It’s probably no secret that if you’re running a business, the best Linux mail server will be one that works for you. To be truly effective, a mail server must be easy to use, secure, and reliable. While the underlying technology may differ in Linux from other operating systems, the same attributes govern all mail servers.
The first thing to look for is a user interface that makes it easy to get your mail. It shouldn’t be necessary to know how to manipulate any of the various commands that correspond to a certain part of the mail application. You should be able to move from a message’s list to a compose window with no trouble.
You should be able to do this with any webmail service. Most users take a subscription or a free trial to a webmail service for granted. They rarely check the webmail interface.
Webmail providers are as guilty as anyone of neglecting this aspect of their service. Unfortunately, it’s a part of everyday operating system use. People expect their email client to be “magically” fast, and they don’t think about it much until they’re notified that it’s not working. If you’re running a Linux mail server, be sure that you’ve got an elegant, user-friendly email client.
Security protocols are critical when you’re operating a mail server. The webmail client should be fully compatible with any encryption standards. And your mail client should be able to handle not only standard mail but encrypted mail as well.
Encrypted mail has been used for a number of years in the online world, but mail services didn’t always work well with it. For instance, POP3 and IMAP support was inconsistent. Not any more.
With these good ones, you can get access to your mailboxes anywhere, even on the move. It’s no longer necessary to send mail from a virtual computer. And it’s just one more reason that being Linux-aware is so important.
Modern mails are frequently encrypted, so be sure that the encryption is going to work smoothly. Encryption also adds another layer of security. You don’t have to worry about security breaches because you’re using a secure protocol. And your clients will appreciate the added security that encryption provides.
As we said earlier, the most effective mail server is one that’s easy to use and reliable. You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. That’s where a webmail service comes in.
While the basic credentials used by a webmail server may be the same as those used by the default mail client, the benefits are manifold. Not only does the email client not have to be kept up to date with every new security feature, it also doesn’t have to maintain its own cache of data, which means that it’s much faster to retrieve mail from the web than from the mail client.
With all of the major email service providers now offering an integrated mail client, it’s becoming easier than ever to manage a business’s communications. The technology behind this change is simple. Every major service provider now offers a native mail client.
In other words, if you’re running a Linux mail server, you’re still going to need some type of mail program to connect to your email account. But what you really need is an integrated webmail interface.