A standardized campus email system with enhanced threat protection
Motivation behind the change
- The licence for our current threat protection tool (Proofpoint) was expiring providing the University the opportunity to review, assess, and select the best threat protection option (Cisco selected)
- Learn more about the Cisco Email Security solution
- System audit recommendation to reduce non-IST servers/email systems that present risks to the University (to the extent possible)
- Streamline end user support by standardizing email systems at the University (Microsoft 365 email) and reducing dependency on legacy system, Mailservices
Relationship to other Microsoft 365 projects
Pre-requisite: Migration of email to Microsoft 365 email in the cloud
Audience(s) impacted
Transition from Proofpoint to Cisco:
- All campus users (receive email messages related to security threats)
- Students will now have threat protection reviews for email
Reduction of non-IST servers/email systems:
- Departments running their own servers/domain routing email
- Alumni and retirees who use Mailservices will be migrated to Microsoft 365 email
Migration of on-premises Connect and Mailservices email accounts to M365
- Retirees
- Employees
- Alumni
Known impacts
Transition from Proofpoint to Cisco:
- New or different messaging related to email security reviews
Reduction of non-IST servers/email systems:
- Departments that operate their own email servers will be encouraged to adopt Microsoft 365 email and some people will need to complete some work to make this happen
Retirees and Alumni:
- Some pre-/post-migration work
Benefits of the change
Transition from Proofpoint to Cisco:
- Enhanced threat protection for campus email
Reduction of non-IST servers/email systems:
- Enhanced functionality, collaboration, and productivity opportunities provided with Microsoft 365 email
Retirees and Alumni:
- Access to enhanced functionality available through Microsoft 365 suite of apps and services; improved / streamlined end user support; enhanced security
Risk of not completing the change
- No anti-malware solution in place once Proofpoint licence expires
- Servers/email systems not supported by IST will continue to pose a security risk for the University
- Significant difficulty and risk supporting complex legacy email system that has limited support available
Important date(s)
- TBD 2022: Reduction of non-centralized email servers and non-@uwaterloo domains
- August to December 2022: Migration of generic email accounts to M365
- May 2022: Migration of alumni from Connect on-premises and Mailservices email accounts to M365
- November 2021: Migration of resource email (complete)
- October 2021: Migration of alumni email (complete)
- June 2021: Migration of retiree email (Connect accounts only) (complete)
- January 31, 2021: Implement Cisco Threat Protection for all inbound email (complete)
- November 2, 2020: Implement Cisco Threat Protection for all outbound email (complete)
Project contact(s)
