Discover advanced features of Exchange ActiveSync in Exchange Server 2007 SP1

Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) contains advanced features around Exchange ActiveSync (EAS). You will see throughout this article, a new Exchange ActiveSync policy introduced in it. Several new Exchange ActiveSync policy settings were also introduced. In addition, Exchange Front End in the Exchange Product group has ensured that the message confirming the deletion of the remote email is sent to the correct mailbox of the corresponding user when the deletion process is successfully performed, this is for people. know that his mobile device has been reset to the factory default mode. Finally, the Direct Push protocol is also enhanced. The essence of the problem is that the data sent between the mobile devices and the Client Access server has dropped significantly compared to the Exchange Server 2007 RTM version.

Note :
Most new Windows mobile devices and advanced features in Exchange Server 2007 SP1 require the Exchange ActiveSync 12.1 version. The EAS protocol is available in Windows Mobile 6.0 RTM, when it is version 12.0, This means that your mobile device needs to be upgraded before exploiting the strengths of Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and the new features discussed in this article.

Note :
This article is based on Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Beta 2 (test version 2). This means that the EAS features introduced in this article can still be changed before Exchange Server 2007 SP1 RTM is available.

New default policy of Exchange ActiveSync

With Exchange Server 2007 SP1, a new Exchange ActiveSync policy will be added automatically during the Client Access Server role installation process as shown in Figure 1 below. Most of you know that you can manually create and assign an EAS policy to user mailboxes in the Exchange 2007 RTM version.

Figure 1: The default Exchange ActiveSync policy

Note that even when you upgrade an existing Exchange 2007 server, with the Client Access Server role installed for Exchange Server 2007 SP1, the new default policy will be created and automatically assigned to all. Both mailboxes of Exchange 2007 users have not yet been assigned an EAS policy (Figure 2).

Figure 2: The default policy is assigned to the user's mailbox

The new EAS policy is configured quite loosely, which means it does not provide the required security in most IT business organizations (it even allows some other devices sync with the mailbox), but it's still better than no default policy. The default policy is configured with the settings shown in Table 1. As you can see, there are many policy settings in the table that are newly introduced in Exchange Server 2007 SP1, We will look at them in more detail in the next section.

Policy settings

The value is configured

AllowNonProvisionableDevices

True

AlphanumericDevicePasswordRequired

False

AttachmentsEnabled

True

DeviceEncryptionEnabled

False

RequireStorageCardEncryption

False

DevicePasswordEnabled

True

PasswordRecoveryEnabled

True

DevicePolicyRefreshInterval

Unlimited

AllowSimpleDevicePassword

True

MaxAttachmentSize

Unlimited

WSSAccessEnabled

True

UNCAccessEnabled

True

MinDevicePasswordLength

4

MaxInactivityTimeDeviceLock

00:30:00

MaxDevicePasswordFailedAttempts

8

DevicePasswordExpiration

Unlimited

DevicePasswordHistory

0

IsDefaultPolicy

True

AllowStorageCard

True

AllowCamera

True

RequireDeviceEncryption

False

AllowUnsignedApplications

True

AllowUnsignedInstallationPackages

True

AllowWiFi

True

AllowTextMessaging

True

AllowPOPIMAPEmail

True

AllowIrDA

True

RequireManualSyncWhenRoaming

False

AllowDesktopSync

True

AllowHTMLEmail

True

RequireSignedSMIMEMessages

False

RequireEncryptedSMIMEMessages

False

AllowSMIMESoftCerts

True

AllowBrowser

True

AllowConsumerEmail

True

AllowRemoteDesktop

True

AllowInternetSharing

True

AllowBluetooth

Allow

MaxCalendarAgeFilter

All

MaxEmailAgeFilter

All

RequireSignedSMIMEAlgorithm

SHA1

RequireEncryptionSMIMEAlgorithm

TripleDES

AllowSMIMEEncryptionAlgorithmNegotiation

RequireEncryptionSMIMEAlgorithm

MinDevicePasswordComplexCharacters

3

MaxEmailBodyTruncationSize

Unlimited

MaxEmailHTMLBodyTruncationSize

Unlimited

UnapprovedInROMApplicationList

{}

ApprovedApplicationList

{}

ExternallyDeviceManaged

False

MailboxPolicyFlags

0

Table 1: Policy configuration settings of Exchange ActiveSync

You can view or change the policy settings of the EAS configured on your Client Access Server by opening Exchange Management Shell and typing Get-ActiveSyncMailboxPolicy -Identity 'Default' or opening the Default EAS policy property page in Exchange. Management Console.

