Now that Microsoft has launched Windows Server Foundation it begs the question: Which Microsoft server option is the most ideal fit for your small business? Here are some key decision points to consider.
First, let’s get the Linux question out of the way: Yes, there are some Linux options on the market. But I focus on the Microsoft world, and so too do most of my customers.
To find the best small business server option, you need the right technology professional to guide you. Numerous IT professionals are extremely talented. But your solutions provider needs to understand how your business operates — from your line of business focus to your culture to your financial systems to your communications efforts. The reality is, many small businesses have the wrong technology advisor who, in turn, recommends incorrect or underpowered network systems.
With the right people comes the right technology.
With the introduction of Windows Server Foundation, I believe Microsoft now offers small businesses a complete and well-rounded product line that meets the demands of all businesses today. The following recommendations outlines Microsoft’s server offerings, and how I believe they may fit your business needs.
Windows Home Server – Designed for use in any home, WHS provides a centralized storage solution, which safeguards letters, spreadsheets, home videos and your family photos. Those files can easily be shared with family and friends over the Internet. WHS provides a solution for the safe backup of your home systems to keep cherished memories protected. WHS can also be a good fit for a micro-business who requires a very basic storage solution.
Windows Foundation Server – Microsoft’s newest server option supports up to 15 users. Windows Foundation Server offers a centralized security database, which controls access to files, server resources, and remote access using Microsoft’s Active Directory. WFS also provides a small business with a remote access solution leveraging Terminal Services. Small business may also require a server for their line of business applications such as Quickbooks, Simply Accounting or any industry specific programs. In my opinion, Windows Foundation Server is the perfect solution for small businesses that have basic server needs, or if you’re looking to combine local storage and business applications with online services such as Hosted Exchange or SharePoint Services.
Windows Small Business Server - This is an enterprise server solution for small businesses that require shared calendaring, data storage, company intranet, remote access plus many of solutions once reserved for larger organizations. Small Business Server offers Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server, Remote Web Workplace plus many core products to increase the productivity of your team and drive results to the bottom line. There are two main SBS product lines, each come with many features and benefits to assist the small business who has requirements to do more with less. Small Business Server supports up to 75 employees.
Windows Essential Business Server - EBS is the next step for the growing small business. When your small business hits a critical junction of 75 employees or perhaps the growing demands of your business require more computing solutions, Windows Essential Business Server is the next logical step. EBS supports up to four different Microsoft Server solutions for the larger small business or small mid-market corporation with up to 250 employees. Windows Essential Business Server provides management capabilities, security solutions leveraging Microsoft ForeFront, messaging through Microsoft Exchange and data storage with Microsoft SQL Server.
Take the First Critical Step
There are many server choices for your small business. Which solution fits your business is a conversation that you must have with your Trusted Business Advisor. Still looking for a trusted advisor who understands Microsoft’s small business offerings? You can find them here.
Contributing blogger Stuart Crawford is VP of business development with Bulletproof InfoTech, a solutions provider in Alberta, Canada. The VAR Guy is updated multiple times daily. Don’t miss a single post. Subscribe to his newsletter, RSS feed, Twitter feed , Webcasts and Resource Center.
Not to sound like a troll or a fanboy, but your attempt to “get the Linux question out of the way” is pretty lame. All you have to say about the Linux option is: “We focus on Windows.” Huh? It’s fine to rule out Linux if it doesn’t suit your needs, but working with Microsoft’s server products can be very costly and much more of a headache than Linux, especially for SMBs. I speak from personal experience.
Josh: Fair point, but The VAR Guy specifically asked Stuart for his views on Windows Server Foundation and how it fit in MSFT’s overall small biz strategy. Stuart delivered on that request. This site spends plenty of time sizing up Linux opportunities as well.
Oh, I didn’t realize that. Sorry!
Josh: No need to apologize. The VAR Guy just tries to make sure readers get to hear from a variety of voices. Linux isn’t all good and Microsoft isn’t all bad. There’s good and bad in both camps. Generally speaking, Stuart makes a living — and helps his customers — in the Microsoft camp, and those customers are pretty darn happy with the solutions he offers.
Stuart,
Thank you for a concise summary of the current server options from Microsoft. Nice to have this all in one place!
Bradk
Thank you Stuart! Excellent explanation of the different Microsoft server solutions available to home users and small or medium sized businesses. I hope that business owners understand that the choice is driven by the correct functionality and not the number of users the software is targeted for. It is all about receiving the proper return on investment.
