[itdiscuss] Email Message Size Limits

[Gary Nichols]

Bill,

One major reason is to avoid a DoS (Denial of Service) Attack.  If you allow an unlimited attachment size, someone could attempt to flood you with thousands of messages with very large (1GB+) attachments.  This would quickly monopolize your server and bandwidth, slow down or stop other traffic, and fill up you mail store which would disable the mail system.  Hence the term Denial of Service.

Other reasons are that large attachments are usually junk.  Organizations that regularly need to send/receive large files typically utilize FTP, Secure FTP or file transfer appliances.

Thanks,

Gary Nichols
InterDev, LLC
770-643-4400
770-337-5900 cell
www.interdev.com<http://www.interdev.com>

Technology Solved.

From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 2:35 PM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: [itdiscuss] Email Message Size Limits

I have a question about limiting the size of each message.  The trend that I have seen is to limit the size of an individual email to somewhere between 2mb and 10mb.  I've always heard that the reason for such limits is primarily to limit security risks.  Can anyone give me good reasons why you should limit message sizes?  I believe there are good reasons, but I'm trying to explain them to the CEO.

Thanks,



Bill Lloyd
IT Manager
[cid:image001.jpg at 01C81003.BC229B30]

5375 Oakbrook Parkway
Norcross, GA 30093
Phone: 770-417-1604
Cell:     404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com
This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and proprietary information.  This information is private and protected by law and, accordingly, if you are not the intended recipient, you are requested to delete this entire communication immediately and are notified that any disclosure, copying or distribution of or taking any action based on this information is prohibited. Emails cannot be guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses.  The sender does not accept any liability or responsibility for any interception, corruption, destruction, loss, late arrival or incompleteness of or tampering or interference with any of the information contained in this email or for its incorrect delivery or non-delivery for whatsoever reason or for its effect on any electronic device of the recipient.

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