What is the Exchange Intelligent Message Filter?

SPAM, SPAM, SPAM.  This is always a hot topic for Email Administrators.  For all of the good work you do in the messaging world, users will only see the SPAM they get and complain.  It really can be a big nuisance to a worker and hinder productivity.  There are a ton of technologies out there to help resolve this.  Some are server based and some are client based.  It is likely that a combination of approaches will be necessary to fight this problem.

Microsoft Exchange 2003 has some methods for SPAM prevention built-in.  This includes sender filtering, connection filtering, real time block lists, etc.  There are also a number of 3rd party technologies that integrate with Exchange 2003 to handle SPAM filtering.

When SP1 for Exchange 2003 is released, Microsoft will be releasing a technology called “Exchange Intelligent Message Filter” or IMF.  Intelligent Message Filter is based on Microsoft SmartScreen Technology from Microsoft Research. SmartScreen technology enables Intelligent Message Filter to distinguish between legitimate e-mail messages and unsolicited commercial e-mail or other junk e-mail. SmartScreen tracks over 500,000 e-mail characteristics based on data from hundreds of thousands of MSN® Hotmail® subscribers who volunteered to classify millions of e-mail messages as legitimate or as spam.    More info: https://www.microsoft.com/exchange/techinfo/security/imfoverview.asp

Spam Confidence Level (or SCL) is a rating assigned by SPAM prevention technologies to determine the likelihood that the given message is SPAM.  This allows client technologies to setup rules based on the level of SCL.  Some users will have different thresholds for the level of SCL they are willing to accept. 

How do I get this?  Prior to the release, the licensing has not been determined.  It is likely to be offered to Software Assurance customers at a minimum.  Once it is released, you will get a clear picture of how it can be licensed.