Question: **Short version of the issue**

* We have a 3rd party workflow tool that needs to check e-mail inboxes.
* The tool only supports checking e-mail with pop3 or IMAP
* Our network guys don't allow pop3 or IMAP access to our exchange server.

**My working solution / Concept**

* Install some kind of pop3/imap mail server software on the web server with the workflow tool.
* Have the workflow tool import via exchange/MAPI the e-mail for this one mailbox, then serve it up (only to the local machine for security reasons) using Pop3/IMAP so the workflow tool can check the inbox.

Essentially I need a way to "translate" or some kind of adapter to have a pop3 client talk to exchange via MAPI/Exchange protocols.

Do you know of any tool like the one I described above? Is there perhaps a better solution to the problem that I'm missing?

Answer: 
I'd seriously push for fighting the political battle to allow IMAP access to the Exchange system. IMAP and POP can be enabled on a per-account basis. Since this is a workflow item with a defined business application, there's definitely a purpose...

I'd be more suspicious of a the long-term viability of a workaround solution or anything that adds more complexity to the stack.
Probably too late for you but I am posting an answer for posterity. Check out DavMail - <http://davmail.sourceforge.net>

This is a cross-platform gateway for Exchange or Office365. In their own words - 

"DavMail is a POP/IMAP/SMTP/Caldav/Carddav/LDAP gateway allowing users to use any mail client with Exchange, even from the internet through Outlook Web Access on any platform, tested on MacOSX, Linux and Windows"