A messaging environment is a complicated system, composed of many interdependent components. To maintain a healthy messaging environment, you must correctly implement and maintain every one of these components. Additionally, to maintain business continuity within your messaging system, you must consider its external dependencies. Reporting and analyzing messaging system statistics is crucial to keep your messaging system available to perform the expected functions.

This white paper describes the components of a typical messaging environment and the recommended reporting, analysis, and diagnostic practices you should use to maintain the health of this complex environment. It discusses the various ways to implement components of a messaging environment, including the perimeter servers, firewalls, anti-malware solutions, anti-spam solutions, and compliance and archiving solutions, and remote access methodologies.

Best practices included in this white paper are recommendations based on knowledge and experience gained by IT professionals across many environments.