What should a cloud engineer do FIRST if users cannot send emails through a newly deployed email server?

When users are unable to send emails through a newly deployed email server, the most logical first step is to confirm the email server configuration and, if necessary, reinstall the email server software. This approach is crucial because proper configuration is foundational for the email server's functionality, including aspects such as domain settings, user accounts, and network configurations. If the server has been improperly configured, it can lead to failure in sending and receiving emails.

Reinstalling the email software may also be relevant if there were issues during the initial setup or if the software is corrupted, making it inoperable. This step is often more effective when addressing immediate functionality issues than checking security certificates or addressing encryption services, which may not be the root cause of email delivery problems.

Validating the security certificate for the email domain and confirming email encryption services are also important but typically would be secondary steps after ensuring that the email server is correctly set up. Similarly, consulting the cloud vendor's anti-spam policy could be necessary if there’s a suspicion of emails being blocked, but it would not address potential configuration issues that could prevent the server from sending emails in the first place.