For small and mid-sized businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, or anywhere in the United States, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants offer network help and professional consulting services for the whole family of Microsoft .NET Enterprise Servers, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2K. Progent's planning, integration, optimization, and support services cover system architecture, deployment, and administration help for project analysis and documentation, local and remote IT help and system repair, HelpDesk Call Center Support, certified security expertise, and full-service outsourcing.

In case your business needs immediate remote help from a certified engineer, visit Progent's Urgent Remote Network Help.

Overview of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Exchange Server 2003 delivers a reliable, extensible, and easy-to-manage infrastructure with round-the-clock email and collaboration as well as low cost of ownership. MS Exchange 2003 Server enables a wide array of team functions, such group scheduling capabilities, discussion areas, and group folders, and also gives access to data across geographic, logical, and technology divisions with productivity enhancers that include Instant Messaging (IM), real-time data, and video conferencing. Exchange 2003 Server offers enhancements over MS Exchange 2K Server in many key technologies that address protection, performance, and mobility.

Extensive experience working with Microsoft's messaging products makes Progent one of the most qualified network support firms in the Northern California and major cities across the U.S. for integrating email solutions powered by Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server. Progent can assist small and medium-size companies realize the full benefits of Exchange 2003 Server under these common scenarios:

Moving from Exchange Server 5.5
MS Exchange Server 2003 delivers significant improvements in capability over MS Exchange 5.5 Server in important areas including accessibility, manageability, security, stability, scalability, and speed.

  • Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server brings a dramatic improvement in functionality compared to the Microsoft Exchange 5.5 web client. Exchange Server 2003 provides a nearly identical implementation of the familiar Outlook interface that features calendaring and tools. Because of this remote and mobile workers have the benefit of full, protected availability of email even if they don't have a notebook. All mobile users require is a web-interfaced computer with a conventional web browser.
  • In contrast to MS Exchange 5.5, which has a built-in directory, MS Exchange Server 2003 utilizes Microsoft Active Directory, representing a greatly simplified management and security structure. This makes Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 easier to administer and support and in addition allows better security.
  • Exchange Server 2003 has a strong architecture for transparently adding third-party applications including anti-virus and anti-spamming software. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003's strong Application Programming Interface (API) does away with the instability associated with Exchange 5.5 Server when integrating independent utilities.
  • Exchange Server 2003 offers significantly improved capacity and performance in comparison to Microsoft Exchange 5.5. This means that you can enjoy the advantage of more and bigger mailboxes and faster offsite access.
  • Moving to Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server also brings better searching ability, making it easier to retrieve vital data when you have to have it.

Benefits of Migrating from MS Exchange Server 2000
MS Exchange 2003 Server offers enhancements in functionality over MS Exchange Server 2K in key capabilities such as disaster recovery, performance, protection, mobile access, team computing, and manageability.

  • Exchange Server 2003 offers superior recovery by adding the capability of eight-node clustering, cluster failover time enhancements, support for mount points which overcome the 24-drive letter limitation, storage area network compatibility, Volume Shadow Copy Service for backup infrastructure, a Mailbox Recovery Center utility, and a Restore Storage group.
  • MS Exchange 2003 Server enhances responsiveness via improvements that include a /USERVA startup switch for adjusting the allocation of memory and memory address space, public folder replication improvements, distribution list caching improvements, and suppression of Out of Office messages.
  • Security enhancements offered by Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 include IPSec compatibility for front-end and back-end clusters, signed LDAP requests to Microsoft Active Directory, front- and back-end Kerberos authentication, IIS 6.0 protection, restriction of distribution lists to validated users, real-time Safe and Block lists, inbound recipient filtering, attachment blocking in Outlook Web Access, and public folders permissions enhancements for unfamiliar users.
  • Exchange Server 2003 offers improved accommodation of mobile workers by including an Outlook Web Access (OWA) user interface and a more extensive range of capabilities for Web Outlook client, Outlook 2003 performance improvements via MAPI compression, HTTP compatibility from Microsoft Outlook, cHTML and HTML mobile phone browser support, and up-to-date syncing of notifications for handheld computers.
  • Manageability and service are improved by organizing queues on a per-server system, enhancing the user interface, revealing all system queues, controlling cookie permission, using Exchange System Manager to move log files and queue data, including a multiple-client Move Mailbox feature, and providing dynamic distribution lists, public folder Send Contents, and public folder affinity to control referrals.

How Progent Can Assist You to Migrate to MS Exchange 2003 Server
Using field-proven best practices, Progent's expert consultants can assist you to design and execute an efficient and transparent upgrade plan that avoids productivity disruption, lowers future maintenance costs, and makes your Microsoft Exchange 2003 solution easy to administer. For complicated multi-server or geographically dispersed upgrades, Progent has the experience to complete your project on schedule and affordably. Progent's email support, repair, and consulting services include assistance with the integration of third-party add-on products that are best aligned to your business strategy.

Benefits of Migrating to Exchange Server 2003 from an ISP-based or POP3 Email Environment
If your organization is currently using an email system hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or if you are operating your Outlook clients in POP3 mode, Exchange Server 2003 offers a wealth of improved features in the areas of manageability, performance, capacity, availability, and group support:

  • Unlike the store-and-forward technique used by POP3 email environments, MS Exchange 2003 Server uses a central-store architecture that frees users from dependence on a specific personal computer or laptop, lowers susceptibility to hardware failure or viruses, and permits both on-line and off-line operation, automatic backup, and advanced sharing and collaboration.
  • MS Exchange Server 2003 has powerful collaboration features that permit work groups to improve efficiency by sharing scheduling, address groups, correspondence, and files.
  • The versatility of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 makes it possible to install third-party security add-ins or accommodate wireless computers such as the Blackberry wireless handheld.
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 supports advanced administration and monitoring tools to make sure your email system is running smoothly.
  • Exchange 2003 Server permits full on-line backup without disrupting users, supporting round-the-clock availability by avoiding scheduled maintenance blackouts.

How Progent Can Help You to Migrate. Move from a POP3 Email System
Progent's background and proven methodologies can enable you to manage a fast, seamless migration to Exchange Server 2003. Progent pays attention to vital issues such as coordinating domain names so that both local and remote workers make a smooth transition from the restrictions of POP3 email. Progent can help you with setting up an on-site Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 system or help you to set up and manage your Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server in an external Data Center. Progent's security consultants can show you how to create a comprehensive security plan that includes a highly secure messaging system.

To ask Progent about engineering support for Microsoft Exchange Server technology, phone 1-800-993-9400 or e-mail exchange-help@progent.com.















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