Microsoft Certified Engineers

Introduction to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
MS Exchange Server 2003 delivers a dependable, scalable, and easy-to-manage platform offering 24×7 email and team support plus quick return on investment. MS Exchange Server 2003 enables a broad array of team activities, such as group scheduling abilities, discussion groups, and group folders, and also makes available data that crosses geographic, organizational, and architectural barriers with productivity enhancers that include IM, on-demand data, and video conferencing. Exchange Server 2003 delivered enhancements over Exchange Server 2000 in important technologies that cover protection, performance, and remote access.

Microsoft has terminated support for Exchange Server 2003, requiring IT management deal with the issues involved in maintaining an end-of-life messaging platform. Despite this, the majority of Exchange users are now running Exchange Server 2003. Progent's Microsoft Gold certified network engineers offer in-depth experience supporting Exchange 2003 and can assist your business to administer and repair your existing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 solution or help you to design and implement an affordable upgrade to a current edition of Microsoft Exchange.

Extensive background with Microsoft's messaging products makes Progent one of the most effective IT consulting companies in the U.S. or integrating messaging environments powered by Microsoft Exchange Server 2003. Progent can help small organizations get all the benefits MS Exchange Server 2003 has compared to previous editions of Exchange. These improvements have helped establish Exchange 2003's loyal customer base and solidify the position of Exchange as the industry's number one messaging solution.

Advantages of Exchange 2003 Vs. MS Exchange 2K Server
Exchange 2003 Server offers enhancements in capability over MS Exchange 2000 Server in key capabilities including recovery, throughput, protection, mobile access, collaboration, and simplicity of management.

• Exchange 2003 Server delivers superior recovery by including the capability of eight-node clustering, faster failover, the addition of mount points which overcome the 24-drive designation limit, SAN connectivity, Volume Shadow Copy Service for database backup, a Mailbox Recovery utility, and a Restore Storage group.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server enhances responsiveness through features that include /3GB and /USERVA startup switches for tuning the allocation of memory and memory address space, public folder store replication enhancements, distribution list performance improvements, and suppression of Out of Office notices.
• Security improvements introduced by Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 include IPSec support for front-end and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol requests to Active Directory, front-end and back-end Kerberos authentication, Internet Information Services 6.0 security, restriction of distribution lists to validated users, up-to-date Safe and Block data, inbound recipient filtering, attachment restrictions in Outlook Web Access, and public folders permissions improvements.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server offers better accommodation of remote and mobile workers by including an Outlook Web Access user interface and a more extensive feature set for Web Outlook, Outlook 2003 performance enhancements via MAPI compression, HTTP access from Outlook 2003, cHTML and HTML mobile phone browser capability, plus syncing of notifications for Pocket PCs.
• Manageability and serviceability are improved by organizing queues on a per-server basis, enhancing the user experience, revealing all system queues, enabling cookie permission, utilizing Exchange System Manager to move log files and queue data, including a multi-user Move Mailbox function, and providing dynamic distribution lists, public folder Search capabilities, and public folder affinity to control referrals.

Improvements of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Vs. Exchange 5.5
MS Exchange 2003 Server offered major improvements in capability over Exchange 5.5 Server in important areas affecting accessibility, ease of management, security, stability, capacity, and speed.

• Exchange 2003 Server offers a significant increase in functionality compared to the Exchange 5.5 web client. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 provides an almost complete version of the older MS Outlook GUI interface that features scheduling and utilities. Because of this, remote and mobile workers get the advantage of complete, secure access to email even without a notebook. All they require is a web-connected computer with a standard web browser.
• Unlike Exchange Server 5.5, which has its own directory, Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server uses Active Directory, representing a more simplified administration and protection model. This makes Exchange 2003 Server easier to administer and maintain and in addition allows better security.
• MS Exchange Server 2003 has a powerful foundation for seamlessly adding non-Microsoft applications including anti-virus and anti-spamming tools. Exchange Server 2003's versatile Application Programming Interface eliminates the instability often found with Microsoft Exchange 5.5 when integrating third-party utilities.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers greatly improved scalability and speed over MS Exchange 5.5 Server. Improvements include more and larger mailboxes and speedier remote access.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server also has better search capability, making it easier and faster to find vital data when you need it.

