Microsoft Gold-Certified Consultants

Introducing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
MS Exchange Server 2003 provides a dependable, extensible, and manageable infrastructure offering round-the-clock email and collaboration plus quick return on investment. Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server supports a broad array of team activities, including group scheduling capabilities, discussion areas, and team folders, and furthermore makes available information across territorial, organizational, and technology barriers with features that include Instant Messaging (IM), on-demand data, and video conferencing. Exchange 2003 Server delivered enhancements over Exchange 2K Server in key technologies that cover protection, performance, and mobility.

In 2009 Microsoft terminated support for Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server, forcing information technology management face all the problems involved in maintaining a legacy email system. Nevertheless, a large number of Exchange sites are now running Microsoft Exchange 2003. Progent's Microsoft-authorized network consultants have in-depth experience maintaining Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and can assist your company to manage and repair your existing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 environment or help you to design and carry out an economical upgrade to an up-to-date edition of Exchange. (See Progent's Exchange Server 2016 migration planning and support and Exchange Server 2019 expertise.)

Improvements of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Over Exchange Server 2000
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers improvements in functionality over Exchange 2000 Server in key capabilities including recovery, throughput, protection, mobile access, collaboration, and manageability.

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 delivers enhanced recovery by adding support for eight-node clustering, faster cluster failover, the addition of mount points which overcome the 24-drive letter limitation, SAN compatibility, Volume Shadow Copy Service for database backup, a Mailbox Recovery tool, and a Restore Storage group.
• Exchange 2003 Server enhances performance through innovations such as a /USERVA startup switch for adjusting the allocation of memory address space, public folder replication enhancements, distribution list caching enhancements, and control of Out of Office messages.
• Security enhancements offered by MS Exchange Server 2003 include Internet Protocol security (IPsec) compatibility for front-end and back-end clusters, signed Lightweight Directory Access Protocol requests to Microsoft Active Directory, front-end and back-end Kerberos validation, IIS 6.0 protection, restriction of distribution lists to validated users, up-to-date Safe and Block lists, inbound recipient filtering, attachment blocking in Microsoft Outlook Web Access, and public folders access improvements.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers improved accommodation of mobile workers by adding an Outlook Web Access (OWA) user interface and a broader range of capabilities for Web Outlook, Outlook 2003 speed enhancements through MAPI compression, HTTP compatibility from Outlook, xHTML aND.htmL smart phone browser capability, and synchronization of notifications for handheld computers.
• Management and service are improved by centralizing queues on a per-server system, improving the user experience, revealing all system queues, enabling cookie permission, using Microsoft Exchange System Manager to move log files, including a multi-user Move Mailbox function, and providing dynamic distribution lists, public folder Send hierarchy, and public folder affinity to control referrals.

Advantages of MS Exchange Server 2003 Compared to MS Exchange Server 5.5
Exchange Server 2003 offered significant enhancements in functionality over Microsoft Exchange 5.5 Server in key areas including access, ease of management, protection, reliability, scalability, and speed.

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 offers a dramatic increase in capability compared to the MS Exchange 5.5 web client. Exchange 2003 Server offers a nearly identical version of the older Outlook graphical user interface including calendaring and utilities. Because of this, mobile users can have complete, protected availability of email even without a notebook. All they require is a web-connected PC with a standard browser.
• In contrast to MS Exchange 5.5 Server, which incorporates a built-in directory, Exchange Server 2003 utilizes Active Directory (AD), representing a more simplified management and security structure. This makes MS Exchange Server 2003 easier to administer and support and also allows better security.
• Exchange 2003 Server has a strong architecture for transparently adding third-party utilities such as anti-virus and anti-spamming tools. Microsoft Exchange Server 2003's strong API solves the technical risk associated with MS Exchange Server 5.5 when adding third-party software.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server offers greatly improved scalability and performance over Microsoft Exchange 5.5 Server. Improvements allow more and bigger mailboxes and speedier offsite access.
• MS Exchange 2003 Server also has better search ability, making it simpler and quicker to find vital data when you need it.

