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Windows Essential Business Server: An “All-in-One” Solution

Windows Essential Business Server is a server solution designed specifically for midsize businesses (previously known as Windows Server code name “Centro”). Powered by the new Windows Server 2008 technology, Windows Essential Business Server combines software for management, messaging, and security features into one server solution that dramatically reduces IT complexity and helps improve efficiency across the business, putting IT in control.

Windows Essential Business Server is also an integrated server infrastructure solution. Designed for the unique needs of midsize organizations, Windows Essential Business Server combines the technologies of Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007, Forefront Security for Exchange, System Center Essentials, the next version of ISA Server, and SQL Server 2008 into an “all-in-one” solution. It will include a Standard and Premium Edition. Windows Essential Business Server will provide a single Client Access License for all included products and will offer new technologies which simplify license management. Within the administration console, IT Professionals can easily ascertain how many licenses they have, who the licenses are assigned to, and can, when an employee leaves the company, easily reassign licenses.

Solution Availability

Windows Essential Business Server
is slated for availability in the second half of 2008. The product is currently in private beta, and Microsoft anticipates making a public beta available in the first half of 2008.

For more information:

Visit the Windows Essential Business Server site

Key Benefits of Windows Essential Business Server

Integrated Security

  • Defense-in-depth multilevel security features with integrated security workloads

  • Pre-configured and optimized protection from common threats

  • Integrated and automated setup, limiting vulnerabilities occurring during and arising from installation

  • Centralized security feature management with a consolidated view of your security state across your systems—integrating both Microsoft and third-party applications

  • More automated patching and update processes make it easier for you to keep systems up and running

Less Complexity, More Control

  • Centralized administration console enables you to proactively manage your customers’ IT environment from a single location

  • Simplified and integrated setup reduces installation steps from days to hours

  • A single server license and Client Access License for all included products simplifies licensing for you and your customers

Predictable Platform, Designed for Midsize Businesses

  • Architected for extensibility to easily “plug in” other applications

  • Remote Web Workplace, an out-of-the-box feature, enables IT to easily set up secure remote access

  • More efficient to manage, maintain, and control, and more affordable to own than stand-alone products

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