Overview

The customer is experiencing confusion regarding the setup of a shared mailbox for archiving purposes with GFI Archiver in Microsoft 365. The main issue is whether a licensed user mailbox is required for this setup or if a shared mailbox can be used. The customer is also unsure about how GFI Archiver connects to the mailbox, particularly in the case of a shared mailbox, which becomes disabled and can only be accessed by granting delegation or full access.

Solution

To set up a shared mailbox for archiving with GFI Archiver in Microsoft 365, follow these steps:

1. Create a local AD account with the same email as the shared mailbox. This can be inactive.
2. Sync this to O365 as an unlicensed user, since you do not need to login using that user.
3. Once you do that, the access control list in Archiver will show that account, which would allow setting the permission to the required group.

Note: GFI Archiver doesn't directly connect to the mailbox using a login and password. Instead, it uses the permissions set on the access control list in the Archiver. When you create a local inactive AD account and map it to the shared mailbox, this account appears on the access control list in the Archiver. You can then set the necessary permissions for the required group.

Summary

Setting up a shared mailbox in Microsoft 365 for archiving with GFI Archiver involves creating a local AD account to grant ownership within Archiver. This account appears on the access control list in the Archiver, allowing the setting of necessary permissions for the required group.

FAQ

1. Do I need a licensed user mailbox to set up a shared mailbox for archiving with GFI Archiver in Microsoft 365?
   No, you do not need a licensed user mailbox. You can create a local AD account and sync it to O365 as an unlicensed user.
2. How does GFI Archiver connect to the mailbox?
   GFI Archiver doesn't directly connect to the mailbox using a login and password. Instead, it uses the permissions set on the access control list in the Archiver.
3. What happens if the shared mailbox becomes disabled?
   If the shared mailbox becomes disabled, it can only be accessed by granting delegation or full access. See Configuring Shared Mailboxes in Access Control of Archiver. However, by creating a local AD account and syncing it to O365 as an unlicensed user, this account appears on the access control list in the Archiver, allowing the setting of necessary permissions for the required group.