Office 365 mail groups
Office 365 Mail Groups, also known as Distribution Groups or DLs (Distribution Lists), are a feature in Office 365 that allows you to send emails to a group of people without having to know their individual email addresses. Here's a rundown of how they work:
What are Mail Groups?
Mail Groups are a collection of email addresses that can be used to send emails to multiple recipients at once. When you send an email to a Mail Group, it is automatically forwarded to all the members of the group.
Types of Mail Groups
There are two types of Mail Groups in Office 365:
- Distribution Groups: These are the most common type of Mail Group. They are used to send emails to a group of people who need to receive the same information.
- Mail-enabled Security Groups: These groups are used to manage access to resources, such as SharePoint sites or Microsoft Teams channels, and can also be used to send emails to a group of people.
How to Create a Mail Group
To create a Mail Group in Office 365, follow these steps:
- Sign in to the Office 365 admin center.
- Go to the "Groups" tab.
- Click on "New group".
- Enter the group name and description.
- Choose the type of group you want to create (Distribution Group or Mail-enabled Security Group).
- Add members to the group by typing their email addresses or searching for them in the directory.
- Click "Create" to create the group.
How to Send an Email to a Mail Group
To send an email to a Mail Group, simply address the email to the group name (e.g., [groupname]@domain.com). The email will be automatically forwarded to all the members of the group.
Benefits of Mail Groups
Mail Groups offer several benefits, including:
- Simplified email management: You don't need to know the individual email addresses of all the recipients.
- Improved collaboration: Mail Groups make it easy to communicate with a group of people who need to work together.
- Reduced email clutter: Mail Groups help keep your inbox organized by allowing you to send emails to a group of people without having to CC or BCC multiple recipients.
- Enhanced security: Mail-enabled Security Groups can be used to manage access to resources and ensure that only authorized users can access them.