Microsoft Gets it Right with Small Business Server 2003
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by Matt Hyatt

Say what you will about Microsoft, but sometimes the company we love to hate does something really great. Microsoft’s new Small Business Server 2003, due for release by the time you read this, falls into that category. The product positively bristles with useful new features while sporting an impressive low price.

Every business can benefit from a server. A good server is a safe and accessible place to store and share files, share faxes and printers, and manage users. By storing all company data on a server, businesses can easily backup critical data without running from computer to computer looking for data files. Servers can also run multi-user applications, allow remote access, host websites, and more.

Before I continue, I should tell you that Small Business Server is not a new product line – the first version was released in 1997. The original idea was to combine several of Microsoft’s best and most expensive server products into a single affordable suite for businesses with fewer than 25 users. The product was launched with the same fanfare you’d expect from Microsoft. There were big magazine ads, flashy mailers, and free luncheons to promote the product. It was touted as easy to install, use, and manage. Microsoft even posted a website for network support companies addressing concerns that end-users might not need help anymore. But Microsoft was wrong. The new product was a flop. It was hard to use, inflexible, and rather unwieldy. Microsoft was inundated with support calls and eventually even offered free upgrades to registered users. But for many, it was too little too late. SRocket ITing as one of those people, I didn’t think I’d ever see the day that I’d actually recommend Small Business Server.

Fortunately, Microsoft has been persistent about creating a better product. Small Business Server 2003 is the company’s fourth attempt and I’m happy to report that they’ve finally got it right. Really right. The new Small Business Server 2003 Standard Edition is leaner, faster, and more flexible than any previous version. And the new price – just $599 for 5 users – is almost too good to be true.

Small Business Server 2003 supports more users than its predecessors, too. By purchasing additional client access licenses (about $99 each), a single server can support up to 75 users. You can also migrate to other Microsoft server products in the event that your business grows beyond 75 users.

As you might expect, there are lots of features new to Small Business Server 2003. But it’s the remote access features in particular that make the product really shine. These features make it possible to stay connected to your office data and staff without physically being there. Staying connected streamlines your work in ways that you may have only dreamt about in the past.

The new Remote Web Workplace feature set makes it possible to access company email and desktop applications over the Internet from a computer at home or on the road. Want to finish working on a word processing document from home? No problem! Just sit down at your home computer and pull up your desktop from work. You can do just about anything you’d normally do on your work PC without leaving the house.

Small Business Server 2003 allows users of wireless PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and fancy cell phones to send and receive email, update schedules, and synchronize calendars without touching a computer. Imagine you’ve met a new prospective customer and want to setup a meeting. While you’re chatting you can pull out your cell phone, check your calendar, and schedule a meeting. The data is transmitted wirelessly back to your office so your staff knows you’ve added to your schedule. Later that day, your prospect calls your office and asks to move the meeting up an hour. Next time you pull out your phone, you see the updated calendar and note the change. All without making a single phone call.

All things considered, Small Business Server 2003 is a great deal for small businesses. But make sure you do your homework before you run out to buy it. You’ll need a good server computer to run it and a high-speed Internet connection with a static IP address to take full advantage of its remote access capabilities. Smart business owners will also consider installing a good firewall to help protect the server from security threats. Careful planning and good old-fashioned know-how help ensure a successful rollout, so get some expert help if you don’t feel comfortable installing a network on your own.

Matt Hyatt is founder of Rocket IT, an IT consulting firm near Atlanta, Georgia. For technology help with your business, contact Rocket IT at 770-441-2520 or visit online at www.rocketit.com.

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