How to Deploy Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration Implementation Guide

Purpose

This guide outlines the process for implementing Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration Security. Following these procedures ensures consistent deployment, proper configuration, and comprehensive protection for email and collaboration platforms against advanced threats.

Scope

This implementation process applies to organizations looking to deploy Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration Security to protect their Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other collaboration environments.

Prerequisites

• Global administrator credentials for your email and collaboration platforms (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace)
• Active Check Point Infinity Portal account with necessary permissions
• Inventory of email domains and collaboration tools
• Approval for implementation from stakeholders

Implementation Process

1. Initial Planning

1.1 Environment Assessment

• Identify your email and collaboration platforms:
  • Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, Teams)
  • Google Workspace (Gmail)
  • Other collaboration tools
• Document current security measures
• Determine security requirements and compliance needs
• Identify key stakeholders and administrators

1.2 Implementation Planning

• Create implementation timeline
• Determine rollout strategy (phased or all-at-once)
• Define success criteria
• Identify potential impact on end users
• Obtain stakeholder approval for implementation

The planning phase is foundational to a successful Harmony Email & Collaboration Security implementation. This isn't merely about technical details—it's about understanding your organization's security posture and how email figures into your threat landscape. Email remains the primary attack vector for most organizations, with phishing campaigns growing increasingly sophisticated. Take time to analyze past security incidents related to email and collaboration tools to inform your implementation strategy. Consider your industry-specific regulations (like HIPAA for healthcare or PCI DSS for financial services) when defining security requirements. The rollout strategy deserves careful consideration—a phased approach allows for adjustments based on initial results, while an all-at-once deployment provides immediate protection across the environment.

2. Check Point User Center Account Creation

2.1 Check Point User Center Access

• Navigate to the Check Point User Center at https://usercenter.checkpoint.com
• Log in with authorized credentials
• Access the Accounts Management section by clicking on "Assets/Info" in the top navigation bar
• Select "Accounts" under the "My Accounts" section

2.2 Creating a New Account

• Click the "Create Account" button
• Fill in the required fields with your organization's information:
  • Company Name: Enter the official name of your organization
  • Address: Provide the physical address of your headquarters or primary location
  • Contact Details: Include the primary contact person's name, email address, and phone number
• Assign appropriate permissions and roles for account management
• Review the entered information for accuracy
• Click "Submit" to create the new account

Proper account setup in the Check Point ecosystem establishes the foundation for your security implementation. The User Center serves as the management hub for all Check Point services, including Harmony Email & Collaboration. Pay particular attention to the permission structure assigned during account creation—follow the principle of least privilege when assigning administrative access. For organizations with multiple divisions or business units, consider whether a single account or multiple accounts makes more sense for your management structure. The primary contact designated during this stage will receive important security alerts and notifications, so choose someone who can respond appropriately to time-sensitive information. This account structure will persist throughout your relationship with Check Point, making it worth the effort to configure it correctly from the start.

3. Check Point Infinity Portal Access

3.1 Portal Access Verification

• Navigate to the Check Point Infinity Portal
• Log in with Check Point credentials
• Verify access and permissions

3.2 License Activation

• For new deployments:
  • Click "Start Free Trial" if testing before full implementation
  • Or click "Already have a contract" to link existing licensing
• For existing customers:
  • Verify license status and coverage
  • Ensure sufficient licenses for all users

The Infinity Portal is Check Point's unified management interface for their cloud security services, including Harmony Email & Collaboration. Access verification is critical, especially if multiple administrators will be managing the platform. When activating licenses, consider future growth—adding 10-15% additional capacity beyond current needs can prevent disruption during organizational expansion. For organizations with seasonal workforce fluctuations, evaluate whether the licensing model accommodates these variations. The trial option provides an excellent opportunity to validate the solution's fit for your environment before full commitment. If you're transitioning from another email security solution, consider running both in parallel during the trial period to compare performance and detection capabilities.

4. SaaS Application Onboarding

4.1 Microsoft 365 Mail Configuration

• In the Infinity Portal SaaS Selection page, click "Start" under Office 365 Mail
• Sign in with Microsoft Global Administrator credentials
• Review and accept the permissions requested by Check Point
• Document the permissions granted
• Note that Harmony will enter learning mode for up to 48 hours

4.2 Microsoft Teams Configuration (if applicable)

• In the SaaS Applications section, click "Start" for Microsoft Teams
• Authenticate using Microsoft Global Administrator credentials
• Grant the necessary permissions to Check Point
• Document the Teams integration configuration

4.3 Google Workspace Configuration (if applicable)

• In the SaaS Applications section, click "Start" for Gmail
• Sign in with Google Workspace Super Administrator credentials
• Choose the installation mode (automatic is recommended)
• Select the organizational units or groups to protect

Application onboarding establishes the critical connections between Check Point's security infrastructure and your email and collaboration platforms. This integration uses API connections that require significant permissions—carefully review what you're granting access to. For Microsoft 365, the permissions include capabilities like reading mail, accessing mailbox settings, and creating transport rules. The learning mode period is essential for reducing false positives—Harmony analyzes your normal email patterns to distinguish between legitimate communications and potential threats. For organizations with complex deployments across multiple domains or platforms, consider a staggered onboarding approach to simplify troubleshooting. If you're protecting Google Workspace, the organizational unit selection allows for targeted protection of specific departments or teams, which can be valuable for piloting the solution before wider deployment.