Benefits Exchange 2003 Server Over an ISP-provided or POP3 Email Environment
If your organization is now running an email environment hosted by an ISP or if you are running your Outlook users in POP3 mode, MS Exchange 2003 Server provides a wealth of improved capabilities covering manageability, responsiveness, size, availability, and collaboration:

• In contrast to the store-and-forward technique used by POP3 email environments, Exchange Server 2003 is based on a central-store architecture that liberates users from reliance on a specific PC or notebook, lowers susceptibility to computer failure or virus attacks, and permits both on-line and off-line operation, automatic backup, and advanced collaboration.
• MS Exchange Server 2003 offers an array of collaboration features that allow teams to maximize efficiency by sharing scheduling, address books, correspondence, and data.
• The versatility of Exchange Server 2003 makes it possible to integrate third-party security enhancements or accommodate wireless devices such as the BlackBerry smartphone.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server supports powerful administration and tracking tools so you can make sure your messaging environment is running smoothly.
• Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server allows complete on-line archiving without hurting performance, enabling 24x7 availability by eliminating routine downtime.

How Progent Can Assist You to Move Your POP3 Users to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
Progent's background and proven best practices can help you to manage a fast, seamless migration of your POP3 users to Exchange 2003 Server. Progent attends to critical issues that include coordinating domain names so that both local and off-site users make a smooth upgrade from the limitations of POP3 messaging. Progent can assist you with setting up a local Exchange Server 2003 solution or assist you to locate and manage your Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server in an off-site datacenter. Progent's business continuity consultants can assist your organization to design and implement a complete disaster recovery strategy that incorporates Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) support for continuous remote backup and fast data recovery.

How Progent Can Assist You to Upgrade to Exchange 2013 or Exchange 2016 from Exchange 2003
Progent's Exchange experts can assist your company to migrate to Exchange 2013 Server or upgrade to MS Exchange Server 2016 from Exchange 2003 at the least possible expense or disruption of business operations. Progent can assist your organization to improve Exchange security, performance, dependability, and availability and simplify administration. Progent's certified system security consultants can evaluate and upgrade your security strategy and Progent's Cisco-premier network engineers can enhance your network architecture to improve network efficiency and lower operating expense.

Microsoft 365 Exchange Online Integration with On-premises Exchange
Microsoft allows you to create transparent hybrid networks that integrate Microsoft 365 and on-premises Exchange deployments. This permits you to have some Exchange mailboxes located on your physical datacenter and other mailboxes hosted by Microsoft 365. Progent's certified Exchange consultants can help you with any facet of planning, integrating and troubleshooting your hybrid Exchange solution. Progent's Exchange consultants can deliver occasional expertise to help you through challenging technical problems and also can provide extensive project management outsourcing to ensure your hybrid Exchange solution is successfully completed on time and on budget. For details about Progent's consulting services for integrating Microsoft 365 and on-premises Exchange environments, visit Microsoft 365 integration with on-prem Exchange.

To contact Progent about engineering help for Microsoft Exchange Server integration, call 1-800-993-9400 or go to Contact Progent.

Progent's Consulting Services for Microsoft Server Products
For small businesses throughout the U.S., Progent's Microsoft-certified experts offer computer help and professional consulting support for the entire array of Microsoft .NET servers and Windows Servers. Progent's planning, installation, update, and consulting services cover system architecture, configuration, and administration help for project management and documentation, on-site and off-site IT support and system troubleshooting, Standard Help Desk Support or Shared Help Desk Call Center Support, comprehensive security expertise, IT outsourcing, and ProSight Virtual Hosting services.

In case your company is looking for fast remote help from a Microsoft certified consultant, go to Progent's Emergency Online Computer Help.

Learn more information about Progent's Consulting and Support Services for Microsoft .NET Server Technology.