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

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

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

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

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

A Secure & Reliable Hosting Solution for Your Website

For a limited time only, Robson Communications is pleased to offer 12 months Free Shared Web Hosting on Linux or Windows. This incredible offer includes:

•    12 Months FREE Shared Hosting
•    FREE Migration from Your Current Hosting Provider
•    FREE Set-up and Configuration on ALL Hosting Plans
•    5 GB Storage
•    25 GB Bandwidth
•    50 Email Mailboxes
•    Over 98% Client Retention Rate
•    PROMO CODE: VHP25589

Shared Web Hosting is an economical and flexible solution for individuals and businesses looking to establish an online presence or safeguard the presence they already have. From a simple blog to a complex web application, Robson Communications has the Shared Web Hosting plan that will give you the performance, stability and security you need.

Other key features of our Shared Web Hosting include:

•    30 Day Money Back Guarantee
•    Business Ready with Instant Activation
•    No Contracts
•    24×7x365 phone & email support

Take advantage of local Vancouver hosting solutions for your business! Sign up TODAY!

The Robson Communications Team

A wide range of pay-per-use Internet-based services have emerged – everything from entire technology infrastructures, software deployment, application development, email messaging, spam filtering and a range of other IT services – that let businesses substantially reduce the capital expenditure and financial risk traditionally associated with IT projects. And more and more enterprises are taking notice. In fact, according to the Gartner Group, “By 2011, early technology adopters will forgo capital expenditures and instead purchase 40 percent of their IT infrastructure as a service.” The research firm goes on to say, “Increased high-speed bandwidth makes it practical to locate infrastructure at other sites and still receive the same response times.”

Four Key Benefits of Outsourcing IT to the Cloud

#1: Ability to leverage cloud provider’s expertise

Whether a company is looking to deploy an email messaging and collaboration system or develop a custom application, cloud services can deliver the solution and expertise needed to maintain it. From monitoring, backing up and security, to patching, troubleshooting and upgrading, the onus of maintaining and securing the infrastructure running these services is placed squarely on the shoulders of the service provider. These pay-as-you-go services help to level the playing field for SMBs that either don’t have the in-house expertise or are looking to refocus their IT team’s energy on aspects of the technology infrastructure that drive operational efficiency and revenue growth.

#2: Capital expenditures are significantly reduced

Cloud computing lets businesses gain access to an enterprise technology infrastructure without incurring the capital expense associated with purchasing physical servers. As Forrester Research states, “The biggest financial benefit of cloud computing, particularly in these capital-constrained times, is avoiding taking on debt and keeping cash in the company longer. If a project uses a cloud-based service provider, then the CFO avoids writing a big check upfront. Instead, checks are written monthly or quarterly, in alignment with the return.”

#3: An enterprise infrastructure without the ongoing operating costs

Companies gain unmatched economies of scale compared to an in-house system given the high degree of standardization among the technology components included in an enterprise infrastructure. Compared to the prohibitive costs associated with enterprise data centers, particularly when high availability, redundancy and/or scalability are required, cloud computing provides a substantial upgrade (especially for SMBs) and delivers net savings to the bottom line. Businesses can rent rather than purchase the infrastructure, software or other IT services they need while minimizing their ongoing operating costs. Because organizations subscribing to the service enjoy the benefit of quickly and easily increasing or decreasing their demand, the cloud computing model is capable of delivering agility and scalability within a highly cost effective framework.

#4: Time to value measured in weeks, not months

The potential for cloud services to deliver a significantly reduced time to value on IT projects is second to none – and in the current economic climate, this advantage is more critical than ever. Those enterprises turning to the cloud can achieve an important competitive advantage compared to companies that are putting IT projects on hold that don’t deliver an almost immediate return on investment. More and more companies are beginning to realize that an on-premise system doesn’t make sense when there are cloud providers capable of delivering the IT services they need quickly, with no up-front capital expenditure and guaranteed network uptime for a low monthly subscription fee.

Yet, like any important business decision, the case for IT outsourcing to the cloud requires upfront strategy and goal definition. If the business case is strong for the particular service you’re looking to outsource, you should think about taking the next step and consider outsourcing within the context of the organization’s overall business strategy.

For more information on cloud computing and how the solutions that are available in the cloud can benefit your business, contact us at Robson Communications. We’d love to discuss your needs and provide a custom solution that’s right for your business!

Warmest regards,

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

Chris Marchesi, Manager - Systems & Network Operations

Examples of our commitment to deliver the very best hosting solutions that are supported by the highest levels of customer service come in all shapes and sizes. One recent example involves the keen attention to detail shown by our manager of systems and network operations, Chris Marchesi, when he flagged a suspicious looking order as a potential case of credit card fraud.

Chris recognized the telltale signs of credit card fraud on an order and immediately called the number on the account to inform the credit card owner of the fraudulent transaction. By doing so, Mary, the owner of the credit card, was able to quickly deactivate the card and cancel all of the fraudulent transactions before they had been processed. Chris’s quick response meant Mary was able to avoid the time and hassles associated with disputing the charges. She was so pleased that she even wrote a letter of appreciation to acknowledge his efforts.

