Distribution Group Exchange Reports
10 ReportsAbout Distribution Group Reports
Distribution Group Reports track pure email distribution groups in Exchange. These groups are email-only (no security permissions) and are used exclusively for sending messages to multiple recipients. Monitor group visibility, membership, and sender restrictions.
No security permissions
Send to many recipients
Restrict who can send
About Distribution Groups
Pure distribution groups vs mail-enabled security groups:
- Email Only: Distribution groups cannot grant permissions or access
- Simpler Management: Focused on email distribution, not security
- GAL Presence: Appear in Exchange Global Address List
- Use Cases: Department mailing lists, project teams, company announcements
Example: Distribution Group Exchange Reports
Available Reports (10 Total)
DISTRIBUTION GROUP INVENTORY (2 Reports)
All Distribution Groups
Complete inventory of pure distribution groups - email-only, no security permissions.
SENDER AUTHENTICATION & RESTRICTIONS (6 Reports)
Distribution Groups Requiring Authentication
Authentication required - only authenticated users can send. Secure configuration!
Distribution Groups Not Requiring Authentication
No authentication - anyone can send! Major spam risk - review immediately!
Distribution Groups - Authenticated Users Only
Internal users only - blocks all external senders. Good for internal communications.
Distribution Groups With Moderation
Moderation enabled - messages need approval. Perfect for company-wide announcements.
Distribution Groups Without Moderation
No moderation - instant delivery. Standard for most distribution lists.
Distribution Groups - Accept From Specific Senders
Sender whitelist - only specific users/groups allowed. Highly controlled distribution.
GROUP OWNERSHIP (2 Reports)
Distribution Groups With Managed By
Manager assigned - clear ownership for group management and membership.
Distribution Groups Without Managed By
No manager - orphaned distribution list with unclear ownership!
Essential Distribution Group Guidelines:
- Always Require Authentication: Never allow anonymous sending - major spam and phishing risk!
- Assign Owners: Every distribution group must have a "Managed By" owner
- Use Moderation for Company-Wide: Enable moderation for all-employees or announcement lists
- Restrict Large Lists: Use "Accept From" restrictions for high-visibility lists
- Hide Unused Lists: Hide inactive or administrative lists from GAL
- Regular Membership Reviews: Audit group membership quarterly to remove departed employees
Critical Security Warning
Distribution groups not requiring authentication are MAJOR security risks:
- Spammers can send to your entire company
- Phishing emails can appear to come from legitimate internal lists
- No audit trail of external senders
- Violates most security compliance frameworks
ACTION: Run "Not Requiring Authentication" report immediately and enable authentication!