Comparisons

There are a number of methods available to reduce the clutter in your inbox and protect you from viruses.  As you might expect, some work better than others and have various pros and cons.

End-User Software Filtering

Often the easiest and fastest solution to configure is software that runs directly on the machines of each user in the office.  Programs such as IHateSpam and Cloudmark do their job quite well and will either remove junk from the inbox or mark it as "spam" in the subject line.

Mail Server Filtering

More complicated filtering software will run on a business's mail server rather than at each computer.  By providing a single point of administration, this eliminates the costs associated with maintaining software on each computer.  Providers of mail-server filtering include Spam Assassin, BorderWare, and Can It Pro.

Perimeter Filtering

From a perspective of administration, this is the least costly solution for an organization regardless of its size.  By directing mail to an external filter, the company saves on bandwidth costs, server administration, and storage. 

MX Resources, using Postini, is a perimeter-based filtering solution.

		End User	Mail Server	Perimeter
	Minimal Up-Front Costs
	Quick Deployment Time
	End-User Flexibility
	Ease of Use and Administration
	End User Security