Well folks, Microsoft has removed the Small Business solution from their server offerings. For those that don’t know the SBS products, it is a complete small business solution out of the box and includes file sharing, Sharepoint, Exchange and SQL. It runs on a single box and supports upto 75 users. Microsoft expects their current SBS user base to move to cloud storage and email solutions or install Server 2012 on one box and Exchange Server on another at huge cost.
The UK is one of the worst countries for poor internet speeds. Some of my customers can barely get 2mb internet speeds, no fibre is available and they are 2 miles from a very large city. Can you imagine using Office365 along will all the files and expecting 8 users to work day in, day out on a 2mb internet connection to access all their files. No. It would take the best part on a month to upload the data in the first place, then what happens if the internet goes down, as it does at least 3 or 4 times a year, you cannot operate your business. Microsoft are about to loose a large number of small businesses who will look to migrate away from Microsoft current offerings in favour of Linux solutions which are often cheaper and sometimes more reliable. I have 1 customer currently using SBS 2003 and it looking to upgrade. I’m thinking maybe Server 2012 R2 Standard with Kerio for email, or USC with perhaps Zarafa or Kerio for email. Those currently running SBS 2011 will, in a few years, be looking to upgrade as well.
Either way it looks like I have some reading to do. It maybe goodbye Microsoft if the Linux solutions I’m about to install and test prove successful.
