LWsystems presents the current roadmap for Benno MailArchiv for 2024 and 2025 ahead.

The already planned generation change from Benno MailArchiv 2.x to the new Generation 3 will definitely take place this year. The delay has arisen because parts of the new features planned for Benno MailArchiv 3 are being incorporated into Benno MailArchiv 2 for various reasons. These include, among other things, the implementation of OAuth2, the support of OpenID Connect (OIDC) as well as the setup of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), for example in connection with Keycloak

These points will be the last new features in Benno MailArchiv 2.x at the same time. Then it will continue directly with Benno MailArchiv 3.

The core of Benno MailArchiv 3 will be the completely new WebApp (Benno WebApp 3). Subsequently,

  • the core components of Benno MailArchiv will be gradually updated to the latest software release levels as well as
  • new and additional functions implemented in the new WebApp 3.

The upcoming extensions of Benno WebApp 3 include:

  1. the tagging of e-mails
  2. Four-eyes login to Benno WebApp
  3. deletion of mails by authorized persons

The Benno WebApp 3 (Q2-Q3/2024)

The new WebApp 3 is a complete redevelopment. It is based entirely on the React framework and turns the WebApp into a modern Single Page Web Application. At the same time, the new WebApp is the basis for future new functions within the WebApp, to which the aforementioned “tagging” of e-mails will belong.

Features of the new Benno WebApp 3:

  • complete redevelopment
  • fully responsive (as before)
  • modern Single Page Web Application
  • based 100% on the React Framework
    (away from PHP and PHP templates)
  • shifts GUI load from server to client-side (end device)
  • centralizes functionality from benno-web to benno-rest
  • is the basis for future new user functionalities in the WebApp

The extensions of Benno WebApp 3 (Q4/2024 – Q1/2025)

Tagging of E-Mails / Using Tags:

The so-called “tagging of E-Mails” means that E-Mails in the archive can be provided with keywords. Any E-Mails can be aggregated under a keyword (tag).

E-Mails can be provided with a tag (“marking”) such as “Project X”. Access to all mails for “Project X” is then done by searching for mails with the tag. Information can thus be easily assigned to any logical terms. Access to the tagged mails is done via the search.

We will address further details on this topic in due course.

Four-Eyes Login:

The four-eyes login is the prerequisite for using future or expanded functions of the WebApp. Deleting mails (see below) in the archive is such a function, which will only be visible and usable after a four-eyes login.

In the four-eyes login, two users log in to the same Benno WebApp with their respective user account. Assuming the corresponding authorization by the administrator, the successful four-eyes login then allows access to future, expanded functions of the Benno WebApp, such as deleting e-mails in the archive.

Deleting e-mails from the archive:

Deleting e-mails from the archive is a very sensitive matter, because the GDPR and the requirements of the GoBD collide with each other here.

To implement archiving in compliance with GDPR, it may be necessary to delete archived emails. Benno MailArchiv is already equipped to delete emails from the archive from an administrative perspective. With the implementation of deleting emails via WebApp (i.e., interactively using the Benno WebApp), authorized users (i.e., those authorized by the administrator) will be given the opportunity to delete emails from the archive via WebApp without the administrator of the mail archive.

The deletion of emails will be an advanced function of the WebApp, the use of which will be tied to the four-eyes login to the WebApp.

The deletion itself will be a documented deletion. That is, the time of deletion as well as a reason for the deletion together with the executing user names will be stored in a revision-safe manner and for any later audits in Benno MailArchiv.

We will publish further information and details on deleting emails via WebApp at the appropriate time.