What alternative email solution is better than Microsoft Exchange?

Microsoft Exchange and its associated Outlook client have been the face of enterprise communications for many years and are pretty much synonymous with the idea of work email. That does not mean, however, that there are not open source alternatives. There is a slate of clients/email servers that replicate the functions of Microsoft’s email solutions and not only have transparent code but plug into Linux server backends. One of the most well-known is Zarafa.

Zarafa released its email client/server technology as open source in 2008. Its distinguishing feature is that it is offered as a full-fledged, transparent replacement for Exchange, giving all its benefits as well as some additional features not available on the proprietary system:

Similarities

Zarafa has maintained an almost identical look and feel compared to Outlook, which is good news for any organization that decides to switch over as users can easily adjust. It not only is familiar in layout but carries similar features such as the address book, calendar, and public folders to which Outlook users have become accustomed. It also provides connectivity with Outlook by means of a plugin. Microsoft uses the proprietary Messaging API (MAPI) for communication between Exchange and Outlook. Zafara has implemented its own version (Mapi4Linux) for compatibility. Like Exchange it can also perform authentication through LDAP and Active Directory.

Differences

Linux is the platform of choice for Zafara, as you would expect, and it plugs into a MySQL database for added security. In addition to the difference in OS, the email client for Zafara is an AJAX-based web-app as opposed to being a stand-alone application like Outlook, giving it high accessibility as well as ease of use from mobile devices. As with all open-source solutions, it is cheaper than Exchange to license but not entirely free, as it comes in Standard, Professional, and Enterprise editions at different price points.

What is BYOD? How Can Unified Endpoint Data Management Make Better Use of BYOD?

what is byod how can unified endpoint data management make better use of byod

The idea of BYOD or Bring Your Own Device is in motion and companies are encouraging employees to work from any device they can. This new proliferation of employee owned endpoints has great value, creating a new means of collaborating that is lowering costs, increasing agility, and driving employee productivity and flexibility.

The era of cloud computing raises some new responsibilities for a company’s IT department. In many cases, employees are using consumer-grade Web applications and services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and SkyDrive in ways that put them outside the full control of centralized corporate IT administrators and policies.

For this reason critical data is being jeopardized because it is stored on public servers and often not being backed up on endpoint devices such as laptops and smartphones. An effective IT department must use new ways to manage and secure this enterprise level data and simultaneously provide centralized policies for sharing permissions and access control.

AE Technology has developed a unified approach to accessing and maintaining employee data. A single client or application allows each user to link all of their cloud storage accounts both public and private to one portal that is managed by the IT department. This file sharing system can be accessed from any PC or Mac and all smart devices.

This approach of connecting all of an individual user’s cloud drives allows the user or IT to quickly move and store more sensitive data to a private encrypted cloud both with ease and little to no learning curve. User’s can continue to store less sensitive data in the locations they are familiar with and access them through this main portal. These capabilities when applied can translate into hard cost savings in the following areas:

  • End-user productivity benefits
  • IT productivity benefits
  • Prevention of data loss events
  • Savings in storage and bandwidth
  • Increased IT control and visibility

Research indicates that the BYOD trend driven by the consumerization IT will continue. IT departments need to accommodate this reality by finding ways to provide optimized and secured data management. AE Technology aims to create an environment where endpoint data is fully managed yet freely accessible.

Unified endpoint data management can prevent data loss with respect to remote BYOD devices by providing both backup capabilities and remote file management for security purposes while simultaneously making it even easier for employees to access and locate their data in one centralized location whether they are in the office or on the go.

IT Consulting A Service Needed Now More Than Ever

Information Technology consulting for businesses is more important these days than it has ever been before due to the current proliferation of new technologies that are allowing businesses of all sizes to maximize efficiency and cut costs. In fact we are almost blurring the line between traditional business and “tech” business as IT resources become more and more necessary for the operations of almost every company small or large.

