Create / Remove & Enable / Disable Journal Rule in Exchange 2013 Server

Hello readers, in this article we are going to discuss about how to create, remove, enable, and disable journal rule in Exchange server 2013/2016. As you might know that in Microsoft Exchange Server, Journaling means recording the mailbox emails into an envelope like format and putting into any specific journal mailbox. There is already a standard journaling available in Exchange server, which allow Journaling agent to journal all incoming and outgoing emails among mailboxes and record those messages. But the default created journal rule, sometimes doesn’t satisfy the requirements of an Organization. Therefore, They go for creating new journal rules according to their management rules & regulations, which is also called Premium Journaling.

Standard Journaling Rules: It is created as well as configured by default in an Exchange server, to apply this you just need to enable it. Administrator can use this facility to monitor activity of any specific mailbox. For using this facility for all available mailboxes, admin must have to configure it.

Premium Journaling Rules: It is called the customized journal rule. Generally it is created to get more detailed information of mailbox activities. For configuring it, Admin must have Exchange Enterprise Client Access License (CAL).

How to Create a Journal Rule in Exchange 2013/2016?

There are two different ways by which you can create the journaling rules in Microsoft Exchange server 2013. The first way is with the help of PowerShell Commands, and the second way is by using Exchange Admin Center (EAC). So, let's see the both way for creation of journal rules:

Using PowerShell Commands:

Run below mentioned command to create journal rule:
New-JournalRule -Name "Premium Journal Rule" -Recipient abcUser@domain.com -JournalEmailAddress "Premium Journal Mailbox" -Scope Global -Enabled $True
Run below mentioned command for verifying the created journal:
Get-JournalRule "Premium Journal Rule"

Using Exchange Admin Center:

Follow below steps to create new journaling rule:
#1 Run Exchange Admin Center and then navigate to compliance management, then journal rules, and then hit Add connected with + sign.
#2 Now Enter the new name of Journal rule and select following fields:

1. If the message is sent to or received from: Enter any specific mailbox name which you want to target for application of journaling rules.
2. Journal the following messages: Select then message type on which you want to apply journal rule. For example: Only Incoming messages, Outgoing messages, and Both.
3. Send journal reports to: Enter the journal mailbox name in which you want to save the report.

Note: Journal mailbox is already created in Exchange Server. But if you want to create new, then you can go for this. But remember that, it is not like other user mailboxes.

#3 Now at last hit Save button for creating & saving the configured setting for journal rule.
#4 After Saving the setting, go to the Journal Tab in EAC to see the created journal rule.

How to Enable Journaling in Exchange 2013?

In the way of creation Journal rule, there is also two way to Enable Journaling in Exchange 2016 or 2013. Admin can perform this, either with the help of Commands or using Exchange Admin Center. Let's proceed to know the both way:

Using PowerShell Commands:

Run below mentioned command to enable journal rules in Exchange Server 2013/2016:
Enable-JournalRule "Premium Journal Rule"
Run below command to check for enabled journal rule:
Get-JournalRule | Format-Table Name,Enabled

Using Exchange Admin Center (EAC):

Follow below mentioned steps to Enable Journal Rules in Exchange 2013/2016:
#1 Run EAC and navigate to Compliance Management and then Journal Rules.
#2 Now in the list of Journal Rules in On column check the Checkbox which is available next to that Journal rule which you want to enable.

How to Disable Journaling in Exchange 2013?

In the similar way for enabling Journal rule, there is also two technique to Disable Journaling in Exchange 2013. Let's proceed to check it out:

By Running Commands in EMC or PowerShell:

Run below command to disable journal rule:
Disable-JournalRule "Premium Journal Rule"
Use the same way as mentioned in Enable Journal rule to check whether the rule is disabled or not.

How to Remove Journal Rule in Exchange 2013?

Removing journal rule is also possible via two way, either by using PowerShell Commands and with the help of Exchange Management Console.

Using Command:

Run below command in EMC or PowerShell:
Remove-JournalRule "Premium Journal Rule"
Run below command to verify:
Get-JournalRule

Using Exchange Admin Center:

Follow below mentioned steps to remove Journal rules:
#1 Run Exchange Admin Center (EAC) and then navigate to Compliance Management and then Journal Rules.
#2 Now in the list of rules select that rule which you want to remove, and after selecting click on the Delete link.

That's all the information which I need to write about "How to set or remove journal rule in Exchange 2013 or 2016?"

Conclusion: Journal Rule in Exchange 2013

In this article, we covered the topic regarding Journal Rule in Exchange 2013, which is related to creating, enabling, disabling & removing. We performed all these tasks via two different ways, with the help of PowerShell commands as well as using Exchange Admin Center (EAC). We also discussed two different type of Journaling rules, which could be created in Exchange 2013.