When there are one or more EAS policies to add to the default policy, you have an option for setting up one of the EAS policies by default, so that policy will be assigned to all boxes. Mail of Exchange 2007 users (as shown in Figure 3) instead of only the default policy.

Figure 3: Specify the default policy

Advanced settings

As mentioned, Exchange Server 2007 SP1 has a number of new EAS policies, which will enable more secure and secure mobile devices than in Exchange Server 2007 RTM. We will look at the policy properties page and see how each new policy affects mobile devices in your Exchange Server 2007 organization. Start by opening the Exchange Management Console, then click the Client Access button located below the Organization Configuration center section (see Figure 1). When EAS policies are in a wide organization, this is the place to create and change them. Now you can right-click Default EAS policy, then select Properties. On the properties page, there are 5 tabs in Exchange Server 2007 SP1, not 2 as in Exchange Server 2007 RTM version.

Let's take a look at the General tab as shown in Figure 4 below. There are not too many changes here and we can see which policies are configured by default and set Maximum attachment size (KB) to be replaced by the Refresh interval (hours) setting (set Maximum attachment size ( KB) can be found under the Sync Settings tab. With the Refresh interval (hours) setting we can specify how often mobile devices need to upgrade Exchange ActiveSync policy from the server.

Figure 4: General tab on the default EAS properties page

Let's switch to the Password tab (as shown in Figure 5). There is a new setting added to this tab and that is to set the Minimum number of complex characters, this setting allows us to specify the minimum number of characters for the device password to have.

Figure 5: Password tab on the default EAS property page

Now switch to the next tab, which is the Sync Settings tab (see Figure 6). Here, we can configure how many past email and calendar entries should be synchronized with one device. We also configure the limit notification size, whether it should be allowed to sync while roaming, specify whether the html format email can be read on the device and finally see if it should allow downloading. Attachments to the device and, if enabled, specify the maximum size of the attachment.

Figure 6: The Sync Settings tab on the default EAS properties page

The Sync Settings tab is new and we've listed each policy setting on this tab in Table 2 below so you can keep track of it.

Set policies EAS DescriptionInclude Past Calendar itemsWith this setting, you can specify how many back-up calendar entries should be kept in your mobile device.You can choose between all, two weeks, one month, 3 months or 6 months.Include past e-mail itemsWith this setting, you can specify how many back-up email itemsshould be kept in the mobile device.You can choose between all, one day, one week, 2 weeks and one monthLimit message size to (KB)This setting allows you to specify the maximum size for email notifications that are allowed to sync with the device. mobile.Allow synchronization when roamingWith this setting, you can allow or prevent users from syncing their devices when roaming.Allow html formatted emailThis setting allows you to specify whether to allow mobile device users to read emails in HTML format.Cho phép các kết nối đến tải về kích cỡ tập tin và kích cỡ tối đa (KB)With this setting, you can specify whether the user's mobile device can download attachments in the email.In addition, you can set the maximum size for attachments to download from your mobile device.

Figure 2: EAS policy configuration settings

Let's switch to the Device tab (as shown in Figure 7). On this tab, mobile device features such as mobile storage cards, pre-installed cameras, Wi-Fi, infrared ports, Internet sharing, remote workstations, copper can be disabled. Desktop ActiveSync client and Bluetooth.

Figure 7: The Device tab on the Exchange ActiveSync default properties window

The Device tab is a new tab and we list you the policy settings on this tab with brief instructions in Table 3 below.

Exchange ActiveSync policy settings DescribeAllow removable storageYou can specify whether mobile device users are allowed to use the memory card in mobile devices.Allow cameraYou can ban mobile device users from using the camera, Features available on most mobile devices Windows.Allow Wi-Fi With this setting, you can prohibit mobile device users from using Wi-Fi (wireless network card), the feature that is available in most mobile devices. Mobile device Windows.Allow infrared With this setting, you can prohibit your mobile device users from using infrared ports, a feature available on most Windows mobile devices. Allow Internet sharing from the deviceYou can ban mobile device users from using the Internet sharing feature included in Windows mobile 6.0 mobile devices. Internet sharing feature makes your laptop able to connect to the Internet with a mobile device. Allow remote desktop from the deviceClick the mobile device user to use the remote workstation feature, which is most available with Windows mobile devices. With remote workstation, you can remotely connect to a Windows XP / Vista client or a Windows 2003/2008 server.Allow synchronization from a desktop Allow or prohibit mobile device users from using the Desktop ActiveSync client to sync with a mobile device.Allow Bluetooth Allows or prohibits mobile device users from using Bluetooth connectivity.