Today’s modern business employee is offered an array of options that – almost coincidentally – reduce overhead, better manage personnel and minimize the effort needed to maintain your business mission itself. Let us examine the most popular and effective new technologies a business has at its disposal:

Managed IT Services

Rather than hiring on-site personnel allow AE Technology Group, an MSP (Managed Service Provider) that is always on the bleeding edge of technology to take over and streamline all of your IT needs so that you may focus all your time on your business and your customers. We provide, support, implement, and educate all our clients on the newest technologies they need to be industry leaders.

Cloud Computing

Uses web-based software and safeguards your data storage through a public or private cloud in order to avoid heavy startup costs, licensing fees, upgrades, and all the hassles of software/data maintenance. Your business is available from any device in any location.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Uses effective software systems to hold on to leads, close sales, manage feedback within your sales pipeline, and much more.

E-Mail

Almost everyone these days uses email on some level but an organization can get so much more if it uses email and its collaboration tools properly. Hosted email solutions manage email economically and avoid the costs of downtime and server maintenance.

Data Protection

Given the resources that potential malicious attackers have to your important data it is more crucial than ever to find the solution to keeping your information secure.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Traditional phone line systems such as key systems and PBX can be relatively inflexible and costly. Managing phone lines over Internet Protocol as you do your other Internet resources reduces costs, improves quality, and opens you up to a new array of applications such as video conferencing.

All of these solutions can increase productivity, reduce costs, and effectively make your business more profitable if implemented and managed properly. Expert IT consulting can make these technologies work for you. Contact us to learn more.

Doctors and Physicians are Moving Their Offices to the Cloud

doctors and physicians are moving their offices to the cloud
cloud-doctor

Doctors are implementing cloud based solutions to manage their offices, improve communication, store sensitive patient information safe and securely. Moving to the cloud has proved to be cost effective and has shown an increase in productivity for the small to medium size medical service providers than are utilizing it.

Using the cloud based CRM or customer relationship management software iceCRM, physicians offices have billing and scheduling solutions that can be accessed from any computer or mobile device. Patient’s records are stored in a centralized location making them available at all office locations. With cloud solutions, recovering from a computer crash can be done in a fraction of the time!

Mobilized open source solutions like Zarafa allow doctors to improve communication through email and calendars making it much easier to collaborate. Zarafa has proven to be more cost effective with better security than Microsoft Outlook.

Using a cloud storage solution such as ASK4Cloud, secured access to medical records, notes, test results, cardiology and radiology images, and other sensitive data is provided for the staff at all times, with the data backing up in real time.

If you are a doctor or office manager you may be using cloud based tools already such as box.net, Dropbox or Google Drive to store your office files. As a medical service provider a private cloud storage solution that has been approved for sensitive data such as patient records should be considered. Currently there are only a few solutions available in the market today that meet these requirements. ASK4Cloud ensures patient privacy and provides the highest form of encryption available today.

Business Tech and Network Support in New York

business tech and network support in new york

Gears We fully understand how a small or medium sized business can find it difficult to deploy, maintain and protect their technology. We are your best bet when it comes to business computer network support in Long Island, New York. Why, because here at AE Technology Group our number one goal is to provide your business with reliable computer network support services.

Whatever the size of your budget we have IT support solutions that cover you in a cost effective manner. We offer our services around the clock. What do we mean by around the clock? We mean 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This ensures that your network is constantly monitored and maintained; affording you the benefits of worry free business computer network support in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and beyond. Our network of remote technicians, based strictly out of New York and Florida, can give support to any location. We strive to fully take care of our clients and make sure that all of their technical needs are fulfilled. We consider your scope of business and personalize technical support based on your needs.

As computers and networks continue to grow in complexity, you may experience more technical problems then you would like. Our United States based network support will give you peace of mind knowing we are just a phone call away at any time. Why wait any longer? Pick up the phone today and give us a call to learn more.