Stump the Panel: SharePoint Q&A

I was all set to build a list to capture email message traffic for an upcoming event when I discovered that the server administrator did not enable inbound email on the server. When I asked that this switch be turned on, I was told to 'make a business case for it'.

Uh? More to the point, what's the business case for shutting a capability off??

Admins? what's the rationale here? I admit to being kind of stumped - is it a big security risk or what?

It can be, by allowing incoming email, you open the possibility for viruses within the SHarepoint farm. Also with incoming email, a chunk in AD needs to be carved out so that when email enabled lists are created, accounts are created.

They should be willing to do so, it doesn't take much time to set up. Explain why you need email enabled lists for your particular case, and as a kicker, try to think of an example that they might benefit from. If you can relate the functionality with something they do, then it might sell them.

My favorite perk is emailing time off/vacation requests to a team calendar.

Just wanted to share that I've been down this road nearly half a dozen times. What 'they' should be willing to do, and what they 'are' are rarely one in the same.

Good luck arachnea!

Eric - our regular incoming email is scanned for viruses before we see it, so I presume that's happening at the exchange server, yes? wouldn't it be scanning inbound sharepoint email as well?

Kerri - tell me about it, heh.