SMTP Authentication

[Jason Meyer]

We currently allow anonymous SMTP relay for our internal network and with HAT entries I'm wondering what SMTP authentication gains us?   Even with external servers relaying e-mail through our appliances via HAT entries and network access I'm still wondering what advantage I would gain by setting up SMTP authentication and requiring servers to login to relay e-mails.

Any thoughts?

[Robert Sherwin]

For me - this is a mechanism that just adds the next layer of security, if you don't wish to allow unauthorized users from sending out/through the appliance.  

For my home lab setup - I have to send through an authenticated MTA in order to send mail through my home ISP connection - so, I have to use my auth user email and password for ISP in order to get to send out.  Which - is nice added feature in testing/repro reasons.  

(my two cents)

-Robert