Microsoft Certified Consulting Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Support: Design, Integration, Upgrades, and Troubleshooting
Introduction to Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server
Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server provides a dependable, extensible, and easy-to-manage platform with round-the-clock email and collaboration plus low cost of ownership. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 supports a wide array of team activities, such group calendaring capabilities, discussion groups, and group folders, and furthermore makes available data that extends over geographic, logical, and technology barriers with features that include Instant Messaging (IM), on-demand information, and video conferencing. MS Exchange 2003 Server offers enhancements over MS Exchange Server 2000 in several important technologies that address protection, performance, and mobility.
Extensive experience with Microsoft's messaging technology makes Progent one of the most effective IT consulting companies in the San Francisco Bay Area and major cities across the U.S. for supporting messaging environments based on Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server. Progent can assist small companies realize all the benefits of MS Exchange 2003 Server under these common scenarios:
Benefits of Updating from MS Exchange 5.5 Server
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers significant improvements in functionality over Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 in key areas including accessibility, manageability, protection, reliability, scalability, and speed.
Exchange 2003 Server offers a dramatic increase in capability compared to the MS Exchange 5.5 web client. MS Exchange 2003 Server provides a nearly identical implementation of the familiar MS Outlook interface including calendaring and tools. Because of this mobile workers can have full, protected availability of email even without a laptop. All mobile users require is a web-connected PC with a standard browser.
In contrast to Exchange 5.5, which has its own directory, Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server uses Active Directory (AD), providing a more simplified administration and protection model. This makes Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server more efficient to manage and maintain and in addition allows tighter protection.
Exchange 2003 Server has a strong foundation for transparently adding third-party utilities including anti-virus and anti-spamming software. Exchange 2003 Server's strong API solves the technical risk often found with Exchange 5.5 when integrating third-party software.
MS Exchange Server 2003 offers significantly increased capacity and speed over MS Exchange Server 5.5. Consequently you can enjoy the advantage of more and larger mailboxes and faster offsite access.
Upgrading to MS Exchange Server 2003 also brings better search ability, making it easier to retrieve vital information when you need it.
Reasons for Upgrading from MS Exchange Server 2K
Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers enhancements in functionality over Microsoft Exchange Server 2K in key capabilities such as recovery, performance, protection, mobile access, team computing, and manageability.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 delivers improved recovery by adding the capability of eight-node clustering, cluster failover time improvements, support for mount points which overcome the 24-drive letter limitation, storage area network connectivity, Volume Shadow Copy Service for database backup, a Mailbox Recovery Center tool, and a Restore Storage group.
Exchange Server 2003 enhances performance through improvements that include /3GB and /USERVA startup switches for adjusting the use of memory and memory address space, public folder store replication improvements, distribution list caching enhancements, and suppression of Out of Office notices.
Security enhancements offered by Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server include IPSec compatibility for front- and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol requests to Microsoft Active Directory, front-end and back-end Kerberos validation, Internet Information Services (IIS) 6.0 protection, restriction of distribution lists to authenticated users, real-time Safe and Block lists, download filtering, attachment restrictions in OWA, and public folders permissions improvements for unknown users.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 includes better support for mobile workers by including an Outlook Web Access (OWA) user interface (UI) and a broader range of capabilities for Web Outlook client, Outlook performance improvements through MAPI compression, HTTP compatibility from Outlook, cHTML and HTML smart phone browser support, and current syncing of notifications for handheld computers.
Manageability and service are improved by centralizing queues on a per-server system, enhancing the user interface, exposing all system queues, controlling cookie permission, using Exchange System Manager to transfer log and queue data, including a multi-user Move Mailbox feature, and providing dynamic distribution lists, public folder Search capabilities, and public folder affinity to control referrals.
How Progent Can Help You to Upgrade to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Using field-proven methodologies, Progent's professional consultants can assist you to define and execute an effective in-place migration plan that avoids business disruption, reduces long-term support costs, and makes your Microsoft Exchange 2003 environment simpler to administer. For complex multi-server or multi-site upgrades, Progent has the background to finish your move on time and affordably. Progent's email support, repair, and consulting offerings include expertise on the configuration of third-party add-on products that are best aligned to your company strategy.
Advantages of Migrating to Exchange Server 2003 from an ISP-based or POP3 Email System
If your business is currently using an email system hosted by an ISP or if you are running your Outlook clients in POP3 mode, MS Exchange 2003 Server provides a wealth of enhanced features covering ease of management, responsiveness, capacity, reliability, and group support:
In contrast to the store-and-forward model used by POP3 email systems, Exchange Server 2003 uses a central-store architecture that frees users from dependence on a specific PC or laptop, lowers vulnerability to computer failure or viruses, and allows both on-line and off-line email, programmed backup, and sophisticated groupware.
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers powerful groupware capabilities that allow teams to improve productivity by sharing calendaring, address groups, correspondence, and data.
The versatility of Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server makes it possible to install non-Microsoft security add-ins or accommodate wireless computers such as the RIM Blackberry wireless handheld.
MS Exchange Server 2003 works with powerful administration and tracking tools to confirm that your messaging environment is running efficiently.
Exchange Server 2003 allows complete on-line backup without disrupting users, enabling round-the-clock operation by avoiding scheduled maintenance blackouts.
How Progent Can Help You to Migrate. Move from a POP3 Email System
Progent's background and tested methodologies can enable you to implement a quick, non-disruptive migration to Exchange 2003 Server. Progent pays attention to critical details such as managing domain names so that both on-site and mobile workers enjoy a smooth upgrade from the limitations of POP3 email. Progent can help you with setting up a local Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 system or help you to locate and administer your Exchange Server 2003 in an off-site Data Center. Progent's security consultants can help you design a company-wide security strategy that incorporates a highly secure messaging system.
Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Technology
For small and mid-sized businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California, or anywhere in the United States, Progent's Microsoft-certified experts can provide network help and professional consulting support for the entire array of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, Microsoft Windows 2003 Server, and Microsoft Windows Server 2K. Progent's migration, installation, update, and support capabilities cover system architecture, deployment, and management help for
project analysis and documentation, on-site and remote
technical support and network repair,
HelpDesk Call Center Services, certified
security expertise, and IT
outsourcing.
