Robson’s Hosted Exchange Email: Delivering Secure & Affordable Business Email

Business email is now the dominant form of inter- and intra-corporate communications in virtually every industry – and from message delivery, file sharing, contact management, resource scheduling and as the hub of collaborative projects, Microsoft Exchange is the solution of choice the world over.

A significant portion of the messages exchanged include sensitive financial data and intellectual property. In fact, as many as three-quarters of the tens of millions of emails exchanged every day include intellectual property such as business models, product designs, customer and employee data, supplier agreements and pricing strategies. This has created a growing concern around the need for secured email services.

Threats to email security can include viruses, spam, phishing and hacking, to name just a few, but for many SMBs, the cost of ownership for Microsoft Exchange’s secure messaging platform is simply too high. Yet, Ferrik Research reports that, “Worldwide, spam will cost us all $130 billion; in the US alone, $42 billion. That’s a 30% increase over our 2007 estimates, which themselves were a 100% increase over our 2005 figures.” These statistics underscore the need for email security, as well as the power of Hosted Exchange Email to deliver the email messaging and collaboration solution SMBs want and need for a low monthly fee.

A Hosted Exchange Email solution lets SMBs capitalize on the platform’s perimeter and network security, spam management, reporting and other foundation-level efficiencies. Foundation-level efficiencies include advanced monitoring, OS provisioning, application lifecycle management and configuration management – tasks that can be highly cost prohibitive for SMBs, but that are all in a day’s work for a hosting company like Robson Communications.

Here are six key areas of security that Robson’s Hosted Exchange Email solution delivers:

1.    Physical Security: Our three datacenters (two in Vancouver, BC; one in Toronto, ON), which host the Exchange email of our customers, are physically separated from our corporate offices and physical access to them is strictly controlled and limited to only those staff members who require access. This secures our overall infrastructure, including the servers that host our clients’ email, from unauthorized access.

2.    Network Security: Fault-tolerant, brand name firewalls are used to protect our network. Each firewall is configured to block unauthorized traffic from entering the network, while a policy of redundancy and fault tolerance ensures all backup systems are instantly up and running in the event any one firewall fails. Our system also runs intrusion detection and prevention software that works in conjunction with the firewalls to monitor traffic flowing into the network. Suspicious traffic is isolated and our network management and security team are notified of any potential danger.

3.    Server Security: Our NOC engineers and technical staff take a proactive approach to the ongoing security of our servers and are very well-versed in the proper configuration of each server – maximizing performance without compromising security. Consistent patching of Windows and Exchange Server software ensures the latest updates and fixes are installed.

4.    Client Security: Data sent between the Exchange servers and the mail client used to access emails is secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). The secure connection protects email as it travels between the mail client and the Exchange server, regardless of whether you’re in your office, at an offsite location or using a wireless or public Internet connection.

5.    Antivirus & Anti Spam: Comprehensive virus protection and spam filtering at the network perimeter is provided by the Exchange Server 2007 Edge Transport server role, before dangerous emails can affect the network or reach your inbox. This is deployed with Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server to deliver a highly robust antivirus and anti spam solution.

6.    Backup & Recovery: Daily backups are performed to ensure you’ll always have your email, even in the unlikely event of a catastrophic failure of the Exchange environment. Multiple backups let you easily recover from PC failures, comply with government regulations or retrieve inadvertently deleted messages.

At Robson Communications, our Hosted Exchange clients save an average of $15,750 annually (based on five mailboxes) – that’s $15,750 you can use to GROW your business!

Our plans start at just $8.99/mo! Sign up now and get the FIRST MONTH FREE (use Promo Code EXCHANGE2010). You can even enjoy unlimited storage and bandwidth when you sign up for our Hosted Exchanged Unlimited plan, starting at $12.99/mo. That’s anywhere from 56 percent to 70 percent less than an in-house system!

All Hosted Exchange Email plans are backed by our 30-day Money Back Guarantee, have no set-up fees and include our 100 percent network uptime guarantee.

Sign up today for your Hosted Exchange Email account with Robson Communications or contact us to learn more.

