Hi,
I am looking for some help with planning the replacement of SBS 2011. I see a few threads on the topic already, but they seem to cover a transition to Essentials.
I'm already looking at 30 users with potential to grow, so I think we have already outgrown the 'small business' part of SBS.
I won't pretend to know much of anything about licensing/server features/etc., and don't stay current with M$ release 'news', so starting from scratch would be an accurate statement.
That said, I need to make sure I can replace/replicate the current functions of 2011.
No doubt this list is far from complete, but these are the things I know it does that I'm worried about replacing (assuming DC/AD roles are covered no matter what route I go)...
- Everything else I don't have the foresight to realize I'm losing
We don't use SP and don't have an intranet...so two things off the list of worries.
I know O365 is an option to replace the on-site exchange server, but I have my concerns about going cloud...namely cost effectiveness, security, and data retention. I also don't know if it's a seamless transition in terms of features available to Outlook users.
As for the OWA side, we have a few users that remote in frequently from home. I'm not really sure what route to go on an Enterprise level. Is a quick and dirty fix just to assign static IP's and route RDP requests via port forwarding? Similar to the M$ Server line, I'm not too well versed on the latest and greatest options for remote options that are easy on my less than expert user bsaed.
Does the current M$ server line include any sort of native backup feature, or am I on my own for finding a new solution?
Lastly, are there any glaring omissions from my early brain-storm here? I inherited this server and this will be my first implementation/migration..
.needless to say anxiety levels are high. If anyone has gone through a similar move, I would love to hear about it.
Thank you for reading.
Windows 2016 or 2019 standard edition (incl. IIS, Windows Backup, File and Print services, ADDC, DHCP,DNS etc)
Exchange 2016/2019 Standard or switch to Office 365 (much easier and probably cheaper in long term). Supports 1-5 mailbox databases.
Licenses:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/cloud-platform/windows-server-pricing
https://products.office.com/en-gb/exchange/microsoft-exchange-server-licensing-licensing-overview