Email, meet Slack. Then, meet the JSS.

via SlackHQ

Every once in a while I check the SlackHQ website to see if any fun new features have been enabled. It turns out last week Slack added an Email integration to their services list. This definitely has piqued by interest, as I'm struggling to find a good way to get alerts from the JSS. I've tried the IFTTT Email > Slack O365 recipe, but I don't like that it relies on my individual email account and that if I filter email into a folder the recipe doesn't run. I've also used Zapier, which is great, but with the amount of alerts we get the expense just doesn't make sense for a paid plan.

So enter Slack's email integration. It's super easy to set up, both in Slack and in the JSS. Here's what I've done to mitigate the need to rely on my individual email to get alerts:

1. Log into your team's Slack. Depending on the settings, you might need to be an administrator to set up an integration. Head to the Services list (yourteam.slack.com/services) and look for Email.

2. Add the Email integration. Pick a pre-existing channel or private group to use, or create a new one.

3. Once you pick a channel or group (or DM, maybe you like hearing from Slackbot) you can customize the label, name, and icon.

4. Once you save your new integration, head to your JSS and create a new user.

5. Create a new standard user account.

6. Create a username, permissions level, and password (and save the pw somewhere handy, as you'll want to log into this account after you create it). For the email address, enter the address Slack created when you set up the integration.

7. Save your new account, then log in as it (log out as yourself first, or use a private browsing window). Head to the email notifications settings.

8. Set whatever notifications you want. I want them all, because I'm greedy and/or like to be informed.

And that's it! The next time your JSS throws an alert, you'll get something in your specified group or channel. I noticed in our environment there is about a minute of lag (which is why it'd be really nice to have a webhook integration!).

It adds the email almost like an attachment, and allows you to expand the contents.

Here is a hi-res JSS logo if you'd like to use it for your icon (or other stuff):

I could see this being incredibly helpful with other services too!


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