Article Understanding Your Outlook Web Access Options
By Insight Editor / 31 Jul 2014 / Topics: Software Mobility
When it comes to setting up email web access for your users, there are a variety of standard methods and software packages available. However, which one is best for your team? To answer that question, let’s first examine the key features of each:
POP3/IMAP4
POP3 and IMAP4 are best suited for users that do not require group calendaring, scheduling, task management and other advanced features of Microsoft Exchange. POP3 and IMAP4 provide the simplest means of sending and receiving email from any internet connection. POP3 allows one to pull email to the local PC (removing the email from the server) or pull a copy of the email locally (leaving the email on the server). As such, there is no synchronization with POP3. Therefore, any action on an email only appears on the local machine. IMAP4 supersedes POP3 by allowing true email synchronization. With IMAP4, emails rest locally on the PC as well as on the server, and any action on one is reflected on the other. Another advantage IMAP4 has over POP3 is that it allows you to have multiple folder synchronization.
Secure MAPI and Microsoft Outlook 2007/2010
Best suited for power users, secure MAPI provides access to all Exchange 2007/10 features. By utilizing ISA server functionality built into the service, users can securely connect to the Exchange server over an encrypted connection using dedicated telecommunication lines or site to site Virtual Private Network (VPN) services over any Internet connection. Microsoft Outlook 2007/10 is the recommended client and is provided with all MAPI level service.
MAPI over Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)
The Microsoft Windows Remote Procedure Call (RPC) over HTTPS feature enables users to connect to their Exchange mailbox even via border firewalls and conservative ISPs which typically disallow RPC. This eliminates the requirement for some remote office users or home users to use a VPN to connect to the Exchange servers. The Windows RPC over HTTPS feature enables an RPC client (such as Outlook 2007 and higher) to establish connections across the Internet by tunneling the RPC traffic over HTTPS.
Outlook Web Access
Best suited for mobile users without access to their smartphones or their personal computer, Outlook Web Access (OWA) provides access to the core feature set of Microsoft Exchange without the heavy software needs of the desktop client. Through virtually any web browser and over a secure connection, users may send and receive email, utilize the Global Access list, access personal and shared calendars, manage tasks, and utilize a number of configuration options, including the Out of Office Assistant.
| Access Method Summary Table | ||
| MAPI | • Provides access to all Exchange features • Requires Outlook client • Cache client capatibility |
• Best suited for power users • Cannot use if ISP blocks RPC (requires dedicated telecom lines or VPN) • Dramatically reduces bandwidth consumption |
| MAPI over HTTPS | • Provides access to all Exchange features • Requires Outlook 2007 or higher • Requires XP SP2 or higher • Requires Mac OS X or higher |
• Best suited for power users • Cached client capability allows use if an IP blocks RCP • Dramatically reduces bandwidth consumption |
| OWA | • Provides access to most Exchange features • HTTPS based client protocol which renders Outlook client as a web page |
• Only requires web browser to access most of the full Outlook functionality • Best suited for mobile users and email retrieval |
| IMAP4 | • Requires configuration of the client • Allows access to several folders on the server • Supports message preview and manipulation without downloading • Changes to a message are synchronized on the server |
• Does not support the functionalities of collaboration, scheduling, calendaring, or task management • Best suited for users who do not require group collaboration |
| POP3 | • Requires configuration of the client • Messages are downloaded to the user’s inbox folder from the server • Messages can be cut or copied directly from the server. • Does not support preview message headers • Changes to a local message are not synchronized on the server. |
• Does not support functionalities of calendaring or task management. • Best suited for static users who do not require synchronization or require any group collaboration. |
Of course, if you’re not sure which of these options is the best fit for your team, Insight can help determine and deploy the right access method for you based on your mobility needs and your office environment..
