Microsoft-certified Consulting

Introducing Exchange Server 2003
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 provides a dependable, extensible, and easy-to-manage platform offering 24×7 email and team support plus affordability. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 enables a wide range of team functions, such as group scheduling capabilities, discussion areas, and team folders, and furthermore makes available information across territorial, organizational, and architectural barriers with features such as Instant Messaging (IM), real-time information, and video conferencing. Exchange Server 2003 introduced enhancements over Exchange Server 2K in important technologies that address security, speed, and remote and mobile communications.

Microsoft has terminated support for Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server, making network managers deal with all the issues associated with supporting an end-of-life email platform. Despite this, many Exchange users are now operating Exchange 2003. Progent's Microsoft-authorized network engineers have in-depth experience maintaining Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and can assist your company to administer and repair your current Exchange Server 2003 environment or help you to plan and implement an affordable migration to an up-to-date edition of Microsoft Exchange. (See Progent's Exchange 2016 migration planning and support and Exchange Server 2019 expertise.)

Improvements of Exchange Server 2003 Vs. MS Exchange 2000 Server
Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server offers improvements in functionality over Exchange Server 2000 in key capabilities such as disaster recovery, performance, protection, mobility, teamwork, and simplicity of management.

• MS Exchange Server 2003 delivers superior disaster recovery by adding the capability of eight-node clustering, quicker cluster 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.
• Exchange 2003 Server improves performance via innovations that include /3GB and /USERVA startup switches for adjusting the allocation of memory, public folder replication improvements, distribution list caching enhancements, and suppression of Out of Office messages.
• Security enhancements introduced by Exchange Server 2003 include Internet Protocol security support for front- and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) requests to Microsoft Active Directory, front-end and back-end Kerberos validation, IIS 6.0 security, limiting of distribution lists to validated users, up-to-date Safe and Block data, inbound recipient filtering, attachment restrictions in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access (OWA), and public folders access improvements.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server includes improved accommodation of remote and mobile workers by adding an Outlook Web Access user interface and a more extensive feature set for Web Outlook client, Outlook 2003 performance enhancements via MAPI compression, HTTP access from Outlook, xHTML aND.htmL mobile phone browser capability, plus syncing of notifications for handheld PCs.
• Manageability and service are simplified by centralizing queues on a per-server basis, improving the user interface, revealing all system queues, controlling cookie authorization, utilizing Exchange System Manager to transfer queue data, including a multi-user Move Mailbox feature, and adding dynamic distribution lists, public folder Send hierarchy, and public folder affinity to control referrals.

Advantages of MS Exchange Server 2003 Over MS Exchange 5.5
MS Exchange Server 2003 offered major improvements in capability over MS Exchange 5.5 Server in important areas affecting access, ease of management, protection, reliability, capacity, and speed.

• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server brings a significant increase in capability over the Microsoft Exchange 5.5 web client. MS Exchange 2003 Server provides a nearly identical implementation of the older Outlook GUI interface including scheduling and tools. Because of this, mobile users get the advantage of complete, secure access to email even if they don't have a notebook. All they require is an Internet-attached computer with a standard browser.
• Unlike MS Exchange Server 5.5, which has a built-in directory, MS Exchange Server 2003 uses Microsoft Active Directory, providing a more streamlined management and protection structure. This makes Exchange 2003 Server less expensive to administer and maintain and also offers better protection.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server has a powerful foundation for transparently integrating third-party applications including virus and spam scanning tools. Exchange Server 2003's versatile Application Programming Interface does away with the instability associated with Exchange 5.5 Server when adding third-party software.
• MS Exchange Server 2003 offers greatly improved scalability and performance in comparison to Exchange Server 5.5. Enhancements include more and larger mailboxes and faster remote access.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server also provides improved search capability, making it simpler and quicker to find important data when you have to have it.

Advantages MS Exchange 2003 Server Compared to an ISP-based or POP3 Email Environment
If your business is currently running an email environment hosted by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or if you are running your Microsoft Outlook users in POP3 mode, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 provides a wealth of improved features covering manageability, performance, capacity, availability, and collaboration:

• In contrast to the store-and-forward model used by POP3 email environments, MS Exchange 2003 Server uses a central-store architecture that frees users from reliance on a specific personal computer or laptop, lowers vulnerability to computer breakdown or virus attacks, and allows both on-line and off-line operation, programmed backup, and advanced collaboration.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers an array of groupware features that permit work groups to improve productivity by sharing calendaring, address books, messages, and files.
• The versatility of Exchange Server 2003 allows you to install third-party security enhancements or accommodate wireless devices such as the BlackBerry smartphone.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server works with advanced management and tracking tools to verify that your email environment is running smoothly.
• Exchange Server 2003 permits full on-line archiving without disrupting performance, supporting 24x7 operation by eliminating routine maintenance blackouts.

How Progent Can Assist You to Move Your POP3 E-Mail Clients to Exchange Server 2003
Progent's background and tested methodologies can help you to manage a fast, non-disruptive migration of your POP3 users to Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server. Progent pays attention to vital issues that include coordinating domain names so that both local and remote workers make a smooth upgrade from the restrictions of POP3 messaging. Progent can help you with integrating a local Exchange 2003 Server system or assist you to set up and manage your Exchange Server 2003 in an external Data Center. Progent's workplace recovery consultants can help your company to design and implement a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that includes Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) consulting for continuous remote archiving and fast data recovery.

How Progent Can Help You to Migrate to MS Exchange Server 2013 or Exchange 2016 from Exchange 2003
Progent's Exchange experts can assist your company to migrate to Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 or migrate to Exchange 2016 Server from Exchange Server 2003 at the least possible cost or disruption of business. Progent can assist your organization to improve Microsoft Exchange security, speed, reliability, and fault tolerance and streamline management. Progent's CISSP-certified system security specialists can review and upgrade your security environment and Progent's Cisco-certified network engineers can enhance your network architecture to improve network efficiency and lower operating cost.

Microsoft 365 Exchange Online Integration with On-premises Exchange
Microsoft supports transparent hybrid ecosystems that combine Microsoft 365 Exchange Online and local installations of Exchange. This allows you to have certain Exchange mailboxes hosted on your on-premises datacenter and other mailboxes resident on Microsoft 365. Progent's Microsoft-certified Exchange consulting team can help your organization with any facet of planning, implementing and troubleshooting your hybrid Exchange network. Progent's Exchange specialists can provide occasional support to help you resolve stubborn technical problems and also can provide comprehensive project management outsourcing or co-sourcing to make sure your hybrid Exchange solution is carried out on time and within budget. For details about Progent's consulting support for hybrid Microsoft 365 and local Exchange systems, go to Microsoft 365 integration with local Exchange.

If you wish to contact Progent about consulting expertise for MS Exchange Server, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.

Progent's Consulting and Support Services for Microsoft .NET Servers
For small companies throughout the United States, Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants offer network help and professional consulting support for the entire family of Microsoft .NET servers and Windows Servers. Progent's planning, integration, optimization, and support services cover network architecture, configuration, and administration outsourcing for project analysis and documentation, on-site and off-site technical support and network diagnosis, Standard Help Desk Support or Shared Help Desk Call Center Services, comprehensive security consulting, turn-key outsourcing, and ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

If your company is looking for immediate online help from a Microsoft certified consultant, visit Progent's Urgent Online Computer Support.

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