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The benefits of Microsoft Exchange

Microsoft Exchange Server is a very popular and useful piece of software. Exchange provides email services and a host of other features for servers running Microsoft Windows.

Exchange is provided as part of Windows Small Business Server and can be purchased as an add-on for Windows Server (full server additions).

What does Exchange server do?

At its most basic level, Exchange allows staff in your organisation to send and receive emails using their own email address on your domain name (the part after the @ symbol in an email address).

Why would I want an Exchange server?

Microsoft Exchange boasts a host of useful features over and above email services to improve employee productivity, communications, time management and offsite access to business systems.

These features include:
Business Management tools - A calendar for scheduling appointments, a contact list or phonebook, a notes folder, task listings and journal entries to tie appointments and contacts together and record time management information.

Sharing - The ability to share this information with other users easily, allowing them to share in meeting, manage calendars for other staff, view other staff's email, share contacts and more.

Out of Office support - respond to new email messages automatically when you are away from the office or away from work altogether to let the sender know you are not available.

Messaging Rules - Move, delete or respond to emails automatically according to their contents, who sent them or a range of other criteria

SPAM filtering - Exchange includes an Intelligent Message Filter giving your organisation control over the volume of SPAM it receives and the ability to stop or seriously reduce it.

Offsite Access - correctly configure, Exchange can allow the users you select to access their email and tools from any computer with an internet browser and internet connection and includes advanced security features to prevent misuse.

PDA Integration - by connecting a PDA or Smart Phone to your server you can access your emails, contacts, calendar and more via a mobile connection while on the go.

Unified Messaging - for the strongest integration with phone and communication systems, Exchange can support Voice over IP calling with call presence (see when the caller is busy or available), instant messaging, automatic control of calls when busy or away from the office and much more.

Finally

When you have Microsoft Exchange installed you also have peace of mind. You have a single point to manage for backups, capturing all users' emails and data.
You can setup additional servers on or offsite for redundancy in the event of a failure.
You can view and control communications from within your organisation, and give your staff the tools they need to maximise their productivity.