Quarantine Policies in Microsoft 365

Quarantine policies in Microsoft 365 are a powerful tool for protecting your organization's email communications from spam, malware, and other unwanted messages. These policies allow you to automatically isolate suspicious messages and take appropriate actions to mitigate potential threats. In this article, we will discuss the different types of quarantine policies available in Microsoft 365, how to configure and manage them, and best practices for using them to protect your organization's email communications. 

There are several types of quarantine policies available in Microsoft 365. The most common type is the spam quarantine policy, which is used to isolate messages that are suspected to be spam. These messages are held in a separate mailbox, known as the spam quarantine mailbox, where they can be reviewed and either deleted or released to the recipient's inbox. 

Another type of quarantine policy is the malware quarantine policy, which is used to isolate messages that are suspected to contain malware. These messages are held in a separate mailbox, known as the malware quarantine mailbox, where they can be reviewed and either deleted or released to the recipient's inbox. 

A third type of quarantine policy is the bulk email quarantine policy, which is used to isolate messages that are suspected to be bulk email. These messages are held in a separate mailbox, known as the bulk email quarantine mailbox, where they can be reviewed and either deleted or released to the recipient's inbox. 

In addition to these three types of quarantine policies, Microsoft 365 also includes a phishing quarantine policy which is used to isolate messages that are suspected to be phishing attempts. These messages are held in a separate mailbox, known as the phishing quarantine mailbox, where they can be reviewed and either deleted or released to the recipient's inbox. 

To configure quarantine policies in Microsoft 365, you will need to use the Exchange admin center. From there, you can create new quarantine policies, edit existing policies, and manage the settings for the quarantine mailboxes. 

When configuring quarantine policies, there are several key settings to consider. One of the most important is the threshold for triggering a quarantine. This setting determines how likely a message must be to be spam, malware, bulk email, or phishing before it is quarantined. 

Another important setting is the retention period for quarantined messages. This setting determines how long quarantined messages will be held before they are automatically deleted. 

Once quarantine policies are configured, it is important to regularly review the quarantine mailboxes to ensure that no legitimate messages have been quarantined. This can be done by assigning specific individuals or teams as quarantine managers. These managers can then review the messages in the quarantine mailbox and release any legitimate messages to the recipient's inbox. 

To maximize the effectiveness of quarantine policies in Microsoft 365, it is important to follow best practices. One of the most important best practices is to configure the policies correctly. This means setting the threshold for triggering a quarantine correctly and ensuring that the retention period for quarantined messages is appropriate for your organization. 

Another best practice is to regularly review the quarantine mailboxes and release any legitimate messages to the recipient's inbox. This ensures that no important messages are missed and that the quarantine mailbox does not become cluttered with unnecessary messages. 

It's also important to train employees on how to spot phishing attempts and how to report them. This will help to reduce the number of phishing messages that make it through to the inbox and increase the effectiveness of your phishing quarantine policy. 

In conclusion, quarantine policies in Microsoft 365 are a powerful tool for protecting your organization's email communications from spam, malware, and other unwanted messages. By understanding the different types of quarantine policies available, how to configure and manage them, and best practices for using them, you can help to ensure that your organization's email communications.