Regain Control by Configuring the Outlook Security Patch (cont'd)
Obtain the Admin Pack
The first step in the process of repairing the "problems" associated with SR-1 of Office 2000 is to download the Admin Pack, called ADMPACK.EXE, from Microsoft.
It's a small, self-unzipping file that contains just three files: a Readme text file, an Outlook template named "outlooksecurity.oft," and a system policy file.
Once you've downloaded it, double-click the .exe file to open it and expand the files into a directory of your choosing. At this point it's a good idea to look through the Readme file to make sure you've covered all your bases.
Install the Security Template
Now that you have the files expanded, follow these steps:
Create the public folder that will host the security settings. Go to the Public Folders | All Public Folders collection in Outlook and create a new root folder called "Outlook Security Settings." It's important that you use that exact folder name (without the quotation marks) and that you place it in the root of the All Public Folders tree.
Go to the folder where you expanded the ADMPACK files and double-click the Outlooksecurity.oft template file. When the file opens, you'll be presented with a dialog box in which to choose an Outlook folder.
Select the Outlook Security Settings folder that you created for this process and click OK.
When the form opens, the first thing you need to do is click Tools | Forms | Publish Form and publish the form to the Outlook Security Settings folder with the name "Outlook Security Form."
The last steps configure the folder to use that form and to adjust the permissions on the folder so that only authorized users can access the form:
Right-click on the Outlook Security Settings folder and select properties. Change the "When Posting to This Folder Use" field to the new Outlook Security Form.
Click the Permissions tab and set the permissions so that only appropriate people can make changes to the folder. Set the default permission to be "Reviewer."
When you're satisfied with your security settings for the folder, click OK.
The Outlook Security Patch, now built into SR-1 and the new Office XP, has been criticized by some as being too draconian. How do you balance security with giving your users the freedom to get their jobs done? Tell others in the enterprise.exchange discussion group!
