check before: 2024-10-15
Product:
Defender, Defender for Office 365, Defender XDR, Exchange
Platform:
Online, US Instances, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
Feature update, User impact, Admin impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft Exchange is enhancing bulk email filtering with recalibrated bulk sender distribution across different bulk complaint levels (BCL). New BCL recommendations are 7 for default and standard, and 5 for strict policies. Rollout starts mid-October 2024, with completion by mid-November 2024. Admins should adjust BCL settings accordingly.
Details:
As part of ongoing improvements to bulk email filtering in Microsoft Defender for Office | Exchange Online Protection, we are refining our detection capabilities by recalibrating and redistributing bulk senders across different bulk complaint levels (BCL). This would automatically make the current bulk thresholds slightly more aggressive. As a consequence, we are updating bulk threshold for standard preset policy to 7 from current value of 6. In response to general customer feedback around receiving more bulk email, we are keeping current default BCL threshold of 7 in default policy as is. Here's what's changing:
Redistribution for aggressive filtering: The new BCL distribution makes higher levels as aggressive as lower levels in previous version, enabling more precise targeting of unwanted bulk emails.
Updated BCL recommendations: The new recommended settings are 7 for default and standard, and 5 for strict to improve control over bulk filtering (replacing the previous levels of 7, 6, and 5).
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD): We will begin rolling out mid-October 2024 and expect to complete by mid-November 2024.
Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Release Phase:
Created:
2024-10-19
updated:
2024-10-19
Task Type
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Docu to Check
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS How does it affect me
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS Preperations
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS Urgency
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
MS workload name
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
summary for non-techies**
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Direct effects for Operations**
Increased False Positives in Email Filtering
The recalibrated bulk complaint levels may lead to an increase in legitimate emails being marked as bulk or spam, affecting user communication.
- roles: End Users, IT Support
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-office-365/anti-spam-bulk-complaint-level-bcl-about, https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-office-365/anti-spam-bulk-senders-insight
User Experience Degradation
Users may experience delays in receiving important emails due to aggressive filtering, leading to frustration and decreased productivity.
- roles: End Users, Email Administrators
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-office-365/anti-spam-bulk-complaint-level-bcl-about, https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-office-365/anti-spam-bulk-senders-insight
Increased Administrative Workload
Admins will need to spend additional time adjusting BCL settings and monitoring email flows to mitigate the impact of false positives.
- roles: IT Administrators, Compliance Officers
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-office-365/anti-spam-bulk-complaint-level-bcl-about, https://learn.microsoft.com/defender-office-365/anti-spam-bulk-senders-insight
Configutation Options**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
Opportunities**
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only
Potentional Risks**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
IT Security**
XXXXXXX ... paid membership only
explanation for non-techies**
Microsoft Exchange is updating its approach to handling bulk emails, which are often the promotional or newsletter-type emails that fill up inboxes. Imagine your email inbox as a physical mailbox. Just like how you might sort through letters and toss out junk mail, Microsoft Exchange uses a system to filter out unwanted bulk emails. This system is getting a tweak to make it more efficient.
The changes involve something called Bulk Complaint Levels (BCL), which are like the settings on a thermostat. The BCL determines how strict the filtering is. Previously, the thermostat was set at certain levels to decide which emails should be considered bulk and potentially unwanted. Now, Microsoft is adjusting these levels to be more precise, like recalibrating your thermostat to better suit the current weather conditions.
For the default and standard settings, the recommended BCL is now 7, while for stricter settings, it's 5. This means that the system will be a bit more aggressive in filtering out bulk emails, similar to turning up the heat to make sure the room is just right. The idea is to catch more of those unwanted emails without accidentally filtering out the ones you want to keep.
These changes will start rolling out in mid-October 2024 and should be completed by mid-November 2024. Administrators don't need to do anything before this happens, but they should keep an eye on how emails are being filtered afterward. If the system starts catching emails it shouldn't (like when your thermostat makes the room too hot), adjustments can be made to find the right balance.
It's a bit like fine-tuning your junk mail filter at home to ensure you're not missing important letters while still keeping the junk out. Admins can use tools provided by Microsoft to monitor and adjust these settings to ensure they meet their organization's needs. The changes will happen automatically, but keeping informed and making adjustments as needed will help maintain a smooth email experience.
** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
a free basic plan is required to see more details. Sign up here
A cloudsocut.one plan is required to see all the changed details. If you are already a customer, choose login.
If you are new to cloudscout.one please choose a plan.
