Create a New Device Access Rule

Applies to: Office 365 for professionals and small businesses, Office 365 for enterprises, Live@edu

Topic Last Modified: 2011-02-18

Use device access rules to allow users to synchronize their mailboxes with specific mobile device families or models. You can create device access rules for any device that is currently synchronizing with Microsoft Exchange in your organization. You can create rules from the ActiveSync Access tab in the Exchange Control Panel, under Device Access Rules or Quarantined Devices, or from individual users' mailboxes.

Note Device access rules apply only to devices that aren't already covered by personal exemptions created when you allow or block a device on an individual user's mailbox or in the quarantine list on the ActiveSync Access tab. These rules do apply to devices in quarantine, so if you create a rule to allow a device that's currently in quarantine, it will automatically allow all the devices that are in quarantine that match the device family or model covered by the rule.

How do I create a device access rule from any device currently synchronizing?

In the Exchange Control Panel, select Manage My Organization > Phone & Voice > ActiveSync Access.
Under Device Access Rules, select New.
Select the device family and model that you want the rule to apply to, and then select whether to allow, block, or quarantine the chosen devices:
- Device family Click Browse and select the device family that this rule applies to. The list shows all device families currently used in your organization.
- Only this model If you want to limit this rule to only specific models of this device family, select the model. If you don't select a specific model, the rule applies to all models in the selected device family.
- When devices of the selected family or model try to connect Select whether to allow, block, or quarantine the device when a user tries to synchronize with the selected device family or model.
Click Save to save the rule.

How do I create a device access rule from the list of quarantined devices?

Select Manage My Organization > Phone & Voice > ActiveSync Access.
Under Quarantined Devices, select the device that you want to create a rule for, and then select Create a rule for similar devices.
Select whether you want this rule to apply to the selected device family or model.
Select whether to allow, block, or quarantine the chosen devices.
Click Save to save the rule.

How do I create a device access rule from a user's mailbox?

Select Manage My Organization > Users & Groups.
Select the user who is synchronizing the device you want to create a rule for, and then select Details.
Under Phone & Voice Features, select Exchange ActiveSync and then select Edit.
Under Mobile Devices, select the device that you want to create a rule for, and then select Create a rule for similar devices.
Select whether you want this rule to apply to the selected device family or model.
Select whether to allow, block, or quarantine the chosen devices.
Click Save to save the rule.