Enhancing the security of Cloud Computing infrastructure and E-mail systems through the implementation of Mailcow and pfSense platforms

Ksenija Zrnić , Dragan Đokić , Katarina Jovanović
Belgrade Metropolitan University, Serbia
ksenija.zrnic@metropolitan.ac.rs
dragan.djokic@metropolitan.ac.rs
katarina.jovanovic.4556@metropolitan.ac.rs
DOI: 10.46793/BISEC25.147Z

 

ABSTRACT: Cloud Computing is becoming a key technology in modern IT environments; however, many organizations continue to face numerous challenges in ensuring the security and reliability of their e-mail systems. The goal of this paper is to present the enhancement of cloud infrastructure through the implementation of Mailcow and pfSense platforms, emphasizing security, reliability, stability, and efficiency of e-mail systems. The implementation was carried out in a virtual en-vironment using the VMware Type 2 hypervisor. The Docker Mailcow server was deployed on an Ubuntu 18.04 operating system, while the pfSense software was configured as a firewall solution for network traffic control and virtual infra-structure protection. All virtual machines within the virtual environment were connected to pfSense, enabling centralized management, filtering, and monitoring of network operations. The results demonstrated that the combination of Mailcow and pfSense platforms improved performance, stability, and security of the e-mail system, while simplifying user privilege and access management. This research may serve as a practical model for educational and business organizations aiming to enhance their e-mail and network systems through the use of open-source technologies in cloud environments.

KEYWORDS:  Cloud Computing, Mailcow, PfSense, e-mail server, security, virtualization

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IZVOR: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Business Information Security BISEC’2025