I hear it all the time … my customer wants an SBS server, but they don’t want to use Exchange. I don’t know about you, but the only reason I can think of why either the customer or the IT consultant would suggest not using Exchange is because they’ve never used it themselves, and therefore are scared that it’s too difficult to install or manage. I have installed SBS servers for almost 9 years. I barely know how to spell Exchange, yet I find Exchange very easy to manage.
But, if you still need convincing, here is a short list of 8 reasons why you should consider using Exchange features with your SBS server.
- Group calendering
- Shared public folders
- Centralized storage and management of all emails
- Easy recovery of deleted emails
- Email archiving
- Centralized scanning of email for spam/viruses BEFORE they reach the user’s inbox
- Access to email remotely via OWA
- Access to email via ActiveSync for cellphones and PDA’s
Remember, if each user is using a POP3 account via Outlook, then those emails are generally only being stored on the user’s computer, and therefore they are probably NOT being backed up. With Exchange, the emails are being stored on the server as well as being cached onto the user’s workstation. Sbs and Exchange make a great team!
Cheers!
I’ll give you a good reason for a small business not to run an on-premises Exchange Server: Microsoft Online Business Productivity Suite – Shared Exchange.
Our SBS also used to run our SharePoint site. No more. That’s been handed off to BPOS. I couldn’t be happier.
So, there are valid reasons why an SBS administrator might not want to run Exchange. I did this nearly a year ago, and I haven’t looked back with any regrets.
About the only thing my SBS does is run WSUS and AV. We’re even doing our shared and user folders in the cloud.
VIVA BPOS! 🙂
Edited for typos!
I totally agree why fear exchange it is there builr into both sbs products and it is a cheap and cheerful way to manage all your communication needs, just need blackberry to go down the same route as apple and we would have total phone coverage without the extra software needs, come on RIM get your act together
I am likely one of Microsoft’s biggest advocated for Exchange. Its pretty much all I do! BUT I dont think a lot of small businesses should have it. It puts additional eggs in an already fragile basket. I typically advise my customers to have someone else host their email and website until they get serious about paying attention to their IT infrastructure. The smallest of small businesses just leave their computers running and unattended. Exchange is solid, but DOES require SOME mainetnance, such as backups…