On another note I have found issues Linux systems in small businesses can be costly, that is, if you can find someone to take care of the issue…
I agree with Brad – an excellent sumamry! I think the new Foundation Server is a great fit for businesses with under 5 users where SBS may be outside their current needs and/or budget. It’s a nice step up from the usual micro-business solution of a peer “server” running XP Pro or Vista, or a cheap NAS, since it provides centralized security and some remote access. Now, hopefully we can get AuthAnvil to work on it so we can provide two-factor authentication as well!
Hey Jeff… no worries there. AuthAnvil is fully supported on Foundation Server. Check out http://blog.scorpionsoft.com/blog/2009/04/running-authanvil-on-windows-server-2008-foundation.html.
It would have been nice to mention the other Server OS’s available as they are not intuitively named. For instance, according to Microsoft’s website, Server 2008 has Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web Server, and Itanium.
The article could have briefly mentioned some of the other varieties and that they are more for large businesses – so SMB owners don’t get confused with the long list of MS offerings.
Otherwise, an excellent overview of what features are available from Microsoft. I am bookmarking this article!
I am looking into the computer needs of a new small business. At this point I honestly don’t see the need for a “server” anymore. I must be missing something. For internet connectivity wi-fi through a router will be fine, and with the size and power of desktops or even laptops what purpose is the server providing? It’s not disk space. It’s not networking. What am I missing?
David: The VAR Guy thinks this is a case-by-case decision for small businesses. Lots of start-up companies are simply leveraging SaaS applications. But key vertical market applications, and compliance-related applications, may remain on-premise for years to come…
Yes, you hit it on the head. This small business is using web based billing services and is fine using mail services from their ISP, GoDaddy. So what’s left? Basically just the need for good desktops/laptops that can network easily. So it’s looking like MacBooks may be used throughout given the very easy networking and other sharing capabilities of OS X.
David: Unless you have another solution we are looking for file sharing, remote connectivity, and centralized backup. A server seems to fill these needs.
i`ve been using windows server 2003 since year 2004, and in my 6 years working with 2003 server sistem i can say that it`s stable and easy to configure. The only downside is that after many updates it requiers a system reboot.
SOS: But do you plan to try Windows Server 2008? Why or why not?
Microsoft seems to be moving away from its original “home” focus for “Home Server”:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=4479
But why? I smell a failure to meet a sales target…
Lawrence: The VAR Guy was always wary of Microsoft in the “home server” game. Many consumers were tired of big, bloated, buggy Windows PCs. Would they open their wallets wider for a Windows home server? The VAR Guy doubts it…
The VAR Guy thinks Windows 7′s arrival will restore some faith in Microsoft. But that won’t fix the Windows Home Server issue. Most consumers don’t even know what a home server is… at least not yet.
-TVG
[...] funeral here. Rather than flaming Microsoft, The VAR Guy applauds the move: Microsoft had too many Windows Server software variants. Partners and customers can’t keep up with all the options. In this case less is more. [...]
Although this article is a bit dated now, I found it a useful summary as one looking to move to a server solution for our tiny technologically centric engineering firm.
Issues:
Tired of wasting time playing IT dept for too many PCs.
Redundant software requirements.
Way too much time spent backing up.
Tired of ISP limitations on email.
Will never trust the cloud will client data even if I never had to sign a confidentiality contract. Convenience is a thief’s favorite exploit.
I like designing things. I never wanted to be an IT tech. But I waste as much time diagnosing & maintaining networks & systems as I do supporting my clients. Sometimes more.
I’m looking to a server solution to streamline the operation by reducing redundancies, centralizing admin, automating backups, decide for myself when an attachment is too big & most importantly, enhancing security. I got into business to work at my craft using computer power, not working on computers. I’m quite certain my issues are shared by many.
Thank you Stuart. I’m less confused about the options now.
Thank you too VAR Guy. You strike me as voice of reason on a web fraught with single minded opinion. One size does not fit all. You seem to get that and you’re nice about it.
VL: Thanks for reviving an old discussion. The VAR Guy rather enjoyed the reader debate about Microsoft’s server software offerings. And certainly, much has changed since Stuart wrote the piece above in April 2009.
Microsoft killed (er, discontinued) Windows Essential Business Server. And the company has introduced upgrades to Small Business Server that include cloud integration…
During the recent Intermedia Partner Summit in New York, most MSPs attending the conference said they are seeing most companies shift SBS legacy deployments to hosted Exchange and hosted SharePoint. The one exception was SBS running SQL Server, which seems to have a loyal following in New York…
-TVG