One common element found in nearly all businesses is the server, it allows employees to communicate effectively , access data or fulfill their roles more easily. In small to medium organizations, one of the more popular servers was Microsoft’s Small Business Server (SBS). Despite its popularity, SBS has recently been retired, leaving many IT professionals unsure of what to replace it with.
If your company has employed a Microsoft SBS 2008 or older solution, you aren’t totally left in the dark. Before announcing the end of SBS, Microsoft announced Microsoft Windows Server 2012, which is meant to be the replacement for SBS.
In the past, Microsoft has been a company of options, not content with releasing just one or two versions of an operating system or server structure, instead opting for many. With Windows Server 2012, the options have been slimmed down to just four, of which two will be best for the majority of small businesses.
Foundation
Foundation is the most basic version of Windows Server 2012, with support for common activities like file and printer sharing. It won’t however support virtual environments, meaning, in other words, you will have to stick with physical servers instead of being able to run different servers on one physical machine.
The downside with Foundation is that it will only be available on new servers created by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). If you want to utilize this version, you’re going to have to buy a new server. If you’re looking to centralize basic office functions, or connect the office internally, and don’t currently have any servers, this might be a good option for you.
Essentials
If you currently use SBS, or another retired Microsoft product, you’re best bet is Essentials. At a cost of around USD $425, it’s a low cost upgrade aimed specifically at businesses with 25 or fewer users. An upgrade to Essentials brings about the ability to easily connect and manage Microsoft’s cloud based solutions such as Office 365 and the cloud version of Sharepoint, as well as others.
The downside to this is if you have more than 25 users in your company you’ll either need to pay for two different servers or pick another version. Aside from this, Essentials, like Foundation, doesn’t support a fully virtualized server environment. Essentials will be a good upgrade for companies that use cloud services and are looking for a server solution without the need for a virtual solution.
If you have more than 25 users in your company, or want to support a virtualized server environment, you’ll need to upgrade to the standard edition of Windows Server 2012. Interested in learning more about integrating Windows Server 2012 in your company? Please contact us, we can help.