Kindest regards,

Jennifer Muzzin
Content Director
Robson Communications Inc.
1-877-472-3425

Hosted Exchange Email: The Access You Need, When You Need It

As the most popular business messaging platform, Microsoft Exchange delivers essential email, calendaring, collaboration and mobility solutions to businesses worldwide. A dynamic set of collaboration features like shared calendars and task lists minimize the time needed to align schedules and plan collaborative projects, while advanced mobility features let virtual teams work together and achieve tremendous levels of productivity.

Mobile devices like the RIM BlackBerry, iPhone and Windows Mobile are becoming more and more intertwined with the day-to-day operations of many businesses, creating an important advantage for companies that can access solutions like Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync . Key features that make ActiveSync such a powerful tool for virtual teams include:

•    Seamless, integrated access to all your Exchange data (inbox, sent items, calendar, contacts and tasks) that is synchronized wirelessly and two-way.
•    Synchronized deleting, creating and moving of email to your Outlook account.
•    Ability to view attachments from the mobile device.
•    Secure and encrypted communications.
•    Ability to manage mobile devices using Outlook Web Access without additional software or licensing, including the ability to remotely wipe a lost or stolen device.

Unfortunately, many small to medium-sized businesses do not have the financial means to fully leverage the collaborative capability of group calendaring, task delegation and mobile technologies offer by Exchange. The Robson Communications Hosted Exchange solution levels the playing field by making it possible for companies of all sizes to fully leverage this enterprise-strength IT solution for a low monthly fee.

At Robson Communications, even the smallest company can benefit from this powerful business email and collaboration system. Our plans start at just $8.99/mo and when you sign up now you get the FIRST MONTH FREE (use Promo Code EXCHANGE2010). You can even enjoy UNLIMITED STORAGE AND BANDWIDTH when you sign up for our Hosted Exchanged Unlimited plan, starting at $12.99/mo.

With mobile users having anywhere, anytime access to email, calendaring, collaboration and mobility features, companies that choose the Robson Communications Hosted Exchange solution become more productive, responsive, competitive and ultimately more profitable.

Sign up for one of our Hosted Exchange plans today or contact us to learn more about this incredible business-ready solution that’s backed by our 100 percent network uptime guarantee and 30-day Money Back Guarantee.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Muzzin
Content Director
Robson Communications Inc.
1-877-472-3425

Software Patching: Another Hosted IT Value Add

The value proposition for today’s hosted IT solutions includes delivering easy-to-use services that enhance productivity, improve IT management and reduce capital outlay. Yet, if you look a little deeper, you’ll see that patching is another key benefit, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses that don’t want to pay for automated patching solutions.

All businesses – big, small and everything in between – depend on IT in one way or another. This introduces the need to patch your operating system and all the software you use to run your business. From the front-end to the back-end, this function can eat up your IT team’s time and focus. The alternative is hosted IT solutions that take care of this much-needed task at a price than won’t hurt your bottom line.

Whether you’re looking to outsource all or part of your IT needs to a reputable hosted services provider, there are three advantages to leaving the patching to them that are worth highlighting:

1.    Patching is part of what your hosted services provider does. Their entire focus is on the products and services they offer. They know patch cycles and can usually manage these cycles more effectively than the average in-house IT team member.

2.    Your hosted services provider is responsible for getting services updated, patched and up and running quickly for thousands of end users. While you might get frustrated with a few hours of email downtime, a hosting company stands to potentially lose a significant amount of money (and good faith) should this happen on their watch.

3.    Your provider will likely have partnerships with the developers of the IT services you rely on, which translates into deeper support and stronger knowledge of patch cycles than your internal team probably possesses. The host is therefore better equipped to manage patches, deal with bad patches and effectively troubleshoot issues that arise along the way.

Are you looking to bring an email messaging and collaboration solution like Microsoft Exchange into your business and don’t want to deal with patching (not to mention the capital costs associated with a solution like this)? When you work with a hosted services provider like Robson Communications, you won’t have to. Contact us today to learn more!

Jennifer Muzzin
Content Director
Robson Communications Inc.
1-877-472-3425

Moving Your Business Email to the Cloud

Delivering the Anywhere, Anytime Access of Exchange Server at a Fraction of the Cost

If your business is struggling with limited mailbox space and dubious service levels for your email messaging system, now is the time to look to the cloud to unlock the email, calendaring, contact management and collaboration features of Microsoft Outlook at a fraction of the cost of doing it yourself.

At Robson Communications, our Hosted Exchange clients save an average of $15,750 annually (based on just five mailboxes) – that’s $15,750 you can use to GROW your business!

