7 Appendix 1 - How does GFI MailEssentials work? 7.1 Inbound mail filtering Inbound mail filtering is the process through which incoming email are filtered before delivery to users. Figure 1 - Inbound mail filtering When an email is received: If Directory Harvesting filter is configured to execute at SMTP level, it checks the recipient’s email address. If the recipient’s email address is not found, the email is blocked. The email is checked to see if it is addressed to a list in the list server. If the email matches a list, it will be processed by the list server. The incoming email is filtered using all the spam filters. Any email that fails a spam filter check is sent to the anti spam email actions. If an email goes through all the filters and is not identified as spam, it then goes to the next stage. If configured, email is next archived to the reporting database. If configured, auto-replies are next sent to the sender. If configured, email monitoring is next executed and the appropriate actions taken. The new senders filter is now executed. Email is sent to the user’s mailbox.
If Directory Harvesting filter is configured to execute at SMTP level, it checks the recipient’s email address. If the recipient’s email address is not found, the email is blocked.
The email is checked to see if it is addressed to a list in the list server. If the email matches a list, it will be processed by the list server. 
The incoming email is filtered using all the spam filters. Any email that fails a spam filter check is sent to the anti spam email actions. If an email goes through all the filters and is not identified as spam, it then goes to the next stage.
If configured, email is next archived to the reporting database.
If configured, auto-replies are next sent to the sender.
If configured, email monitoring is next executed and the appropriate actions taken.
The new senders filter is now executed.
Email is sent to the user’s mailbox.