Email behind VPN / Exchange Question

hjm357 · Post by **hjm357** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:17 am

At my new job, they have their email server setup behind a VPN. I bring my personal laptop to work and can connect to use the internet; however, since it is a personal computer for security reasons they will not set it up to use the VPN, so I cannot access my email using outlook. They do have a web interface that is set up using microsoft exchange. I was wondering if someone with greater knowledge of exchange would know if it might be possible to set up that mailbox in outlook as an exchange account. I've been talking to our IS people about this, but they have not been too forthcoming with help.

I know that's not a lot of information to go on, but if anyone had a thought on how I might be able to access the email account in outlook without being part of the VPN I might be able to approach our IS people about it.

Thanks for any help.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:32 am

Do they allow external access to their OWA? (Outlook Web Access)

Blisster · Post by **Blisster** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:43 am

i don't think you can connect to an exchange server via POP3 unless they specifically allow it. I know that you can use the IMAP protocol via a LAN connection by default, but unless they are allowing you secure access via the VPN i think you're stuck with using web access. However Exchange 2k3's web access is really good, its got a solid interface and it loads pretty quickly. I actually prefer it over using outlook via VPN for a few of my sites.

hjm357 · Post by **hjm357** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:40 am

yes, i can access the web interface from offsite

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 4:59 am

The biggest question is , will they allow it? You said you've been talking to IS, but what was their response?

I would say that without VPN access, no- you cannot connect to it. If OWA is provided, then that's likely the only way they're going to allow you to access it.