As a business owner or IT manager, you are probably overwhelmed with the amount of new technology being introduced into the marketplace in 2010. Deciding which technologies to adopt and which to wait on is a difficult task.
The latest of these enhanced office technologies is Microsoft's Exchange Server 2010. Several key features have been added to this release of Exchange to improve communications, reliability, security, and ease of use.
1. Enhanced Voicemail Capabilities-In Exchange 2010, a feature called Voicemail Preview has been added which allows workers to receive text transcripts of their voicemail messages. In addition, voicemail and email can now be centrally managed using Active Directory in Windows Server 2008 R2.
Result: Less wasted employee time spent manually sifting through voicemails, ease of forwarding of voicemail information, and money saved by not having to hire a third party to support a separate voicemail system.
2. Database Availability Groups (DAGS)-A DAG is a set of mailbox servers that use continuous replication to update database copies. This provides for automatic backup both on-site and off-site and eliminates Exchange server downtime.
Result: No more expensive data recovery costs, seamless real-time backup, improved business continuity.
3.Self-Service Enhancements-A new control panel features a web-based portal that enables users to perform many tasks previously relegated to internal or external helpdesk personnel.
Result: Your helpdesk can focus on more important issues, costs are lowered by employing or outsourcing less helpdesk assistance, and users are empowered to solve many of their own IT problems.
Exchange 2010 Administrative Console:
4. Cheaper Storage-Exchange 2010 has 70 percent less disk input/output requirements than 2007, according to Microsoft's Exchange web site.
Result: Saves your company money by allowing you to use less expensive storage systems.
5. Improved Email Archiving-Archived messages can be stored directly on the server in 2010, rather than storing them in a local PST file on each user's desktop machine.
Result: Email can be easily archived and accessed giving users more time to perform important tasks, and less frustration searching for PST files.
6. Information Protection and Controls:-For less sensitive messages, "soft" controls allow messages to be delivered, but add alerts, disclaimers, or other recipients if required. For sensitive data, "hard" controls can be used to encrypt, redirect, or even block messages.
Result: The leaking of sensitive data is minimized protecting your company's reputation, and limiting financial risks.
7. Improved Mobility Support:-In Exchange 2010, secure mobile messaging integrates with virtually all smart phones, including iPhone, Windows Mobile, and Blackberry.
Result: You and your staff will have real-time access to your inboxes and be able to respond quickly to important communication, making sure customers receive prompt service at all times, and emergencies are avoided altogether or dealt with quickly.
The sooner you adopt or migrate to Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, the sooner it will start paying for itself.
According to Thomas Keck of Elabs, Exchange Server 2010 reduced their costs of providing mailboxes by more than 50 percent.*
*Source: http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/2010/en/us/overview.aspx