 bringing about some new changes and additions to the services.

One of the big new changes are new service bundles which tier the services into a basic Express version, through and Enterprise version and onto an Advanced Version however existing service offerings are likely to remain unaffected for the foreseeable future.

Some of the other new features of release 2009.7 include:

• Optional Mimecast Services for Microsoft Exchange (MSE)
  adding management functions for Exchange from within Mimecast – this requires the installation of a Windows Service on your Exchange Server but offers Folder Replication, Message Stubbing, and Folder Based Retention
• New E-Discovery capabilities
• A number of security enhancements
  including optional two-factor user authentication using OpenID
  Enhanced search logging is also added to the platform
• Further Domino integration
• Data Leak Prevention Tools (specialist add-on services)
  including Metadata stripping and Microsoft Word to Adobe PDF conversion

Working through the Mimecast interface online I can see a number of the explorer menu option changes which gives a better logical structure to the available options (some of the options have also been renamed). There are now a number of key areas Secure Messaging Gateway, Message Archive, Enhanced Stationery, User Directory, Reporting, Service Connections, and Account Options.

The Hold Review Queue, which is where I spend most of my administrative time, has undergone a few additions – most notably more information about why a particular message has been held up which I have been finding quite useful – especially in fine tuning content policies.

When using any platform on a regular basis it is quite common to come up with ways of working, here are some of the things I might like to see in upcoming versions:

• Some best practice documents – particularly for configuring the content definitions and policies
• On the Hold Review Queue the ability to apply a block or permit to all entries in the queue
• The removal of the alert box after adding a sender to a block list – perhaps replaced with a message status bar so it does not interfere with administrative tasks but is there if you need it
• The ability to get to a mail which has been rejected within a few minutes – in case you click on it by accident
• The ability to click on a policy reason in the hold review queue which takes you straight to the appropriate policy
• A daily report which shows Directory Connections status (including new accounts added and any accounts removed), Problem Delivery Queue items, a snapshot of the reporting, and Journaling status
• An SMS or Email alerting configuration which can let me know when connection problems occur

You can get more details about the 2009.7 at Launching Mimecast Release 2009.7