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How to use the Email Quarantine
What is Email Quarantine?
Email quarantine is a critical security feature designed to protect Okanagan College staff and students from potentially harmful messages, such as phishing attempts, spam, or emails containing malicious attachments. Quarantined messages are held in a secure location and reviewed by our email security system, rather than being delivered directly to your inbox.
While quarantine notifications will not be sent to you automatically, it's important to understand how to check for missing emails and what steps to take if you believe a legitimate email has been quarantined.
Why are Emails Quarantined?
Emails may be quarantined for several reasons, including:
- Suspicious content: Attachments or links in the email are flagged by the security system as potentially harmful.
- Unrecognized sender: The email is from an unknown or untrusted source.
- Bulk email: The message is part of a mass email distribution, which could be classified as spam.
- Phishing indicators: The email may attempt to impersonate a trusted entity to steal sensitive information, such as your login details or personal data.
What to Do if You Suspect You Are Missing an Important Email
Since quarantine notifications are not sent, it’s essential to act if you think a legitimate email has been quarantined. Here’s what you can do:
- Check your Junk/Spam folder: Always start by checking your spam or junk folders to ensure the email wasn't misclassified by your inbox filters.
- Log in to the email quarantine portal: If you still cannot find the message, you can log in to the quarantine portal to review any quarantined emails.
- Search for the missing email: Once logged in, review the list of quarantined messages to see if the missing email is there.
- Release legitimate emails: If you find the email you were expecting and believe it to be legitimate, you can release it to your inbox from the quarantine portal.
- Contact the IT Help Desk: If you cannot locate the email in the quarantine portal or are unsure how to proceed, contact the IT Help Desk for further assistance.
- Phone: 1-250-762-5445 ext. 4444
Our team can help investigate and ensure you receive any legitimate communications.
What You Should NOT Do with Quarantined Emails
- Do not release questionable emails: If you are unsure about the legitimacy of an email in quarantine, do not release it. Instead, contact the IT Help Desk for advice.
- Do not ignore security warnings: If an email appears suspicious, even if it's from a seemingly familiar source, avoid interacting with the content (e.g., do not open attachments or click links).
- Do not bypass security checks: Trust the quarantine system to protect you from harmful content. If you're uncertain about an email, always prioritize safety over convenience.
How to Safely Handle Quarantined Emails
You can take the following steps to ensure you're handling quarantined emails correctly:
- Release only trusted emails: If you recognize the sender and are confident the message is legitimate, you can release it from quarantine.
- Delete harmful emails: If the quarantined email appears to be spam or malicious, delete it directly from the quarantine portal.
- Report suspicious emails: If you're unsure about the email's legitimacy, report it to the IT Help Desk for further investigation.
What Happens After Releasing or Deleting a Quarantined Email?
- Released emails: When you release a quarantined email, it will be delivered to your inbox. Be cautious and review the content carefully before interacting with it.
- Deleted emails: Once deleted, emails are permanently removed from the quarantine system and will not reach your inbox.
Further Assistance
If you suspect that an important email has been quarantined or need help accessing the quarantine portal, feel free to contact the IT Help Desk:
- Phone: 1-250-762-5445 ext. 4444
We are here to help ensure that your email experience is secure and that you receive the communications you need.