Benefits MS Exchange 2003 Server Vs. an ISP-based or POP3 Email Environment
If your business is currently running an email environment hosted by an Internet Service Provider or if you are running your Microsoft Outlook clients in POP3 mode, MS Exchange 2003 Server provides an array of enhanced features covering manageability, performance, capacity, availability, and collaboration:

• In contrast to the store-and-forward model used by POP3 email systems, MS Exchange Server 2003 uses a central-store model that frees users from dependence on a specific personal computer or laptop, reduces susceptibility to hardware failure or viruses, and allows both on-line and off-line email, programmed backup, and sophisticated sharing and collaboration.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers powerful collaboration features that allow work groups to maximize productivity by sharing calendaring, address groups, messages, and files.
• The versatility of Exchange Server 2003 allows you to integrate non-Microsoft security enhancements or support wireless devices such as the BlackBerry smartphone.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server works with advanced management and monitoring tools so you can confirm that your email system is operating smoothly.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server permits full on-line backup without disrupting performance, supporting round-the-clock availability by avoiding scheduled maintenance blackouts.

How Progent Can Help You to Move Your POP3 Clients to Exchange Server 2003
Progent's experience and tested methodologies can enable you to manage a quick, seamless migration of your POP3 users to Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server. Progent attends to critical details that include managing domain names so that both on-site and mobile users make a hassle-free transition from the restrictions of POP3 messaging. Progent can assist you with integrating a local Exchange 2003 Server solution or help you to set up and administer your Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server in an external datacenter. Progent's workplace recovery experts can assist your company to create and implement a comprehensive business continuity strategy that incorporates Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager support for ongoing online backup and fast system restoration.

How Progent Can Assist You to Transition to Exchange Server 2010 from MS Exchange Server 2003
Progent's Microsoft Exchange consultants can help you to migrate to MS Exchange Server 2010 from Exchange 2003 Server at the least possible cost or disruption of business. Progent can assist you to enhance Microsoft Exchange security, speed, dependability, and fault tolerance and streamline administration. Progent's certified system security specialists can evaluate and improve your security strategy and Progent's Cisco-qualified network consultants can upgrade your network architecture to improve network efficiency and lower support cost.

Hosting for Microsoft Exchange
Progent also offers Microsoft Exchange Hosting Services centered around on a world-class data center for Exchange and offering fast Internet connectivity, dedicated firewall security, patch and service pack implementation, Helpdesk services, spam protection, regular backup, 24x7 analysis of security and performance, and comprehensive email management services. When moving from an earlier release of Microsoft Exchange is an ideal occasion to move to a remote managed environment for Exchange Server 2010 or Microsoft Exchange 2007 Server so you can save on expenses associated with computer hardware, fail-safe infrastructure, and email management.

To ask Progent about technical assistance for Microsoft Exchange Server integration or to ask about Progent's Exchange hosting services, call 1-800-993-9400 or email exchange-help@progent.com.

Progent's Consulting and Support Services for Microsoft .NET Server Technology
For small businesses anywhere in the United States, Progent's Microsoft-certified experts offer network help and IT consulting support for the whole family of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, Microsoft Windows 2012 Server, Windows Server 2008, and Microsoft Windows 2003 Server. Progent's migration, installation, optimization, and support capabilities cover network design, configuration, and management help for project management and documentation, local and off-site technical support and network repair, Help Desk Support, comprehensive security consulting, IT outsourcing, and application server hosting options.

If your company needs immediate remote support from a Microsoft certified network expert, go to Progent's Urgent Remote Network Support.

Find out more details concerning Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Server Products.