Helping Small Businesses Grow Using Microsoft Small Business Server
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The following is a textual translation and summary of InfinIT’s podcast: Helping Small Businesses Grow Using Microsoft Small Business Server.
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to the first edition of InfinIT Consulting’s podcast series. Our goal is to provide insight on the best IT solutions in the marketplace and address some of the most common business challenges small businesses to enterprise companies deal with.
Today we will be talking about Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 R2 and InfinIT’s specialization as Microsoft Small Business Specialists. We have two of our engineers with us today whose specialties are dealing with the small business market and the problems that small business face when it comes to implementing cost-effective IT solutions.
We will be talking to Marcos Barrera, one of our senior engineers who is also a certified Microsoft Small Business Specialist. Marcos oversees all of our small business customer-base and works with each business to build customized solutions that fits their needs.
We will also be talking to Jade Holmes, one of InfinIT Consulting’s support technicians who provides ongoing on-site and remote support for all of our small business customers.
QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION:
Question:
You have worked with Microsoft Small Business Server since its inception and it is now moving to the next generation, can you talk to us about your first impressions and how they might have changed throughout the numerous customers you’ve worked with.
Answer:
With Small Business Server 2003, my first impressions were always led by what my peers speak of out in the field. Initially, I was getting a lot of bad feedback initially about Small Business Server in regards to SBS 2000 version and before, when it was still in its infancy. It wasn’t until Microsoft SBS 2003 R2 that they’ve really put together a complete product for small businesses. It’s now possible for businesses at this size to have a product that contains SQL Server, Exchange, and Active Directory all in one box. After implementing the solution a few times, we came to realize it was a really good product. After the latest 2003 R2 version, it only got better with implemented patch management solutions, greater flexibility when it comes to branch offices and distributed file shares.
For small companies to have a similar business solution as enterprise companies for a fraction of the cost is definitely a great change. It used to be that it was too cost prohibitive for smaller companies to even own a server. Solutions available for the SMB market would have originally cost tens of thousands of dollars years ago – an idea that many small businesses would never have entertained.
Question:
How do you determine if Small Business Server is a good fit for a particular customer or business that comes to you for IT support?
Answer:
Small Business Server is generally a good fit for any company with 75 users and below. From what we’ve seen, it generally can fit and industry and business model and can be molded to the businesses’ unique specifications.
I have yet to see a situation where it hasn’t been a good fit – and we’ve implemented it in a variety of situations. I have personally been involved in some interesting configurations with SBS. My position is to look at solutions for our customers and implement the proper situation. A question I hear a lot is “does a server work for me?”. I always ask a few key things to a customer:
- What are your line of business applications? Do you utilize some type of application that is required to run on a server?
There are still a lot of peer-to-peer networks out there – and there is nothing wrong with that – if you don’t have line of business applications that run more efficiently in a server environment. For example, if you have a financial application, timekeeping application, payroll application, etc. it’s helpful to consider cost, access and security in with your decision making process.
- Do you need an extra level of security for your company?
Some organizations, such as legal or doctors’ offices, need to have an additional layer of data security and protection to adhere to compliance regulations. For a small added cost, you can keep all of your mail in house by utilizing Microsoft Small Business Server’s Exchange features. You can easily store and archive much more data than you would have otherwise been able to using a third-party pop e-mail provider.
- What about collaboration and teamwork functionality?
Microsoft SBS comes with collaboration built-in collaboration tools – SharePoint – that allows small businesses to implement teamwork, workflow and collaboration technologies similar to larger organizations. How do you know if two people are working on the same document? Implement version control with SharePoint – not something you can easily do with a peer-to-peer network.
Question:
Can you give us a feature overview/benefit overview and some key advantages for small business customers?
Answer:
As IT consultants, we specialize in solving problems that companies run into on a daily basis and hinder their workflow or productivity. We look at a high end overview on how businesses should and can be run effectively. For example, if your business lives and dies by e-mail, the flexibility and control brought by Exchange often comes at a great benefit. If you have frequent problems receiving or sending mail from third-party providers, we usually suggest bringing it in-house on your own server for more security and control. Having a mail server in house also allows for greater archiving ability.