We believe that great hosting starts with great people and we just couldn’t resist sharing this story about someone on our team who exemplifies our core values so well. If you’re looking for a Canadian hosting company that is driven by a passion for delivering the best hosting solutions and the best customer service in the industry, give us a call today!

There are many similarities between running a business with a physical presence in the real world and running one in cyberspace. Both require strategic planning and operational efficiencies, as well as human and technical resources to maximize the probability of success. While you may rent your physical premises from a property management company, your web presence requires you to rent server space from a hosting company. So, what is the secret to ensuring you get the best value for your operating dollars?

For many small business owners, the answer to this question might zero in on price. Yet, in the world of small business web hosting the lowest bidder might end up doing more harm than good if the low price is accompanied by customer and technical support that is slow and ineffective.

Shopping around and comparing prices to ensure you’re getting a good deal is a definite must, but it’s the support you receive that separates the best hosting companies from the ones you should probably avoid. And this isn’t referring to the support you get as a new customer who has just signed up; it’s the support you get when things go wrong that matters most.

But the question remains: How do you know how a hosting provider will respond before you actually sign up with them?

A great place to start is to ask for references from other businesses using the company’s small business web hosting services and then call them. When speaking to these references, try engaging them in frank discussions about how satisfied they are with the service – and make sure you ask about any problems they’ve encountered and how quick the hosting company was to respond to and resolve the problems.

Here are some other support-related questions to consider. Does the hosting company offer free phone support? Surprisingly enough, not all providers do. How quickly do they respond to your inquiry? Test it out; and regardless of whether it’s an email inquiry or a voicemail message left on their support line, anything longer than 24 hours means you should probably think twice before signing up.

At Robson Communications, we believe that great hosting starts with great people. We pride ourselves on setting the industry standard for service and support with our Canadian hosting services and encourage you to contact us to find out how we can help maximize the success of your online business with our small business web hosting services.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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

P.S. If you found this information useful, you may want to check out our recent blog about How to Choose a Hosting Service Provider, which delves deeper into the many factors to consider before selecting the right provider for your business.

Although it’s a relatively new trend, incorporating carbon costs into IT business cases is beginning to gain traction as more and more business owners and IT professionals become environment-conscious and jump on the Green IT bandwagon. Policies are even beginning to emerge that will penalize companies based on carbon dioxide emissions.

According to research firm Gartner, Inc., “By 2014, most IT business cases will include carbon remediation costs.” And early adopters of Green IT are often pleasantly surprised to discover that environmental sustainability and financial sustainability do not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, there are numerous IT solutions available now that offer significant savings on a number of levels, including energy conservation, workflow optimization and streamlined deployment – and many of these solutions are coming out of the IT hosting industry. For instance, as a small business owner looking for an entry level ecommerce infrastructure, you can get started quickly, cost effectively and in a more eco-friendly way compared to an in-house system with options like multi-tenant and shared hosting platforms that can support many customers on one server.

IT hosting is also a highly effective way for your business to offload some of your IT burden to a provider with the infrastructure and expertise needed to move your technology projects forward in a more ecologically friendly way compared to purchasing new in-house hardware. This is particularly relevant to the Green IT shift in light of further Gartner, Inc. research that states, “In 2012, 60% of a new PC’s total life greenhouse gas emissions will have occurred before the user first turns the machine on.”

British Columbia offers some of the Greenest Power in the World

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that a hosting data center requires a lot of power to operate, so depending on where it’s located and the source of electricity used to power it, a data center could have a substantial carbon footprint. For example, data centers located in West Virginia and Illinois rely almost entirely on coal to produce their electricity and this creates the equivalent of 1000+ grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour. This is compared to a data center located in British Columbia where renewable hydro-electric power (and as needed natural gas for peak-time power generation) is the primary source of electricity, creating less than 20 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour. (Sources: US Department of Energy, Stats Canada, Environment Canada). That’s a carbon footprint about 50 times less than the same data center located in West Virginia or Illinois!

Many organizations test the hosting waters with an email messaging and collaboration system; and the eco benefits are just the tip of the iceberg when you consider the average annual cost savings of roughly $15,750 for a hosted email solution with five mailboxes– not to mention the fact that you can go from one mailbox to 100 instantly, buying what you need, when you need it.

Choosing to align your business with a hosting provider powered by renewable energy let’s you leverage the many important business advantages offered by hosting – including the opportunity to avoid up-front capital expenses, minimize operating costs and gain overall strategic advantage – and feel good about helping global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

With two enterprise data centers in Vancouver, British Columbia and one in Toronto, Ontario, Robson Communications has the Canadian hosting services your business needs within an infrastructure designed to harnesses eco-friendly, renewable energy. Contact us to learn more about how our solutions are good for the environment and your bottom line.

Sincerely,

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