Exchange is something that we've grown to use as up until recently, there wasn't much of an alternative that provided similar services. Exchange has always had an eye on scalability. With it's inclusion into Microsoft Windows Small Business Server, Exchange started targeting small businesses as well.
Due to the features of Exchange, including it's maintenance and system requirements, newer cloud based alternatives are becoming more attractive as they offer large cost savings with comparable feature sets. In particular, Google Apps Premier has a feature set that matches or exceeds that of current Exchange setups - particularly for small businesses.
Why are we using Exchange now?
Simply put, most users rely on Exchange due to one of the following reasons:
- Mobile sync options
- Remote access via Outlook Web Access
- Calendar features
- Ability to scale as business grows across multiple servers to handle load
- Integration with Active Directory
In the past, online cloud based email options simply didn't give users access to these features. However, the industry has offered several options that have changed the landscape - the most well rounded option of which being Google Apps Premier. We've been using Exchange previously due to it's feature set and the lack of a well rounded competitor.
How does Google Apps Premier compare?
You can do mobile sync across multiple platforms as the big three (Android, BlackBerry and iPhone) have specialized support for all the advanced gmail features and almost any mobile device allowing IMAP can be used to connect to gmail.
Remote access is a piece of cake. Users can access their mail using the Google Apps Premier provided web portal quickly and easily using the familiar interface gmail users have been using for years.
Where Google Apps Premier really shines are in the areas of calendar features, scalability and active directory integration.
With the Exchange 2007 release, Microsoft began a process of trying to remove public folders and thus centralized calendaring from Exchange in favor of SharePoint, a web based interoffice collaborative tool. While they met heavy resistance, the future for calendaring within Exchange is questionable at best at present time and even if it sticks around, Google Apps Premier includes Google Calendar which hosts many of the same abilities.
Google Apps grows with users because it too provides tools for System Administrators to integrate with Active Directory and synchronize accounts between Google and your network. The difference is that when your user count grows, you pay a flat fee for the year for the license for that user with Google whereas with Microsoft you have to buy not just the Exchange licenses to cover that user, but also enough servers to cover all your users. The Exchange licenses alone can be costly but when you bundle in the hardware cost, Microsoft can become more expensive - especially since new licenses and servers have to be purchased as software and servers age.
The reliance on Active Directory in Exchange is different than the integration provided by Google. Google can sync your accounts to Active Directory, but this doesn't mean Google relies on your Active Directory setup to exist and function. As a result, many smaller businesses can avoid large investments in expensive 3rd party backup solutions when running very simple networks while still receiving all the benefits of a larger email system. Even better, by jumping off Exchange, a huge amount of system resources can be freed up on older Small Business Servers allowing small businesses to put off systems upgrades for a year or more.
What does Google Apps Premier provide over Microsoft Exchange?
There are a whole host of features included with Google Apps not provided by Microsoft Exchange. Just a few of these features include:
- Google Docs access - Google's answer to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These web based products can replace all three applications in one central location.
- Google Sites - Create intranet or team sites with no coding knowledge for interoffice communication.
- Google Talk - Chat with other coworkers. Users can send offline messages, video and file sharing. Chats can be archived and Google Talk supports encryption.
Google also provides excellent spam filtering support which is lacking in Exchange. Most Exchange setups will include additional antispam software as the Exchange provided spam filtering is poor at best.
And best of all - Google provides 25 GB of storage per user. Exchange was never built to hold mailboxes anywhere near that size. As a result, Exchange can have huge issues with large mailboxes and result in large periods of downtime when dealing with corrupt public and private stores
How can simpleroute help?
Some users may simply feel comfortable with Exchange. Others may want to stay on it as they've already made a heavy investment. Having managed Exchange servers for 8 years, we have the tools and skills necessary to help your small business in either situation. We're happy to support Exchange and provide configuration support and services for it.
Users wishing to investigate the potential cost savings of switching are free to contact us. We're happy to go over the costs, long term savings and benefits of switching and do an in network analysis of your current use of Exchange to show you if and how Google Apps can benefit your networks setup.
Add new comment