Windows IT Pro UPDATE--Microsoft Renews Small Business Push--March 14, 2006

Make sure your copy of Windows IT Pro UPDATE doesn't get mistakenly blocked by antispam software! Be sure to add [email protected] to your list of allowed senders and contacts.

This email newsletter comes to you free and is supported by the following advertisers, which offer products and services in which you might be interested. Please take a moment to visit these advertiser's Web sites and show your support for Windows IT Pro UPDATE.

Argent Software
http://www.argent.com/w/whitepapers_mom.html?Source=WNT

AppDev
http://www.appdev.com/promo/RN00314

1. Commentary
- Microsoft Renews Small Business Push

2. Hot Off the Press
- Google, DOJ Head to Court

3. Peer to Peer
- Featured Thread: Configure HTTPS
- Featured FAQ: What are the final Windows Vista versions?

4. New and Improved
- Push Security Protection to Remote Users

==== Sponsor: Argent Software ====

NETWORK TESTING LABS COMPARES ARGENT TO MOM 2005
Network Testing Labs, one of the world's leading independent research companies, concluded that "Argent's suite had a smaller footprint, was more scalable, supported more platforms, had a more responsive and intuitive user interface and gave us more useful reports," the report says. "Argent's suite of monitoring products emerged from our testing with flying colors."

Download this FREE Comparison Paper now: http://www.argent.com/w/whitepapers_mom.html?Source=WNT

==== 1. Commentary: Microsoft Renews Small Business Push ====
by Paul Thurrott, News Editor, [email protected]

If you own or support a small business, you'll be pleased by Microsoft's latest moves. In a recent organizational reshuffling, the software giant reorganized its Windows Server division along customer boundaries: There are now discrete teams of people at the software giant specifically targeting markets such as small businesses and medium businesses, and ensuring that the company is building the right products for the right businesses. Vision is fun, but now we're getting to see what kinds of things they're working on.

This week, the company is hosting 400 small business customers at the Small Business Summit at its Redmond campus. But don't worry if you weren't invited: Anyone can sign up for Webcast versions of the 25 presentations that will occur over the four days of the conference. See the URL at the end of this article for more information.

If you're not interested in sitting through that many Webcasts, I can provide a brief overview of what's going on this week. First, Microsoft will be talking up Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2, its follow-up to SBS 2003 that's due around mid-year. The R2 version of SBS 2003 adds all the relevant technology from the mainstream Windows Server 2003 R2 release, along with several unique additions. (Many R2 changes are geared solely toward enterprises.)"

The first is an excellent idea called Green Check technology, which should be familiar to anyone who's used the Security Center in Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Windows Live One Care, Microsoft's subscription-based PC health service (which is currently in beta). Green Check is an umbrella term for SBS 2003 R2's new network-wide update and patch-management capabilities. As most SBS users know, SBS generates a daily status email and also shows system health status information in its management console. In R2, this information is augmented by a graphical green check. You'll see this graphic when the SBS server and all its connected clients are current with the latest patches and updates. If the check isn't green, it will provide information about what you need to do to get the system where it belongs.

SBS 2003 R2 also includes several other updates. In keeping with the changes to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition with SP1, the version of Exchange that SBS 2003 uses is updated to support a 75GB storage limit (but is limited to 75 mailboxes). SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition customers will see that SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition is upgraded to SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition, which is more in-line with the functionality of SQL Server 2000 Standard Edition than would be SQL Server 2005 Standard.

One of the best things about SBS 2003 R2 isn't even a feature per se. Between March 1 and the launch of SBS 2003 R2, customers who acquire SBS 2003 via a new system purchase will be able to upgrade to SBS 2003 R2 for only the cost of shipping and handling. You can find out more about this Technology Upgrade Program from the Microsoft Web site (see URL below).

In a bid to make it easier for small businesses to purchase SBS, Microsoft is for the first time opening up Microsoft Financing to smaller purchases. In the past, customers wanting to finance purchases through Microsoft had to buy at least $10,000 worth of merchandise. But this amount was prohibitively expensive for some small businesses, many of which are cash strapped and on month-to-month budgets. To help these businesses, Microsoft is lowering the minimum purchase amount to $3000. So even small business customers can spread payments out over time--typically 36 months--and pay for the technology as they're using it. Microsoft Financing is currently offering a 12.5 percent interest rate, according to the company.

Finally, Microsoft is working with Best Buy to provide training for that company's Geek Squad, which was previously focused only on supporting client-side technologies. Now, Geek Squad members will be qualified to install, service, and support SBS 2003 R2 and other server products, allowing small businesses to use the local electronics superstore for technology purchases and support.

Microsoft promises me that it will have a lot more to say about its small business (and medium business) push throughout the year, but this is clearly a great start. It's about time that small businesses were treated like first-class citizens in the Windows world.