Table 3: Policy configuration settings of Exchange ActiveSync

Note :
All settings on the Device tab are valuable features, which means that you must have Exchange Enterprise CALs to use them.

Switch to the last tab, Advanced tab. As you can see in Figure 8, we can specify that users of mobile devices are allowed to use Internet browsers, mail, applications that are not signed and install an unsigned installation package. is not. In addition, you can also allow or block specific applications.

Figure 8: Advanced tab on the Exchange ActiveSync default properties window

The Advanced tab is also a new tab so we have listed some policy settings on this tab along with brief descriptions of it in Table 4 below.

Exchange ActiveSync policy setting Allow browser description Allow or prohibit users from using the browser on their mobile device. Allow consumer mail Allow or prohibit users from receiving mail on their mobile device. Allow unsigned applications With this setting enabled, mobile device users will be allowed to run applications that have not yet signed a private certificate. dependence. Unsigned unsigned installation packages With this setting, users of mobile devices will be allowed to install applications that have not yet signed a trusted certificate.

Table 4: Policy configuration settings of Exchange ActiveSync

In addition to the settings in Table 4, you can enter the Allowed and Blocked Applications box any application will be allowed or locked.

Note :
All settings on the Advanced tab are important features, which means you must have Exchange Enterprise CALs to use them.

Keep in mind that not all new policy settings in Exchange Server 2007 SP1 are displayed in the EMC GUI. The following policies must be manipulated via the Exchange Management Shell:

1. AllowTextMessaging
2. AllowPOPIMAPEmail
3. RequireSignedSMIMEMessages
4. RequireEncryptedSMIMEMessages
5. AllowSMIMESoftCerts
6. RequireSignedSMIMEAlgorithm
7. RequireEncryptionSMIMEAlgorithm
8. AllowSMIMEEncryptionAlgorithmNegotiation
9. MaxEmailBodyTruncationSize
10. MaxEmailHTMLBodyTruncationSize
11. UnapprovedInROMApplicationList
12. ExternallyDeviceManaged
13. MailboxPolicyFlags

Time will tell you which policies will be contained in the GUI in the RTM version of Exchange Server 2007 SP1.

Remote wipe configuration

In addition to the new EAS default policy and instructions for some new policy settings, Exchange Server 2007 SP1 also has some enhancements related to remote wipe, the feature used to reset. A mobile device returns to the default remote in case it is lost or stolen. When this feature works, there is no need for too many changes, a confirmation email message will be sent to the user's mailbox when the mobile device has successfully deleted it remotely. This happens whether deletion is done by an Exchange administrator via Exchange Management Console or Exchange Management Shell as well as if the user initiates deletion through Mobile Devices pages under Options in Outlook Web Access 2007 ( Figure 9).

Figure 9: Successfully deleting the device remotely via OWA 2007

Once the mobile device has been successfully deleted, a confirmation email similar to the email in Figure 10 will be sent to the corresponding user's mailbox.

Figure 10: Confirmation email

In addition, you have the option to remotely delete from OWA 2007 and Exchange Management Console / Shell.

S / MIME is further supported

As you may know, S / MIME components for OWA 2007 and EAS are not available in the Exchange 2007 RTM version. This means you can sign digital signatures as well as encrypt email messages from your mobile device. As seen in the previous tables of this article, you can control S / MIME on mobile devices through several specific S / MIME policies.

Reduce data in direct push protocol (Direct Push Protocol)

Exchange's peripheral product group also improved the Direct Push protocol, the protocol used by Exchange ActiveSync. The size of the response HTTPS and header requests is greatly reduced, which reduces the amount of data sent between devices and the Client Access server. Although this feature is hidden for device users, it is indeed an important improvement for business organizations.

Conclude

Many IT business organizations require policies that are configured for all client notification types in the organization to benefit from the new EAS policy settings in Exchange Server 2007 SP1, which will allow or prohibit most features on a mobile device. This new EAS default policy is a smart move and fits the entire default security strategy in the Exchange product group. Lastly, improvements to create Direct Push protocols to reduce the amount of data sent between devices and Client Access server (s) will be warmly welcomed by the CIO because they are responsible. about IT budget.