Question:
To purchase and run Microsoft Small Business Server, does the end user need to be extremely tech savvy?
Answer:
Not at all. As IT consultants, we can take care of the entire purchase, installation, configuration and maintenance for you. Some customers don’t want to have their hands on it at all – that’s where our SLA packages and regular proactive maintenance really comes in handy to support their environment.
However, there are also customers who are a little more tech savvy who bring us in on the installation, but can manage many day-to-day aspects of maintaining the server. We try to implement solutions that allow customers to manage parts for themselves, if they choose which allows them to control their IT budget more effectively.
Question:
It seems that there are a few misconceptions about Small Business Server from both the end user and other IT professionals. Can you talk about some of these myths?
Answer:
A lot of people believe that you can’t run an alternate domain controller (DC) in an SBS environment. A domain controller allows for a centralized area for authentication for passwords – all stored in one location.
Another myth is that SBS isn’t a good solution for companies with branch offices. We hear that a lot. We have worked with many unusual businesses. For example, we implemented SBS for a manufacturing firm who turned around a few months later and were a global company with 10% of their workforce in the United States, the rest in China and India. SBS provided key remote web workplace – a remote panel to see your desktops, manage your servers, check your mail remotely. And now, with the use of a secure cert, you don’t have to worry about using a VPN tunnel.
Question:
What are some of the trouble spots for Microsoft Small Business Server?
Answer:
The standard trouble shot we often see is implementing competent antivirus and spam filtration systems into mail functionality to help protect your mail that is store in house. Spam is a big problem and it is very difficult for antivirus and spam solutions to constantly combat all changes that come up on a regular basis.
A second trouble shot for SBS is we’ve seen application compatibility problems with Vista. SBS has a management/connect tool that runs in the background sets your reverse and forward look up zones for Active Directory. By default configuration, we’ve run into some compatibility problems working with Vista and business applications. However, most can be resolved but needs some heavy support and customizations.
Question:
What do you think the future holds for Microsoft’s Small Business Server or the small business market in general?
Answer:
Virtualization. The industry is taking a turn, virtualization is a hot topic – which we’ll be talking about in upcoming podcasts. Thanks to new virtualization technologies, such as Microsoft Virtual Server – a free downloadable product – you can truly utilize the full processing powers of your servers and fit multiple server environments onto one piece of hardware. Saving costs on hardware is only the first part. Virtualization provides huge environmental benefits, allows us to save in power consumption costs and learn to use power more efficiently.
CONCLUSION:
Thank you for joining us for today’s podcast. You can access our entire podcast series anytime on-demand through our website at www.infinITconsulting.com.
Be sure to join us for the next topics in our podcast series. We will be covering the hottest topics in the industry including virtualization, SAN storage solutions as well as key products including MOSS 2007, Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server and the newest Windows Server 2008 – Longhorn.
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About InfinIT Consulting - Bay Area IT Consulting Service Provider
InfinIT Consulting, Inc. specializes in high end IT consulting, database management solutions and web optimization to empower businesses to embrace the real potential of IT.
InfinIT Consulting focuses on helping small, midsize and enterprise companies resolve their IT challenges and ultimately facilitate their daily business operations.
Their most demanded expertise includes IT managed services, IT integration for mergers and acquisitions, Sarbanes Oxley compliance, web portal design and implementation and IT infrastructure support and optimization. In addition, they offer a wide range of IT services including ERP project management, IT staff augmentation, data mining, database administration and web services including SEO, PPC campaign management, custom web design and web development.
Their customers are located across the nation with worldwide branches allowing them to cover areas from coast to coast, Asia and Europe.
For more information, please direct all press inquiries to:
Audrey Olsen
InfinIT Consulting
aolsen@infinITconsulting.com
408.439.9596
Kirsten Burkhardt
InfinIT Consulting
kburkhardt@infinITconsulting.com
408.205.8415
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