Deploying the Preava Prevent Outlook Add-In

Learn how to deploy the Preava Prevent Outlook Add-In to Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online users.

Before deploying the Preava Prevent Outlook Add-In within your organization, please carefully plan your deployment.

Locating Your Manifest File URL

  1. Navigate to Admin Dashboard > Integrations (tenant-specific links: US / EU) and find the Microsoft Outlook Add-In option.

  2. Identify the optimal manifest.xml file for your environment (detailed description here).
  3. Click on the Copy Manifest URL button to copy your manifest file URL of your preferred version to your clipboard for use in the steps below.
  4. Centrally deploy the add-in to multiple users or deploy it to individual users from their Outlook app.

Central Deployment via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

We recommend using Entra ID security groups to manage your Preava users.

  1. Go to the Add-Ins page within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. (Or from the Microsoft 365 admin center Home page select Show All from the hamburger navigation menu in the top-left, then Settings, Integrated apps, and finally Add-Ins).

  2. Click on the Deploy Add-In option, and then Next.

  3. Select the Upload custom apps option.
  4. In the manifest URL option, paste the manifest file URL from your clipboard and click Upload. Do not delete the proceeding https:// as this may result in an error.
  5. Specify the Assigned Users, per your deployment plan. We recommend using Entra ID security groups to manage your Preava users.
  6. For the Deployment Method, we recommend the following. 
    1. Initial Deployments: We recommend using the Available deployment method which provides a failsafe for users to manually remove the add-in.
    2. After Successful Initial Deployment: After qualifying the deployment (typically after the first month of initial deployment), we recommend setting the deployment method to Fixed (Default), unless your requirements dictate otherwise.
  7. Click Deploy, followed by Next, and then Close.
  8. Consider sending informative email or other communication to affected users about the deployment of the Preava Prevent Outlook Add-In (sample available here) so they are not caught by surprise.

User-Initiated (One-Off) Deployment (Not Recommended)

⚠️ This option may not be available for all users on all operating systems due to a Microsoft limitation.

In select scenarios adding recipients and a subject line will be necessary to enable the Get Add-Ins button.

  1. In Outlook, click Get Add-Ins from the Home tab on the ribbon. (Alternatively, you can select File > Manage Add-Ins, which will take you to Outlook on the web (OWA) and open the Add-Ins for Outlook dialog there.)
  2. Click on My Add-Ins, then Add a Custom Add-In and Add from URL...
  3. Paste the manifest file URL from your clipboard into the Provide link to manifest file field and click Install.

It usually takes between a few minutes to an hour for a centrally deployed add-in to appear to newly selected users, but typically not more than six hours. According to Microsoft it may take up to 24 hours, but usually it's much less.

If you are unable to see the Preava Prevent Outlook Add-In in Outlook on desktop even after restarting the application, please check if it is available in Outlook on the Web (OWA) or Outlook Progressive Web Application (PWA).