Make Your Server Work Harder  

You may be surprised what your server can do

Many businesses decide to acquire a server so they can network their PCs to make sharing files and printers easier and more cost-effective.

And there it ends.

But the value a server can bring to an organisation extends beyond sharing files and printers. Consider just a couple examples of how real-life small businesses determined Windows Small Business Server 2003 (SBS 2003) could greatly improve their operations -- and their bottom line.

Launch a Company Intranet
A manufacturer of hosiery garments was experiencing rapid growth when it decided to invest in IT infrastructure to help create, maintain and manage the documents required for exporting its garments. The company deployed SBS 2003 across a local area network (LAN) with 10 desktops. It also used Windows SharePoint Services technologies, included in SBS, to create a robust company intranet.

"By creating a networked environment, an intranet and reliable messaging infrastructure, we have been able to streamline processes and improve productivity across the organisation," explained the company's managing director.

Gain Reliability, Reduce Downtime
When new owners took over an industrial machine shop, they knew they had to update the company's IT systems in order to remain competitive, increase productivity and minimise operating costs. At the time, the shop employed about 25 people but had a system with no consistent e-mail communication, no Internet security or working virus control and inconsistent backup. The situation resulted in frequent downtime and limited workforce productivity.

Working with an IT partner, the owners made a number of upgrades, including a move to SBS 2003 to -- among other things -- improve the reliability of their network. The result is they no longer experience the downtime that plagued the company in the past -- and sales have risen significantly due to productivity gains.

"Having no downtime greatly enhances our employees' ability to get their jobs done," the company's finance officer stated. "Interoffice communication and external communications with our customers and vendors using the Internet make a huge difference, and we had no idea what we were missing without messaging capabilities!"

Because SBS requires less technical knowledge to operate than the previous system, the company can now handle more tasks internally, which reduces the amount of outside consultant time necessary to maintain the system.

What You Can Do with SBS
Once your company has SBS 2003 up and running, it makes good business sense to ensure you're getting full value from your investment. Because SBS 2003 includes some powerful, built-in technologies, you may want to review all that this server software can do to make sure you aren't missing out on capabilities that could help your business. For instance, you can:

* Use Windows SharePoint Services to manage group activities so your team can work together effectively and move forward with team projects.

* Use Exchange Server 2003 to increase productivity through improved communication, messaging and collaboration -- including e-mail access from anywhere via the Web.

* Reduce the number of telephone lines you need by faxing from your desktop PC and receiving faxes by e-mail.

* Protect your Internet connections by deploying Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS) firewall technology.

* Use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 technologies to manage and organise e-mail messages, schedules, contacts and other personal and team information all in one place.

* Allow designated users to connect remotely to Remote Web Workplace and have access to their remote desktop, e-mail and internal company Web sites.

* Safeguard critical business data by deploying the backup and restore feature.

If you use the premium edition of SBS, you can do even more.

* Use SQL Server 2000 , a sophisticated relational database program, to support line-of-business applications your organisation relies on.

* Use Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 to develop Web sites.

* Use Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server to secure your networks and ensure fast Web access.

Designed to support up to 75 users, SBS is a multi-purpose tool that can give a small business easy access to many of the same technologies that big businesses enjoy.

Products

* Windows Small Business Server 2003

* Office Small Business Edition 2003

* Windows XP Professional

Tools

* Product Advisor

* Solution Advisor

* Networking Quiz

About the Author

Business Articles for Microsoft Small Business