In April 2024, Microsoft announced that it will permanently remove support for Basic authentication for client submission (SMTP AUTH) in Microsoft Exchange Online starting September 2025 (see Announcement). This change will require all applications and devices using SMTP AUTH to send outbound emails to adopt OAuth 2.0 for authentication. For businesses and organizations using Siebel Email Response, this transition will have direct impact to them.
Siebel Email Response has been enhanced to enable OAuth support:
1. Supporting OAuth 2.0 for Inbound IMAP/POP3 in Siebel Email Response
Starting with Siebel CRM 22.8, Siebel Email Response already supports OAuth 2.0 for inbound email protocols such as IMAP and POP3. This means that users can authenticate securely using OAuth when receiving inbound emails, which is in line with modern security standards.
For more information on how to enable OAuth 2.0 for inbound email protocols in Siebel Email Response, check out the Siebel CRM 2022 TOI “Support OAuth 2.0 with Siebel Email Response for Inbound Protocols IMAP/POP3” and Siebel Email Administration Guide.
2. Supporting OAuth 2.0 for Outbound SMTP in Siebel Email Response
In response to Microsoft’s upcoming change, Siebel Email Response begins supporting OAuth 2.0 for outbound SMTP starting with the Siebel CRM 25.4 release. This update will allow Siebel CRM application users to continue sending outbound emails securely after Microsoft disables Basic authentication for SMTP submission in 2025.
OAuth 2.0 offers better security than Basic authentication by eliminating the need to transmit credentials with every email request, simplifies authentication process, helps businesses meet modern security standards, ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
As the deadline for Microsoft’s removal of Basic authentication approaches, Siebel Email Response customers need to prepare to switch to OAuth 2.0 for outbound email communications. Please follow the steps below to enable OAuth for SMTP in Siebel Email Response:
a) Prerequisite: Enable OAuth for SMTP in Microsoft Exchange Online
Before Siebel Email Response can use OAuth for SMTP authentication, you must first enable OAuth 2.0 for SMTP in Microsoft Exchange Online. Microsoft’s official documentation explains how to configure OAuth authentication for IMAP, POP3, and SMTP: Authenticate an IMAP, POP or SMTP connection using OAuth
b) Enable Java SMTP in Siebel Communications Driver
You must enable the Java SMTP Client in your Siebel Communications Driver. Once Java SMTP is enabled, Siebel Communications Outbound Manager will automatically use OAuth for secure email submission. OAuth for SMTP applies to all functionalities that use Siebel Communications Outbound Manager (for example, F9, Email Reply, etc.).
c) Configure New SMTP Parameters
Follow the instructions in the Siebel Email Administration Guide and Siebel CRM 2025 TOI “Support OAuth 2.0 for Outbound SMTP in Siebel Email Response” to configure the new SMTP parameters. These steps will ensure that Siebel Email Response is properly set up to use OAuth 2.0 for sending outbound emails.
Plan Ahead for a Smooth Transition
With Microsoft’s scheduled removal of Basic authentication for SMTP client submission in September 2025, it’s important to begin preparing now. By enabling OAuth 2.0 for both inbound and outbound protocols in Siebel Email Response, businesses can ensure continued, secure email communication. Businesses using Siebel Email Response should plan to enable OAuth for SMTP well before the deadline to avoid disruptions in their email systems.