NOTE: The details provided in this guide is general, based upon the Microsoft Exchange documentation. It remains the responsibility of the customer to:

1.     Ensure the correct type of journaling option is chosen based on needs, compliance and the architecture you have deployed.
2.     Ensure that any changes to local infrastructure, that your journaling is still operating as expected
3.     Any type of mailbox/user migrations initiated, the expected journaling events are validated and operating as expected

Standard Vs Premium Journaling In Exchange 2010

Exchange 2010 features two types of journaling modes, Standard and Premium.

What is the difference between the two, which makes premium journaling to have enterprise user CALs?  The way it is configured and the scope of the user/message selection.

Standard journaling   Standard journaling is configured on a mailbox database. It enables the Journaling agent to journal all messages sent to and from mailboxes located on a specific mailbox database. To journal all messages to and from all recipients and senders, you must configure journaling on all mailbox databases on all Mailbox servers in the organisation.

To enable standard journaling, open the database properties from the EMC, navigate to “Maintenance“ tab, select the check box and define a journal mailbox.

Premium journaling   Premium journaling enables the Journaling agent to perform more granular journaling by using journal rules. Instead of journaling all mailboxes residing on a mailbox database, you can configure journal rules to match your organization's needs by journaling individual recipients or members of distribution groups. You must have an Exchange Enterprise client access license (CAL) to use premium journaling.

To configure journal rules, navigate to Organisation Configuration –> Hub Transport –> Journal Rules tab.

The snapshot below shows the different options available while creating journal rules.

Standard journaling is a basic, journal all in a database option whereas Premium has the facility to select a scope of users. Choosing the appropriate method is dependant on what your organisation requires.

More information is available from multiple Microsoft Exchange Web Pages starting here: