
Will Thunderbird use my offices server, or their own?I have to go through my co. server for legal reasons.
I work in finance and for compliance reasons, all communication must go through my company's server. If Thunderbird is configured the same way as my work email, I assume I will get emails on both platforms (I should be able to send from both too)
However, if I configure Thunderbird the same way, will it hijack my emails away from my office email. I'll get in a lot of trouble. :( I'd really like to be able to send from Thunderbird and have it be shown in my office's email platforms "sent box" thus insuring that I'm in compliance. I would like to receive them in both as well. is this possible? Thanks for your help!
Chosen solution
I don't understand what your two "platforms" are. I guess you mean a computer at work and your own (at home?) Or just two different clients?
I think IMAP is the answer, but you may find that the workplace server isn't exposed to you at home. And your employer may prefer that business email is kept "in house" and not accessed off site. They may take the view that a computer that is not directly under their control is an unknown entity and not necessarily secure or free of malware.
For years, at my place of work, we ran an in-house MS Exchange server which was deliberately not open to outside users. The only way to make use of it from outside required using a VPN to log into the company network and so you'd be effectively inside the company LAN. But getting a VPN login required official sanction.
OTOH, it's quite trivial to set up a filter that simply forwards all company email to an external (private) account, but again you may run foul of company rules and SOPs.
It all changed recently when they switched to an Office365 account, which is cloud-based and allows connection from just about anywhere. And yes, I use Thunderbird to access this Office365 account via IMAP. Prior to the change to this cloud-based server, I used DavMail to allow Thunderbird to connect to the MS Exchange server.
As far as I can make out, no-one seems to be able to tell from my email messages that I'm not using Outlook as does everyone else (apart from the weird geek in the next cubicle who uses gmail's webmail.) Of course anyone could look at my messages' headers to identify my MUA but no-one seems bothered enough to do this.
So, it can work, but equally well, it may not. YMMV, as they say.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (3)
Thunderbird is email client software that runs on your computer. There are no Thunderbird servers. Email providers have email servers. As for if this will comply I suggest you ask your employer.
Thank you soo much for the quick response!
If I configure both platforms the same way, will I get duplicate emails in both inboxes? If I send from one, will it be shown in the "sent box" of both? If that happens I should be good to go. Sorry if I'm not very tech savvy! Thanks again!
Chosen Solution
I don't understand what your two "platforms" are. I guess you mean a computer at work and your own (at home?) Or just two different clients?
I think IMAP is the answer, but you may find that the workplace server isn't exposed to you at home. And your employer may prefer that business email is kept "in house" and not accessed off site. They may take the view that a computer that is not directly under their control is an unknown entity and not necessarily secure or free of malware.
For years, at my place of work, we ran an in-house MS Exchange server which was deliberately not open to outside users. The only way to make use of it from outside required using a VPN to log into the company network and so you'd be effectively inside the company LAN. But getting a VPN login required official sanction.
OTOH, it's quite trivial to set up a filter that simply forwards all company email to an external (private) account, but again you may run foul of company rules and SOPs.
It all changed recently when they switched to an Office365 account, which is cloud-based and allows connection from just about anywhere. And yes, I use Thunderbird to access this Office365 account via IMAP. Prior to the change to this cloud-based server, I used DavMail to allow Thunderbird to connect to the MS Exchange server.
As far as I can make out, no-one seems to be able to tell from my email messages that I'm not using Outlook as does everyone else (apart from the weird geek in the next cubicle who uses gmail's webmail.) Of course anyone could look at my messages' headers to identify my MUA but no-one seems bothered enough to do this.
So, it can work, but equally well, it may not. YMMV, as they say.
Modified