The MS Small Business Server is an advanced IT solution designed to help you protect your data, do more with less, and connect with customers like never before. It provides small businesses with many of the features used by large companies – e-mail, Internet connection, internal Web sites, remote access, support for mobile devices, file and printer sharing, backup and restore – all in one affordable, integrated solution.

A MS Small Business Server gives you the tools to take better care of customers, present a professional appearance, and manage customer relationships more effectively. With the MS Small Business Server, you can:

• Stay connected with customers anywhere, anytime: access business information and resources, e-mail, calendars, contacts, internal Web sites, network files, business applications, and more from any PC with Internet access


• Present a professional image: with tools to create a customized set of Web sites and personalized communications to increase your credibility with customers.


• Streamline customer communications: with one-to-many e-mail capabilities and a shared contact database to manage customer information, so you remain top of mind with customers

What is a Server?

At the most basic level, a server is a technology solution that “serves” files, data, print, fax resources, and more to multiple computers. Advanced server solutions also enable you to manage user accounts and passwords, grant or restrict access to shared resources, automatically back up your data, and access business information remotely.

With a server, you can share files and resources, such as fax machines and printers, in a more secure manner. For example, with a server network, employees can access the Internet or company e-mail at the same time.

The MS Small Business Server is designed specifically for small businesses (up to 75 users) and provides small businesses with many server features previously available only to large companies, all in one affordable, integrated solution. These server features include e-mail, Internet connections, business intranets (internal Web sites), remote connectivity, support for Windows Mobile-based devices, file and print sharing, and data backup and restore capabilities.

Features & Benefits

Below is a list of some of the features offered through the MS Small Business Server. The main benefit is having all these options within one complete solution versus purchasing, integrating and managing several individual solutions.

The core of the MS Small Business Sever provides the platform for Windows SharePoint Services, Exchange Server, Shared Fax services, server backup, and Routing and Remote Access Services, including a firewall. The Premium Edition adds ISA Server for more complete firewall protection, SQL Server, and Microsoft Office FrontPage. With both versions, every user gets a copy of Microsoft Outlook.

From the end user's perspective, the MS Small Business Server delivers Exchange-based e-mail, calendars, and contact lists that can be shared with other users; file sharing and network printing; and a preconfigured intranet site using SharePoint. The SharePoint collaboration tools can be used from any Web browser, but the service is also tightly integrated with Microsoft Office. The MS Small Business Sever provides several tools for remote users, including Outlook Web Access for checking Exchange mail from any PC with an Internet connection, a virtual private networking (VPN) client, and Remote Web Workplace.

Challenges

Despite its long list of features, the MS Small Business Sever still leaves a few holes that small businesses will need to address, most notably antivirus and spam-blocking tools. Exchange does a good job of filtering attachments, keeping viruses and Trojan horses off users' PCs, but you'll still need to protect the server itself by wrapping it with some additional protection software.

Solution: One Box does it All

Every business environment is different but the basic approach we take is similar:

• Evaluate your needs by industry, existing technology and office environment
• Research and propose specific hardware and software if a MS Small Business Server is right for your needs
• Install, Train, Synch and Monitor

Contact us today at 617.375.9100 to learn more about how a MS Small Business Server can reduce your operating costs and increase your office productivity.