5. Security Policy Configuration

5.1 Policy Protection Mode Selection

• Navigate to the "Policy" section in the administrator portal
• Expand the relevant SaaS application (Office 365 Mail, Gmail, etc.)
• Click on the default threat protection rule or create a new one
• Set the Policy Protection Mode based on requirements:
  • Prevent (Inline): Blocks threats before they reach users
  • Detect and Remediate: Addresses threats post-delivery

5.2 Threat Category Configuration

• Configure specific actions for different threat categories:
  • Phishing attacks
  • Malware and ransomware
  • Business Email Compromise (BEC)
  • Account takeover attempts
  • Data leakage
• Click "Save and Apply" to enforce the policy

5.3 Policy Testing

• Send test emails with EICAR test files
• Verify policy enforcement
• Adjust settings as needed

Policy configuration represents the core of your email security strategy. The protection mode decision is particularly significant—Prevent mode offers stronger security but introduces the possibility of legitimate emails being blocked, while Detect and Remediate mode reduces business disruption but allows threats to reach inboxes before remediation. Most organizations begin with Detect and Remediate during implementation, transitioning to Prevent mode after confirming low false positive rates. When configuring threat categories, prioritize protections against the attack types most relevant to your industry—financial services should focus on BEC protection, while healthcare might prioritize data leakage prevention. The testing phase is critical for validating your configuration; beyond EICAR files, consider creating benign test messages that mimic actual phishing attempts targeting your organization to verify detection capabilities.

6. User Interaction Features Configuration

6.1 Smart Banners Setup

• Go to "User Interaction" > "Smart Banners"
• Select the banners relevant to your requirements
• Customize the banner text and severity as needed
• Save the configurations

6.2 Quarantine Report Configuration

• Navigate to "User Interaction" > "Restore Requests"
• Enable the "End User Quarantine Report"
• Set the delivery time and recipients based on preferences
• Customize the sender details and email content
• Save the settings

6.3 User Portal Access

• Configure user portal access settings
• Define user permissions for quarantine management

The user interaction features bridge the gap between security technology and human behavior. Smart banners serve as visual security indicators, alerting users to potential threats while providing educational context that improves security awareness over time. When customizing banner text, balance technical accuracy with clear, actionable guidance that non-technical users can understand. Quarantine reports represent another critical touchpoint—the delivery timing should align with your users' work patterns, typically early in the business day to allow for prompt review and restoration of any legitimate messages. The user portal offers self-service capabilities that can reduce helpdesk ticket volume for false positives, but requires careful permission configuration to prevent users from inadvertently releasing threats. Consider supplementing these features with periodic user education to maximize their effectiveness.

7. Monitoring and Alert Configuration

7.1 Dashboard Setup

• Access the "Dashboard" section in the administrator portal
• Configure dashboard views based on requirements
• Set up custom widgets for relevant security metrics

7.2 Alert Configuration

• Navigate to alert settings
• Configure email notifications for security events
• Define severity thresholds for different alert types
• Set alert recipients (security team and relevant stakeholders)

7.3 Reporting Configuration

• Set up scheduled reports based on requirements
• Configure report recipients and delivery frequency
• Customize report content and format

Effective monitoring transforms raw security data into actionable intelligence. The dashboard configuration should reflect your organization's security priorities—focus on metrics that directly inform decision-making rather than overwhelming security teams with excessive information. When configuring alerts, consider implementing a tiered approach where critical threats generate immediate notifications while lower-severity events are consolidated into summary reports. Alert fatigue is a significant concern in security operations; calibrate thresholds carefully to ensure notifications represent genuinely actionable events. Reports serve different purposes for different stakeholders—technical teams need detailed threat information, while executives benefit from trend analysis and high-level security posture metrics. Establish a regular review cycle for your reporting configuration to ensure it evolves alongside changing organizational needs and threat landscapes.

8. Initial Verification and Testing

8.1 Protection Verification

• Conduct controlled tests using harmless test files
• Verify email filtering and quarantine functionality
• Test collaboration security features

8.2 User Experience Validation

• Test end-user experience with quarantine reports
• Verify smart banner visibility and functionality
• Test user portal access (if enabled)

Verification confirms that your implementation delivers the expected protection without disrupting business operations. Testing should include both technical verification (do security controls function as configured?) and user experience validation (do security features make sense to end users?). Create a comprehensive test plan that covers each protection category—send benign test messages containing characteristics of phishing, malware, and BEC attacks to validate detection capabilities. User experience testing should involve representatives from different departments and roles to ensure security features remain intuitive across varying technical skill levels. Document all test results, including any adjustments made to resolve issues, as this information provides valuable context for future security assessments and optimizations.

