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Choosing the Right Microsoft Server Product

By Stephanie Robinson

Many businesses use Microsoft server products to manage their network, their data, and their e-mail communications. However, businesses often select a Microsoft server product without weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the products' Standard and Enterprise versions. Carefully examining the functionality and licensing schemes of each product can help prevent unnecessary expenditures on software. Standard products are generally less expensive and less robust than their Enterprise counterparts. This does not mean that Standard products are the wrong choice for a business. Standard products are often powerful enough for a business' needs. A business that is better matched to a Standard product may experience more difficulty managing the numerous features and settings of an Enterprise product, which may require significantly more effort and expertise to properly implement. A business that owns a properly licensed copy of a Standard product can not operate an Enterprise version without purchasing and owning an Enterprise license. Obtaining an Enterprise product by alternative means and installing it in place of a Standard product may lead to compliance issues in the case of an audit. Management may be unaware of the technology solutions deployed in its environment, and to its surprise, discover too late that the business is out of compliance and under investigation by one of the several auditing entities that represent Microsoft. An improperly licensed Enterprise product may lead to exponentially higher licensing costs than a Standard product. Enterprise products are typically used in complex environments such as universities, hospitals, and data centers serving users numbered in the hundreds or thousands. Consulting the features and licensing rules for individual products could result in a more cost-effective purchase for your business.

Full post as published by Business and Technology Law on March 06, 2008 (boomark / email).