Microsoft Exchange

If a company uses Microsoft infrastructure solutions, chances are it also uses Microsoft Exchange Server. This collaborative software that is part of the Windows Server System allows its users to share information and to manage that information. It even allows mobile users to access the information from remote locations.

What Microsoft Exchange Server Does

Microsoft Exchange Server has made the process of sharing the information that is in individual user's Microsoft Outlook easier. Users can share address books, folders, talk lists, contact lists, e-mail, files, and calendars with one another quickly and efficiently.

An example of Microsoft Exchange Server's usefulness can be found in the calendar sharing function. For example, if a team leader wants to have a meeting with his team, Microsoft Exchange Server gives him access to the calendar of each of the members on his team. As long as each member has kept his calendar up to date, the team leader can easily schedule a meeting that does not conflict with anyone's schedules. This saves time that otherwise would have been spent in e-mails or phone calls trying to coordinate a convenient meeting time.

Safety and Security of Microsoft Exchange Server

There are many safety and security functions that come with Microsoft Exchange Server that protects the user's information and privacy from outside parties that do not have permission to gain access to the information. It filters junk e-mail and spam as well as scans for viruses.

Microsoft Exchange Server not only allows access to the shared information from a desktop, but it also facilitates access of the information for mobile workers. Access can be gained from any computer with Internet access as well as from cell phones.

Another feature of Microsoft Exchange Server is a disaster recovery system which gives administrators the ability to bring the server online more quickly, should a problem occur.

Hosted Services and Microsoft Exchange

The hosting of Microsoft Exchange Server may be more than many small companies can handle. The server space required and the IT professionals needed to install and maintain the program are not available in every company. Yet even small companies can benefit from the software.

This problem is rectified by Exchange Hosting. Third parties can host Microsoft Exchange Server and sell space and IT help. This way, small companies can gain the benefits of the software without taking up the server space and expense of hosting it themselves.

By Robin Shreeves