Related Links

Microsoft Small Business Summit
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/small-business-summit/hub.mspx

Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2: Technology Upgrade Program
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/r2/upgrade.mspx

==== Sponsor: AppDev ====

Free Windows Server 2003 Training CD (MCSE/MCSA) Become MCSE or MCSA 2003 certified with training from AppDev, award- winning provider of technical training. See AppDev quality for yourself! We'll send you a FREE CD taken directly from our new "Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2003" course (exam 70-290). Get your FREE CD (a $115 value!) at http://www.appdev.com/promo/RN00314

==== 2. Hot Off the Press ====
by Paul Thurrott, [email protected]

Google, DOJ Head to Court
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and lawyers for Internet search giant Google will face off in federal court today, with the DOJ trying to force Google to open up its search records as part of an ongoing federal investigation. The DOJ argues that the records it wants won't violate anyone's privacy, as Google has argued, because the information doesn't identify any individuals. Read the entire article at the following URL:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=49671

==== Events and Resources ====
(A complete Web and live events directory brought to you by Windows IT Pro: http://www.windowsitpro.com/events )

Windows Connections Conference, April 9-12, 2006
Don't miss the essential Windows technology conference.
http://www.winconnections.com

When disaster strikes your servers, whether they are dedicated to Windows, SQL, or Exchange, you need answers. Make sure that if an emergency occurs, you're prepared. Get the full eBook and get started on your recovery plan today!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/ebooks/neverfail/hasolutions/?code=0315emailannc

Learn to gather evidence of compliance across multiple systems and link the data to regulatory and framework control objectives. On-demand Web seminar.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/bindview/multiregcompliance/?partnerref=0315emailannc

Make sure your email server is secure. Learn everything from basic techniques to defense-in-depth strategies, including network-level access control lists, Web authentication, firewall protocol inspection, and perimeter filtering. Live Web seminar Thursday, March 23
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/corrent/secureemail/?partnerref=0315emailannc

Use Windows Server 2003 R2 as a platform for SQL Server 2005 to support large-database requirements, including clustering and multiple processors. Register for this free Web seminar today!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/microsoft/database/?partnerref=0315emailannc

==== Featured White Paper ====

Use scripted deployments to ensure that all your Exchange servers are configured and deployed with exactly the same options and to maintain a record of your installation configurations. Learn how today!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/hp/autodeploy/?code=0315featwp

~~~~ Hot Spot: ~~~~

Concerned about broken links during data migrations? Are you performing a data migration due to server upgrades, server consolidations? What if there was a way you could find and fix broken links automatically, eliminating the extra time and cost associated with manually fixing them? LinkFixerPlus is the first application that automatically maintains links in files when conducting a data migration. Download the FREE trial version NOW! http://www.linkfixerplus.com

==== 3. Peer to Peer ====

Featured Thread: Configure HTTPS
A forum user wants help configuring HTTP Secure (HTTPS) so that he can enable Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) for his company's users. If you can help, join the discussion at the following URL:
http://forums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/messageview.aspx?catid=50&threadid=46507&enterthread=y

Featured FAQ: What are the final Windows Vista versions?
by John Savill, http://www.windows2000faq.com

Find the answer at the following URL:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/articles/index.cfm?articleid=49657

==== Announcements ====
(A complete Web and live events directory brought to you by Windows IT Pro: http://www.windowsitpro.com/events )

Windows IT Pro Magazine Article Library--access available
Sign up for a Monthly Online Pass and get INSTANT access to all articles, tools, and helpful resources published on WindowsITPro.com, including exclusive subscriber-only content. You'll get 24/7 access to the full Windows IT article library (includes more than 9,000 articles) and get the latest digital issue of Windows IT Pro delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now:
https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu2063um

Windows IT Pro Magazine--SAVE 58%
Windows IT Pro is a must-have in 2006! Subscribe now and plug into the largest independent Windows IT community in the world. Along with loads of how-to articles, time-saving advice, and expert tips and solutions, you'll gain exclusive access to the entire online Windows IT Pro article library FREE. This is a limited-time offer, so order now:
https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu2063uw

==== 4. New and Improved ====
by Blake Eno, [email protected]

Push Security Protection to Remote Users
Lightspeed Systems announced Total Traffic Control (TTC) 6.0, network security software. TTC features a new Security Agent that adds virus signature matching with behavior analysis to identify and prevent malicious threats. Security Agent also pushes protection, filtering, and reporting to desktops and laptops when your users are working remotely. Other updates to TTC include the following: image and file tracking, enhanced spam blocking, and an updated UI. For more information about TTC, contact Lightspeed Systems at 877-447-6244.
http://www.lightspeedsystems.com Tell Us About a Hot Product and Get a T-Shirt!
Have you used a product that changed your IT experience by saving you time or easing your daily burden? Tell us about the product, and we'll send you a T-shirt if we write about the product in a future Windows IT Pro What's Hot column. Send your product suggestions with information about how the product has helped you to mailto:[email protected].

==== Contact Us ====

About the newsletter -- [email protected] About technical questions -- http://www.windowsitpro.com/forums About product news -- [email protected] About your subscription -- [email protected] About sponsoring UPDATE -- [email protected]