Windows Small Business Server has been the first choice in servers for small and mid-sized businesses since its introduction in 2003. This is now coming to an end, as announced by Microsoft earlier this year. As your chosen Denver IT consulting and support specialists, North Star, Inc. is available to help you make the move to Windows Server 2012 Essentials.
“Windows SBS 2011 Standard, which includes Exchange Server and SharePoint Foundation, will be the final such Windows SBS offering. It will remain available through the OEM channel until December 31, 2013, and will remain available in all other current channels until June 30, 2013.” ~ Windows Small Business Server Essentials becomes Windows Server 2012 Essentials, June 5, 2012.
You might enjoy reading our complete article series on Windows Server 2012.
Why is Microsoft killing Small Business Server?
…is the question many are asking. The reason is actually rather simple. People, and businesses, are moving to the cloud, and SBS makes this difficult, if not impossible.
With the decline of on-site servers already under way, and as more and more businesses move to cloud mail services, it makes sense that Microsoft would offer an integrated alternative for their small business partners. The demise of SBS, in favor of Windows Server 2012 Essentials, what Microsoft labels “a flexible, cloud-enabled server platform,” the software giant is merely accepting the inevitable.
The improved flexibility of Windows Server 2012 Essentials
For Microsoft, the goal is to provide more flexible services while at the same time simplifying their offerings. There will be four levels of service available, with increasing levels of server sophistication: “Foundation,” “Essentials,” “Standard” and “Datacenter,” with announced pricing ranging from $425, $882 and $4809, respectively.
The move is designed to improve access to the cloud through increased use of Office 365, the cloud based Office platform, and Exchange, the offsite mail server. Microsoft has created an in-depth PDF to explain the various levels of services and sophistication for their small business servers.
Below is a graph from Microsoft explaining the licensing options for Windows Server 2012 Essentials…
If you are looking for reliable IT consulting in Denver and the surrounding areas, North Star, Inc., is the place to go for quality Denver network support. Get in touch with us today with your IT Service Request.