Not long ago, "real" servers were only a proposition for Big Business. But since the release of Microsoft's Windows ® Small Business Server 2003 (SBS 2003), this has changed. You can now get a powerful file server, including the hardware, software and on-site implementation, for as little as about $4,500 or $160 per month over 3 years (an entry level server and the SBS 2003 license, including 5 Client licenses, can be as low as $1,499). But you get much more than just a server!
Nine reasons your business needs to upgrade to Small Business Server:
1. Your current network is sluggish and frequently unreliable.
2. You need to centralize and organize your data (you can't always quickly find what you need).
3. You need to simplify backups (yes, including e-mails!) and disaster prevention to keep your data more secure and be able to quickly recover from a disaster, or even just to restore a single file.
4. You and some of your employees travel frequently, want to work off-site or from home, and want to connect to the network. And it needs to be fully secure.
5. You could benefit from an intranet where everyone can easily access documents and data that is relevant to their work, allows easy collaboration and can easily be kept up-to-date
6. You want your managers and information workers in your business to be able to get fast Internet, e-mail and fax access, on just the one phone/fax line. Saves Line Rentals too!
7. You would like to run accounting software or other line-of-business applications on a fast, super reliable and highly secure platform.
8. Your company's growing and plans to add new computers and employees (congrats!). SBS can grow to as many as 75 workstations.
9. You mean business: You want your business to look professional (and possibly bigger than you are) and you want to work like a professional too.
More Reasons you business should upgrade to a Small Business Server:
1. You can create order from chaos.By centralizing data on a server, you can better manage business-critical information. Sharing files and other data becomes much easier and more secure. With Peer-to-Peer networks, there is a high risk that data is spread all over the place, on multiple hard disk drives. How can you possibly control it? Which copy is the latest?
2. You can protect your data by making backups easier.
Windows ® Small Business Server 2003 enables users to better protect their data assets by simplifying both backups as well as restoring of your critical data. Backup of the central database is automatic. You are protected!
3. You can access your system from anywhere, just as if you were sitting in your own office.
Yes, you can operate your Office Workstation from any Internet enabled computer, such as from your home office or from anywhere in the world, at just about real time speed. Need to quickly access your accounting system, or want to retrieve a document whilst you discuss that proposal with your client? Ask if you can use one of their computers. Yet, access is totally secure. Only personnel authorized to access the system from a remote location can log on. And they can only see what they are authorized to see. You can even stipulate log-in times. For example, if you don't want them to work after hours
4. You can accommodate a mobile work force.
Servers enable authorized out-of-office workers to have remote access to your network, enabling data sharing among those who travel, work from home or from off-site locations. Out-of-office workers also can connect to the company intranet via SharePoint. SharePoint (see item 6 below) is a company internal website, which allows much simplified access to documents, marketing material, pricelists, calendars etc.
5. You can share Internet, e-mail and have instant access to direct Fax.
All workstations connected to the server can access the Internet at high speed and can directly send or receive faxes from/to their workstation without the need to first print and then fax manually. The return on investment will come quickly in the form of higher productivity. Yet, you can also determine who may surf the Internet on a user by user basis, thus you can eliminate time wasting where people trawl the Internet on matters that are not related to their work
6. You can collaborate better as a business.
Not only is data sharing easier with a server-based network, but Windows ® Small Business Server 2003 comes with Windows ® SharePoint Services, which is software that enables your employees and other team members to collaborate easily and access relevant data in a flash. With SharePoint, you get a company intranet portal with a user-friendly interface to organize and share information. It comes pre-populated with help documents and resources. On SharePoint, you can also publish pricelists, calendars (such as booking of equipment and resources, rosters etc), and marketing material etc, all for quick and easy access from a Web Browser interface. And again, people can only access what they are authorized to access.
7. You can get more processing power.
A server can supercharge your network, storing large chunks of data, freeing up memory and enabling individual PCs to perform better.
8. You can look more professional - and connect better with your customers.
Server software such as Windows ® Small Business Server 2003 enables you to consolidate your e-mail accounts into a single, company-hosted e-mail account (e.g. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it rather than non-descript e-mail addresses), thus enhancing your image to customers, associates and suppliers. A server can make your business look bigger than it is; it makes you look more professional to those you want to do business with.
9. SBS 2003 comes with MS Exchange and all users receive an MS Outlook 2003 license at no extra charge.
The full Outlook 2003, combined with Microsoft ® Exchange 2003, provides you not just with a much more user friendly e-mail client, but prevents SPAM, provides Calendar, Contact management and Task List functions to help you all to stay organized better. And with Outlook Web Access, you can read and send your e-mail from anywhere in the world by using someone else's computer, an Airport Hotspot or a mobile device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), regardless of whether your Office Workstation is switched on or not!