I\u2019ve been sitting on this one for a few weeks as PC Pro magazine articles don\u2019t appear on the site straight away (which i can understand)<\/p>\n
First let me start off my saying I\u2019ve previously been a massive fan of PC Pro magazine. My interest in the magazine has waned in recently years for a few reasons but that\u2019s probably worth a blog post all of it\u2019s own. That said I do still still pick it up from time to time<\/p>\n
This months PC Pro kicked off a feature that talks about IT in small businesses<\/a>. Obviously this caught my eye and I\u2019ll be honest. I was shocked at how badly researched the article seems. I understand this is the first part in series but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s gotten off to the best start<\/p>\n Keeping it really simple the article says that you have a couple of choices<\/p>\n Cloud apps in combination with some open source software (think Google apps & Open Office with maybe Kerio MailServer) or an on-premise Microsoft solution with the Office suite (read the article this is vastly simplified) <\/p>\n So far so good \u2013 the Cloud \/ Open Source argument is a whole other kettle of fish so I’ll just focus on the Microsoft solution<\/p>\n What irked me was that the article talks about the on premise solution meaning Exchange 2003 (in preference to 2007!) with the possibility of adding SharePoint<\/p>\n If this article is about SMBs and you\u2019re going to mention Microsoft solutions why not actually look at the small business solutions Microsoft offer?<\/p>\n If you read this blog on a regular basis you know that for me that means<\/p>\n Small Business Server<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Then depending on the size of the business your dealing you can also take into account<\/p>\n Essential Business Server<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Windows Server 2008 Foundation<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Windows Home Server<\/a><\/strong> (It\u2019s not specifically a small business product but fits well for micro-businesses)<\/p>\n The article then goes on to talk about a few things I\u2019d like to highlight<\/p>\n Firstly, it talks about using Exchange in combination with mobile devices and indicates you\u2019ll need to use IMAP, touting the iPhone as an example<\/p>\n For example, many employees will have smartphones capable of picking up email via IMAP. Careful setup allows them to do so in a secure, encrypted way. The iPhone, for example, can pull email from various accounts<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n What about ActiveSync? The iPhone supports that you know? As do Nokia\u2019s E & N series devices (which are aimed at business) and tons of other devices \u2013 and that\u2019s without mentioning Windows Mobile<\/a><\/p>\n It then says<\/p>\n If you make the move to ES2007, then it’s possible to use this to manage the phones too – remote lockdown and wipe both become possible<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Exchange 2003 has been able to do remote wipe and device security since service pack 2 was released. Obviously Exchange 2007 makes improvements but that doesn\u2019t mean Exchange 2003 doesn\u2019t do it at all!<\/p>\n Staying with Exchange<\/p>\n A key issue with ES2003 is to ensure you’re getting the most from it. For example, many companies limit the user inbox size in an attempt to keep below the 16GB limit of the original ES2003 release. However, this limit has been raised in recent SP versions, and you should be allowing more online storage of company information if possible.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Why mention the 16GB limit? If your going to deploy Exchange 2003 you will<\/strong> be installing service pack 2 as support for service pack 1 expired on 08\/01\/2008<\/a>. This means you have no reason not to make use of the 75GB extended limit<\/p>\n As far as can see the article is aimed at the small business owner, and while this statement makes sense<\/p>\n You can never have too much security, but SMBs are often very surprised at how much they can do with what they already have. This is especially true if you’re running Exchange Server 2003 with recent Windows clients. A thorough understanding of Group Policy can totally transform the network computing experience, and bring peace and calm to an otherwise chaotic network. Making sure that My Documents, and its brothers and sisters, all point to network shares means that irreplaceable documents dumped on the desktop will actually be backed up properly.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n What has Exchange Server got to do with group policy? Group Policy is an Active Directory feature?<\/p>\n Also SBS 2003 and SBS 2008 have management consoles that make it possible for an interested business owner to look after the server themselves. There is even a simple wizard to configure the My Documents folder to redirect to the server without having to go anywhere near any group policy settings<\/p>\n I\u2019m presuming this means SharePoint<\/p>\n If money is available then you can’t beat Microsoft Office 2007 for bells and whistles, but only if you back it up with Microsoft’s server-side collaboration software. This is a whole different level of investment, and one worth doing if finances allow.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Windows SharePoint Services is still free whether you\u2019re using Small Business Server or \u201cvanilla\u201d Windows Server so what level of investment being referred to? Depending on your level of skill then customising SharePoint could require investment but as a software purchase? If you went with SBS it all gets configured it all for you<\/p>\n Also by completely missing out Small Business Server (and Essential Business Server) you are missing out one killer feature that enterprise has pay extra for<\/p>\n Remote Web Workplace<\/strong><\/p>\n Complete access to your email, SharePoint site and remote control of your office PC all from a single, easy to use web site. The 2003 version was great and the 2008 version is even better!<\/p>\n In addition to the technology Microsoft can offer a small business they also have group of their partners who specifically work with small business<\/p>\n Small Business Specialists<\/a> \u2013 we\u2019ve even got a funky blue badge (for now!)<\/p>\n We\u2019re also a community so when I say we I’m not just talking about my company. We form partnerships with other Small Business Specialists to make sure we can cover everything our clients need<\/p>\n Our day-to-day operations are geared towards working with small business owners and getting the right technology for their business. We\u2019ll even be their IT department if they want meaning their staff can get on with the jobs they are actually paid to do. We\u2019re also flexible enough to lend a helping hand if they do want to do it themselves<\/p>\n Finally this baffles me<\/p>\n Don’t leave 2003 until all of it has been properly virtualised into either VMware or Hyper-V, or an equivalent of choice. The future world is a virtualised one, and moving to a new OS version running directly on the hardware is the wrong answer to the wrong question.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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