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Upgrading SBS2003 - Online Exchange vs New Server for a < 20 user small business

Tags:
  • Exchange
  • SBS 2003
  • Business Computing
  • Servers
Last response: in Business Computing
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January 9, 2014 10:42:21 AM

We have been having a lot of trouble lately with our server and want to upgrade it this year. I have researched some options but wanted to see if anyone would recommend or push us away from taking a certain path.

The local network has a single server that is used for Exchange, Network Storage, and Active Directory. The network consists of ~20 computers, all running Windows 7 except for two which run Windows 8.1.

We were strongly considering getting rid of a server completely and moving our local exchange to an Office 365 hosted exchange after someone recommended it to us. Doing that would take care of the exchange needs, but we'd no longer have an active directory for user permissions or our shared storage. We would also be unable to quickly make changes to multiple systems without having to log in to each system.

If we were going to migrate to the hosted exchange environment, would we need to get a new server to perform the other functions or are there alternatives that would let us do that without having a server?

If we did have to buy a new server anyway, why not just host exchange locally like we've been doing for the past 5+ years?

More about : upgrading sbs2003 online exchange server user small business

January 19, 2014 8:32:47 AM

One lost feature of hosted exchange is public folders; if you use these at all you'll have to consider whether you can give them up or not.

The pay monthly licensing of 365 allows your business to be flexible to staffing changes without big cashflow impact but as with most small businesses they will run software until it is no longer supported to get the most value from it. This 'tactic' works for the most part and will give long term savings.

With any hosted service you are essentially signing a perpetual agreement, either you continue to pay or you lose access to your data/service.

From an IT career point of view I consider it a side-step followed by a step backwards. Yes, you gaining knowledge in hosted services but at the expense of hands-on, big-boy stuff.
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