Email Security - API - Applications - Configuring Application Settings

Updated March 13, 2026 14:51

Application settings control the behavior of Mimecast end-user applications and the level of user access to Mimecast services. Furthermore, an Application Settings definition provides:

Access to Mimecast applications for all internal users.
Information on the authentication method used through an Authentication Profile. See Configuring an Authentication Profile.
You must create an Authentication Profile before making an application settings definition.

Each definition is specific to a group of users, including, if required, any sub-groups. This requires a group to be created, consisting of individual users or entire domains. See Managing Groups. A default definition is created for each Mimecast account, but only applies to users who are not part of a group. The default definition cannot be changed, but administrators can create new definitions to override any default settings.

Configuring Application Settings

It can take up to 15 minutes for changes to propagate between all the Mimecast applications.

You can configure Application Settings by using the following steps:

Log in to the Mimecast Administration Console.
Navigate to Users & Groups | Applications.
Either click on the:

New Application Settings button to create a definition.
Existing Settings to change it.

Configure the settings as required:

Right-click on an existing definition and click the Clone Configuration menu item to copy it, complete with all its settings. This is useful if you need to provide a user group with access that is similar to, but not the same as, an existing definition.

Application Settings

The Application Settings are separated into groups and displayed in a collapsible/expandable menu. As you click on one of the groups, it expands and collapses the others. The groups are:

Group	Description
Common Application Settings	A group of settings that apply across all Mimecast applications.
Outlook	A group of settings that apply to Mimecast for Outlook.
Mobile	A group of settings that apply to the various Mimecast Mobile operating systems (iOS and Android).
Mac OS X	A group of settings that apply to the Mac operating system.

When an application (e.g., Mimecast for Outlook) is opened for the first time, all functionality is disabled. You must authenticate with Mimecast to retrieve the user's settings and capabilities and enable the appropriate options.

Common Application Settings

This group of Application Settings is expanded by default.

These options control the functionality that an end user has access to in Mimecast applications. The available options are governed by the Mimecast services you've purchased. All available options are enabled in the default Application Settings definition. For example, if you purchased a product with only Continuity features, only the Continuity Settings are available.

General

Field / Option	Description
Description	Enter a description for the definition.
Group	Select a group of users that the definition should apply to. Click the Lookup button to select a group. You can verify which application settings apply to an email address in the internal domains. If the same address is in two or more groups, the lowest group level takes priority (i.e., the most specific group). If the groups are at the same level, and there is a conflict, the most recently created definition applies. For example: A user belongs to groups in the "Root \| Internal \| Organization \| Global" AND "Root \| Internal\| Organization \| Global \| London \| Users" levels. In this case, the "Root \| Internal\| Organization \| Global \| London \| Users" group takes preference. A user belongs to groups in the "Root \| Internal \| Organization \| Global" AND "Root \| Internal\| Organization \| Regional" levels. In this case, the definition that was created most recently takes preference.
Include Sub-Groups	Specifies whether the application settings for the selected group are also applied to any subgroups within the group.
Authentication Profile	Specifies the authentication profile to be used. Click the Lookup button to select a profile.
User-Initiated Password Changes	Allows users to set their Mimecast cloud password in Mimecast for Outlook, Mimecast for Mac, and Mimecast Mobile Apps. In addition, this option enables users to set or change their Mimecast cloud password in the Mimecast Personal Portal. If this option is disabled, administrators won't be able to set a new password when logging into the Administration Console, where the per-user 'Force Change at Logon' requirement is set.
Mimecast for Outlook Branding	Allows you to specify branding to Mimecast for Outlook. Use the Lookup button to select the required branding set.
Suspicious Message Alerts	If selected, a notification is displayed in Mimecast for Outlook when forwarding or replying to a message if it has been deemed suspicious by an Impersonation Protection policy. Note: This feature is specific to Mimecast for Outlook and Impersonation Protection.
Forward and Reply to Suspicious Messages	If selected, users can forward or reply to a message deemed suspicious by an Impersonation Protection policy. This is disabled by default. Note: This feature is specific to Mimecast for Outlook and Impersonation Protection.
Enabled Protected Preview	If selected, a notification is displayed if a user attempts to download a file attached to a message deemed suspicious by an Impersonation Protection policy and has the "Tag Header" option set in a definition. Note: This feature is specific to Mimecast for Outlook and Impersonation Protection.

Outlook

Mimecast for Outlook Settings

Field / Option	Description
Enable Mimecast for Outlook	Select the option to enable Mimecast for Outlook Settings.
Set Proxy Settings	Enable users to set or edit their proxy server settings.
Enable Feedback Function	Allows administrators to submit feedback to Mimecast about Mimecast for Outlook.
Enable Outlook Message List Smart Search Bar	Enables or disables the Smart Search bar at the top of the message list within Outlook.
Enable 'New Version Available' Notifications	Enables inbox notifications when new versions of Mimecast for Outlook are available. See the Mimecast for Outlook - Notifications page for more information.
Ignore Local Mimecast for Outlook Client Settings	If enabled, the Mimecast for Outlook client ignores the settings stored locally in a configuration file on the user's workstation and uses the capabilities set in the application settings definition.
Notification Level	Select which level of pop-up notifications you wish your users to receive. See the Mimecast for Outlook - Notifications page for further details.

Mimecast Essentials for Outlook

Field / Option	Description
Enable Outlook Add-In	Select the option to enable the Mimecast for Outlook Add-In.
Custom Report Message Acknowledgment	Specify a custom message to be displayed to users when a message is successfully reported.
Custom Awareness training report success Message	M365 customer only. Specify a custom message to be displayed to users when a simulated phishing message is successfully reported.

Mobile

Field / Option	Description
Enable Mimecast Mobile for:	None - No access. Managed Only - Enables Managed (deployed via EMM) versions of Mimecast Mobile. Any Device - Enables both Managed and Non-Managed (directly installed from the store) versions of Mimecast Mobile.
Allow Saving and Exporting of Attachments	Enables users to save email attachments to the local device and export attachments from emails in the Online Inbox, Online Sent Items, or those returned through an archive search. Disabling this setting will also prevent users from viewing attachments. Android devices must save attachments to view them. Although the saving of attachments can be limited, users will still be able to copy the content or take screenshots of viewed attachments.
Security Time Out	Specify the security timeout before the user is required to enter their passcode.

Mac OS X

Field / Option	Description
Enable Mimecast for Mac:	Enable access to Mimecast for Mac.
Check for Updates	Select this option to check for updates to Mimecast for Mac automatically. When an update is available, your users are prompted to download it.

You can control users' sending preferences by setting their default values and whether they can be changed. Except for the default value of Use an Access Key for Additional Security, Mimecast for Outlook or Mimecast for Mac is required for these settings to be effective.

Field / Option	Description
Expire Access to Files After	The period during which the recipient can access the files. This cannot exceed the Maximum Invitation Expiration Period.
Notify Me When the Files are Accessed	Notifies the sender when recipients first access the file.
Send me a Link to the Files	Provides the sender with a link to the large files.
Use an Access Key for Additional Security	Make the recipients enter an access key before viewing the files. This key will be sent to the recipient's email address upon request. To prevent keyless access to files, set the default to true and user Editable to false.