Microsoft Small Business Server 2008
Earlsbourne Computer Consulting specialises in the deployment and support of Microsoft Small Business server. In fact it accounts for a significant part of our business. Since the release of SBS 2003 Microsoft reports a 400% rise in the sales of Small Business Server.
Small to medium business with one-to-75 users, are installing SBS in record numbers for its unparalleled functionality, ease of use and price tag. Microsoft Small Business Server Premium now comes licensed to allow a second application server enabling growth to much larger complex organisations. There is simply nothing like it for the money. For that matter, there is simply no bundled package that can match it. Linux and Open Source vendors have no products that individually or collectively can compete with the bundled feature set of Windows SBS 2008, customers say. Small businesses further reported that Windows SBS 2008 has a near immediate return on investment.
What is Microsoft Small Business Server?
There must be some limitations?
So why does it need optimising and enhancing?
What are the business benefits?
What is Microsoft Small Business Server?
Small Business Server (SBS) is the combination of a number of server based products from Microsoft (known as BackOffice). Together they provide the infrastructure required by business today.
In summary the products included are
- Microsoft Windows 2008 Server
- Microsoft Exchange 2007 Server
- Microsoft Windows Sharepoint Services 3.0
- Microsoft Windows Update Services 3.0
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008
- Microsoft FAX Server
Purchased individually these products are cost prohibitive to the smaller business, but bundled together at a significantly reduced cost it is now the ideal!
SBS delivers a whole host of functions, some of which are listed below
- A central repository to share data
- A central location to store multi-user business application such accounting packages.
- E-mail messaging, scheduling and contact management
- Mobile Messaging services (Activesync), Supports Windows Mobile, I Phone and many Nokia Handsets
- The facility to send and receive Internet e-mails from the desktop, Mobile Phone, Laptop or Web Browser
- Seamless access to the World Wide Web from the desktop
- CompanywebIntranet to share global information, In-House or as an Extranet for sharing Information with your clients
- The capability to fax documents from the desktop
- A powerful database engine
- Remote access for home or mobile-based staff
There must be some limitations?
Of course - Microsoft wouldn't give money away. To stop everyone using SBS in preference to the individual products the following limitations are imposed with SBS
- Maximum of 75 Users
However as you can see the organisations with less than 75 people this is a very attractive proposition.
So why does it need optimising and enhancing?
Earlsbourne Computer Consulting Limited consider that that all business needs are unique. SBS is written for a wide range of applications and bussines types. To get the best out of SBS and plug any unwanted security holes Earlsbourne will tailor SBS to your requirements.
To increase productivity, security and reduce overall support costs for which Earlsbourne Computer Consulting Limited integrated with SBS, which include
- Comprehensive Virus Detection with automatic updates
- Desktop Roaming
- Application delivery
- Automated on-line backups
- Remote Support capability
- Full client configuration
- Fault tolerance monitoring
- Client image stores
- Extensive Event and fault monitoring
- Multiple intranet sites
- Improved Internet security and connectivity
- Improved server security
- Performance Optimisation
- Hardware fault tolerance
- Remote Access configuration and security
What are the business benefits?
Implementing SBS optimised and enhanced by Earlsbourne Computer Consulting Limited or updating your current installation coupled with our extensive management and support of SBS will deliver the following business benefits.
- Reduced Support Costs
- A Reliable System
- Known support costs
- Improved access to the internet
- Reduced down-time
Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 combines several server technologies for an all-in-one small business network suite.
SBS 2008 comes in two editions: Standard and Premium.
The diagram and chart below detail the various product technologies included in each edition.
| Benefit |
Product Technologies |
SBS 2008 Standard Edition |
SBS 2008 Premium Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
Strong IT Foundation: |
Windows Server 2008 Standard Technologies |
 |
|
Messaging and Collaboration: |
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition |
|
|
Collaboration and Productivity: |
Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 |
|
|
E-Mail Security: |
Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server1,3 |
|
|
Network Updates and Protection: |
Windows Server Update Services 3.0 |
|
|
Take Business Online: |
Microsoft Office Live Small Business2 |
|
|
Database: |
Windows Server 2008 Standard4 |
|
1 120 day trial included in the product.
2 Office Live Small Business is available in the following languages (countries): English (Canada, U.K., U.S.); French (Canada, France); German (Germany); and Japanese (Japan).
3 Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server is available in the following languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, and Russian.
4Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard is available as an alternative version in place of Windows Server 2008 Standard.
5 Through June 30, 2010, customers using applications that are not yet certified for use on SQL Server 2008 Standard, a copy of SQL Server 2005 Standard will also be included in SBS 2008 Premium. SQL Server 2008 (or 2005) Standard can be installed on either server: If you install SQL on the first server then you must install the management tools on another machine.
For information on Windows Live OneCare for Server, visit the OneCare Update page.
To learn more about product licensing and get additional details on Client Access Licenses, visit the Licensing page.