As a trusted and local hosted services provider since 2002, Robson Communications delivers reliable, budget friendly technology solutions to businesses across Canada. Our Hosted Exchange solution levels the playing field for small to medium-sized business owners who want the features and functionality of Exchange Server without the cost and staffing burden of an on-premise system.

Get everything you could ask for in an email messaging and collaboration system:

•    Email addresses with your domain
•    Unlimited storage & bandwidth (Limited time offer on our Hosted Exchange UNLIMITED package)
•    Unlimited email aliases
•    User-friendly, web-based control panel
•    Self-managed security for managing accounts, password & permissions
•    Industry leading spam and virus protection
•    Mobile device synchronization
•    Outlook Web Access
•    24×7x365 phone & email support
•    FREE & seamless migration to Robson’s Hosted Exchange!

And with our 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, no long term contracts and 100 percent network uptime guarantee, we’re confident you’ll be completely satisfied and stay with us as your business grows.

Let Robson Communications bring the power of the world’s leading corporate email messaging and collaboration system to your business. Sign up for your Hosted Exchange Email account today and receive ONE FREE MONTH when you use promo code EXCHANGE2010!

The Robson Communications Team

Want to Store Your Business Data in the Cloud?

Start By Asking Your Cloud Provider these Five Questions

If there was a “what’s hot” list in the world of IT, cloud computing would be sitting pretty at the top – and that’s great news for businesses the world over, especially the small to medium-sized business segment. What makes this trend even more exciting is that the benefits are solid enough to ensure it’s not just a passing trend destined to land on the “what’s not” list any time soon.

In fact, new research from the International Data Corporation (IDC) highlighted in the company’s June 23, 2010 press release found, “Worldwide revenue from public IT cloud services exceeded $16 billion in 2009 and is forecast to reach $55.5 billion in 2014, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.4%.” IDC went on to say, “This rapid growth rate is over five times the projected rate of growth for traditional IT products (5%).”

From reducing IT costs and enhancing collaboration across the enterprise, to increasing business agility and scalability, the benefits of shifting components of your IT to the cloud are many. There are, however, some important concerns being expressed by IT professional. These concerns center on privacy, control, security and vendor lock-in, as well as confusion around regulation and compliance.

Proceeding with caution and thinking carefully about the implications of bringing your small to medium-sized business into the cloud is a good starting point. So is asking your prospective cloud provider these five questions:

Question #1: Who will have access to the data I store in the cloud?

The provider you choose to align your business with needs to provide you with specific details on how they will ensure only authorized employees, customers and vendors have access to your critical business data and applications.

Question #2: How secure is the data I store in the cloud?

This provider should openly share the steps they will take to insure the safety of your data.

Question #3: How is this data backed up?

Ask the provider what type of back-up system they employ and, perhaps more importantly, what their track record is in terms of the reliability of this system. You should also inquire into what their procedure is in the event of a data breach. This is all part and parcel of their disaster recovery plan, so make sure you ask the questions.

Question #4: Where will my data be physically stored?

Privacy laws differ between Canada and the Unites States, not to mention other countries around the world, so finding out where your provider’s data centers are physically located is critical. For instance, Canada’s strict privacy laws are recognized as being compliant with the EU’s privacy laws. This means Canadian and European companies that host in the US may be breaking the law if the private information they collect and store is not sufficiently protected or if it is made subject to American laws like the Patriot Act. Aligning with a Canadian cloud provider will more effectively and consistently legally safeguard your company’s private information and data, and will potentially keep this information beyond the reach of US authorities.

Question #5: How easy is it to switch to a different cloud provider?

Since the cloud provider you select will be maintaining your company’s data, you need to know what procedure they follow when it comes to cutting ties with customers. What are the steps involved? How easy will it be to switch providers? How do they purge their systems once the switch has been made?

Cloud computing best practices are still evolving and as such you need to take the steps (or ask the questions) that will protect you and your critical business data and information. The above questions are a good place to start, so make sure you have them on-hand when speaking to your shortlist of cloud providers. And of course, we invite you to contact us to find out about Robson Communications’ cloud computing solutions and how our answers to these questions stack up.

Good luck!

Jennifer Muzzin
Content Director
Robson Communications Inc.
1-877-472-3425

• 
•