9. Training and Documentation

9.1 Administrator Training

• Provide training for administrators (if applicable):
  • Dashboard navigation and interpretation
  • Policy management
  • Alert handling
  • Report review

9.2 End-User Education

• Develop end-user guidance materials:
  • Explanation of smart banners
  • How to use quarantine reports
  • Reporting suspicious emails
• Deliver training via appropriate method (in-person, virtual, or documentation)

9.3 Implementation Documentation

• Create comprehensive documentation package:
  • Deployed solution overview
  • Configuration details
  • Management procedures
  • Support escalation process
• Store documentation securely
• Provide documentation to stakeholders

Knowledge transfer ensures that your Harmony implementation continues to deliver value beyond the initial deployment. Administrator training should include both routine management tasks and incident response procedures for handling emerging threats. Consider creating scenario-based training exercises that simulate real-world situations administrators might encounter. End-user education significantly impacts security effectiveness—users who understand what the smart banners mean and how to interpret quarantine reports become active participants in your security strategy rather than potential vulnerabilities. Implementation documentation serves as both an operational reference and a disaster recovery resource; ensure it contains sufficient detail for someone unfamiliar with the implementation to understand and manage the system if necessary. Establish a documentation update process to keep this information current as configuration changes occur.

10. Ongoing Management Plan

10.1 Regular Maintenance

• Establish regular maintenance schedule:
  • Policy reviews
  • Configuration updates
  • False positive/negative monitoring
  • Performance monitoring

10.2 Incident Response Procedure

• Document incident response procedures:
  • Email threat detection process
  • Remediation steps
  • Notification process
  • Post-incident review
• Ensure all stakeholders understand their role in incident response

Email security is not a "set and forget" solution but an ongoing program that requires regular attention. Policy reviews should occur quarterly at minimum, with additional reviews following significant organizational changes or emerging threat announcements. False positive monitoring is particularly important for maintaining user trust—excessive false positives can lead users to ignore security warnings or circumvent controls. The incident response procedures should integrate with your broader security incident response plan, establishing clear escalation paths and decision-making authority. Consider conducting periodic tabletop exercises to test these procedures, identifying and addressing gaps before they manifest during actual incidents. The maintenance plan should also include review of Check Point's security advisories and updates to ensure you're leveraging the latest protection capabilities as the threat landscape evolves.

11. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Integration Failures

Cause: Authentication or permission issuesResolution: Verify admin credentials and permission grants. Ensure the Global Administrator account used for integration has the necessary privileges and that all required permissions were accepted during the onboarding process.

Emails Bypassing Security

Cause: Policy configuration issuesResolution: Review and update security policies. Check for exclusions or exceptions that might be allowing emails to bypass scanning. Verify that all mail flow routes through the Harmony service and that no mail flow rules are conflicting with Harmony's operation.

False Positives

Cause: Overly aggressive policiesResolution: Adjust threat detection thresholds. Review quarantined messages to identify patterns in false positives. Consider creating exemptions for specific legitimate senders frequently flagged by the system. Allow the learning mode to complete its analysis period.

Missing Notifications

Cause: Alert configuration issuesResolution: Verify notification settings and recipients. Check that alert thresholds are appropriately set and that email addresses for notifications are correct. Confirm that notification emails aren't being blocked by spam filters. Test alerts to ensure proper delivery.

User Access Problems

Cause: Permission or configuration issuesResolution: Check user portal settings and permissions. Verify that users have been properly assigned access rights to the quarantine portal. Ensure synchronization between the directory service and Harmony is functioning correctly. Review browser compatibility if users report interface issues.

Additional Resources

To support your implementation, the following resources provide valuable information:

• Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration Administration Guide
• Check Point User Center Documentation
• Check Point Infinity Portal Guide
• Microsoft 365 Security Best Practices
• Google Workspace Security Guidelines
• Check Point Harmony Product Page

The ITECS Advantage

Our structured implementation methodology ensures your Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration Security deployment delivers maximum protection with minimal business disruption. With ITECS as your security partner, you benefit from:

• Technical Expertise: Our certified security specialists bring extensive implementation experience
• Tailored Security: Solutions customized to your specific industry and compliance requirements
• Operational Excellence: Streamlined deployment with minimal impact on your users
• Continuous Optimization: Ongoing refinement to enhance protection and reduce false positives

Ready to enhance your email and collaboration security posture? Contact ITECS today to discuss implementing Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration Security in your environment.

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