Exchange ActiveSync

Exchange ActiveSync requires a Microsoft Exchange account. Exchange ActiveSync is a protocol that allows mobile devices to synchronize e-mail, calendar, contacts and tasks/notes over the wireless internet or mobile internet with the Microsoft Exchange Server. This means any changes in your e-mail, calendar, contacts and tasks/notes will also be changed with your computer, tablet and phones. This protocol also provides basic mobile device management (ask us for details on more comprehensive options suitable to more advanced requirements) and policy controls.
Please keep in mind that solutions delivered in this fashion rely on the implementation by the manufacturer or carrier of the mobile device, and that third party software may have an impact on performance or function. If these requirements are critical to your business you will need to test that the options work on each combination of phone and software. If there are problems, the only recourse available would be to contact the your mobile carrier’s support department and explain the issue.

Standard vs. Enhanced mail clients:

Modern mobile phones support connection to one or more Microsoft Exchange accounts. That connection can be made through the native mail software included on the device or could be made through a third party application. When policies are set they may apply to the device as a whole, or to the mail client in which the mail account is configured (for example Touchdown). In the case of Touchdown a command to wipe the phone of “company data” is restricted to wiping the Touchdown configuration – not the entire phone – leaving the user of a person phone in a corporate environment their own choice and technology for backups and security.

Exchange ActiveSync can:

• Wipe the phone (Touchdown will wipe itself – not the device)

Policies that can be set:

• Passwords:
• Require a Password – To make sure that the mobile device has a password.
• Require alphanumeric password – This option makes them have a more complex password. They’ll have to use letters in their password.
• Minimum number of character sets –This requires the user to use a number of different sets of characters.
• Require encryption on device – This increases security by encrypting all information on the device.
• Require encryption on storage cards – This increases security by encrypting all information on the memory card of the device.
• Allow simple password – This allow users to use a pin code. For example: 1111, or 1234
• Number of failed attempts allowed: If this option is enabled, the user’s device will get be wiped (erased) if the number of failures exceeds this limit. The minimum to set is 4 tries.
• Minimum password length – This is the minimum length for the password.
• Time without user input before password must be re-entered – If the user doesn’t use their device for some time the device re-lock and will ask for the password to unlock again.
• Password expiration – This determines how long before the user is forced to change the device password.
• Enforce password history – This prevents the user from using the same password on their mobile device.

• Sync Settings:
• Limiting past email, appointments, sync size, restricting HTML, attachments , etc.  can reduce bandwidth used to sync, as well as limiting the risk of lost data in the event the device is lost or stolen.
• Include past calendar items – This allows the device to view older calendar items. The settings can be: All, Two Weeks, One month, Three Month, or Six Months.
• Include past e-mails items – This allows the device to view older emails. The settings can bbe: All, One Day, Three Days, One Week, Two Week, and One Month.
• Limit e-mail size to (KB) – This allows the maximum allowable message size the device can download.
• Allow Direct Push when roaming – This allows the mobile device to receive e-mail when the device is out of local coverage area. This does not affect sync over Wi-Fi.
• Allow HTML-formatted e-mail – This will allow the device to view HTML emails if disabled it will be viewed in plain text.
• Allow attachments to be downloaded to device – This allows the device to download attachments.
• Maximum attachment size (KB) – This sets the maximum allowable attachment size that can be downloaded to the device.

• Device Settings
• Allow Removable storage – This allows memory cards to be added to the mobile device.
• Allow camera – This allows the user to use the camera
• Allow Wi-Fi – This allows the user to use of Wi-Fi on the device.
• Allow infrared – This allows the user to use infrared (remote control applications).
• Allow Internet sharing from device – This allows sharing the mobile device’s cellular Internet with another device through Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. This is also known as tethering and can have significant costs associated with it if your mobile data allowance is exceeded.
• Allow Bluetooth – This allows the user to use Bluetooth. There is an option for Handsfree only.

• Device Application
• Allow browser – This allows the user to use the browser. Third-party browser doesn’t follow this rule.
• Allow consumer mail – allows the user to access other emails other than corporate email in the email application. Third-party email application doesn’t follow this rule

For more information on Microsoft Exchange, click Here.

Please contact us if you have any questions.