anti-spam, imf, gfi, mailcontroller, what do you use?

[magnus911]

I am looking for some people to discuss SPAM filtering with. We use IMF
and GFI depending on the client size. We use IMF right away but we run
into a series of downfalls:

1) The updates never get detected even though the Registry is set
correctly. We use windows update website and it never comes up on the
list. Is there a manual download that can be found ANYWHERE?

2) There is a small amount of reporting that can be done, would
love a tool recommendation

3) Keyword updating is not scalable, we create a file and then
distribute to 20 to 30 clients for every update that happens.

GFI is used for customers that have a well established domain and IMF
would never work completely b.c of the amount of SPAM and the above
downfalls. So they are willing to spend $500 to $800 depending on
users to install and use that system.

So for the group:

* What do you use?

* Do you have any written documentation that you are willing to
share to benefit the community. I have a 10 page document on how to set
up IMF based upon the 5 to 6 sites that I used to set it up and would be
willing to share that.

* Can we get manual updates for IMF?

[asbasb]

We use IMF most of the time, although we are looking at going to exchangedefender. To answer one question though, you have to use MICROSOFT update and not windows. Then you'll get the updates.

At other sites, We've had good luck with Barracuda and have also recently installed a Fortinet appliance that also handles firewall/router function. Barracuda
currently blocks 99% of 1000-5000 spams per day. I will be testing the Fortinet filtering capability on that same domain in the near future to determine effectiveness.

[asbasb]

The most recent IMF update is under High-priority updates, under Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, listed as Update for Intelligent Message
Filter for Exchange Server 2003: 2008.03.27 (KB907747).

As noted previously you need to be using Microsoft Update, not Windows Update. It is the expanded update checking tool and will look for updates for other servers (like Exchange) not just Windows Server 2003.
To get there the first time in IE7, Tools, Windows Update and then click on the button that adds Microsoft Update (as I recall). From then on when you open IE7, Tools, Windows Update the display will show Microsoft Update. Subtle difference but it is the one to use.

[charlie]

I STRONGLY recommend you look at an oursourced product, such as Postini, Exchange Defender, Reflexion, etc. We've been using and selling Postini to our customers for about 4? years now and haven't
looked back. We started with GFI and spent so much time on the product getting it just right (Remember, this was 4+ years ago)

We had an issue with it when they released a new version that essentially shut down SMTP every few days. Spent 6 months with them and Microsoft and they couldn't resolve it and we walked away. Postini since then and our users love it - great source of reoccuring revenue and no aggrivation.

But the biggest reason to check it out? Your servers (Or appliances/Internet lines) aren't handling 5000 emails a day that are trash. We had one customer - 50,000 emails a day, and 99% were trash. GFI/SMTP was having a hard time dealing with it back then. So their server and T1 went from 50,000 a day, to less than 1000 a day.