Windows Small Business Server

Ten compelling reasons why you should switch to
Windows Small Business Server 2008

Everything’s under one roof

Windows Small Business Server 2008 brings together all the Microsoft software that businesses use regularly and need most, into a single solution. With these technologies integrated into one product, it’s easy to install and manage.

A cost saving of up to 40%

By buying a package, you save - typically 40% for a 10 person business, against buying individual software licences.

Email without limits

We’re all using email more for not just communication, but transactions too - with that comes the need to keep greater records. SBS 2008 gives you virtually unlimited email storage space; the previous 75GB limit on the Exchange Server database has been raised to 16TB in SBS2008.

Flexible room to grow

With SBS 2008 it’s easy for you to grow - simply add users, servers and applications (up to 75 users with SBS 2008, 300 users if you upgrade to EBS 2008). Small Business Server supports important business-critical applications, and will integrate with your existing Microsoft products.

Perfect for mobile working

Today more than ever, your team needs to access their files when out of the office, at home or on the road. SBS 2008 provides secure access to business contacts, calendars, email, files, your desktop and even shared network resources from just about anywhere, at any time.

Easy updates keep your system healthy

SBS 2008 provides you with the latest updates to minimise downtime and help ensure network health by keeping your PCs and servers current. Easy to read reports give you a quick view of software updates, PC and server status and additional network information.

Back-ups prevent vital data loss

Small Business Server 2008 helps protect your vital business information from loss by backing up the data on your network and enabling you to recover deleted files.

Smarter and faster

SBS 2008 automates daily tasks and provides a central location for storing and sharing information. As a result, your business processes are streamlined, and day to day efficiency is improved.

Automatic fault reporting

Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 tells us about problems, before you’ve even noticed them. Reports and alerts are emailed in the event of a network issue, and also provide useful administrative information

Less administration

SBS 2008 requires only a single Client Access License (CAL) for all the SBS 2008 integrated products, simplifying administration and purchasing.

Microsoft Small Business 2008 Standard Edition includes:

• Microsoft Windows 2008 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services
• Microsoft Windows Server Update Services

Microsoft Small Business 2008 Premium Edition includes:
(requires additional hardware)

• Microsoft Windows 2008 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services
• Microsoft Windows Server Update Services

Newsletter March 2009

Latest News

Dear Customer,

With businesses across all sectors tightening their belts, we at Boffins are doing our bit to help deliver better value for customers.

For the first half of 2009 we have frozen our charges for contract customers. Clients who renew an existing support contract or sign up before June 30th will enjoy 2008 prices. We know that many sectors are facing tougher times, but also that efficient IT systems are at the heart of businesses that survive and thrive in a downturn.

Our special offers covering Avaya phone system upgrades, and the new Microsoft Business Server software, underline our commitment to helping our customers keep at the forefront of efficient business technology, so do contact us to discuss how these initiatives might help you improve your operations, without breaking the bank.

Rest assured, we’ll be doing all we can to help keep our customers operating in a lean, efficient way to ride out this tough year. If you’re facing a business problem that demands a fresh IT solution, give us a call.

Jim White
Boffins Computer Workshops

Boffins Thames Valley launches

Boffins Computer Workshops has opened a new office in Knowl Hill, Berkshire, between Maidenhead and Reading, ideally located to serve customers from West London to Newbury.

“We deliver a highly personal service,” says managing director Jim White, “and that includes regular visits to clients, to ensure we understand their businesses and can provide more fundamental support. With the new Knowl Hill base, we are never far away from our clients in the Thames Valley”.

The move is an expansion that will build on existing operations at the Haddenham head office, from where clients in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire will continue to receive the Boffins brand of highly personalised business advice on all matters to do with IT and telecommunications.

Remote support will continue to be available from the team, delivered equally efficiently from either Knowl Hill or Haddenham.

The Thames Valley office can be contacted on 01628 825015, and for those nearer to our Haddenham office, the contact number is unchanged at 01844 291110.

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Special offers on phone system upgrades

In conjunction with world leading Avaya, we are making extra discounts available for companies looking to upgrade their systems in the first half of 2009, with two special offers.

For companies currently using a Nortel phone system, in particular the Norstar, BCM and Meridian systems, there are discounts available for upgrading to an Avaya IP Office system instead. The upgrade will ensure users have access to the latest phone technology at a keen price, with the new Avaya system making it easier to serve customers better, and promising improved productivity from staff while lowering running costs.

For existing Avaya INDeX system users, there’s the opportunity to migrate to the latest version of IP Office 500, at a discounted price. The upgrade provides the latest enhancements in IP telephone technology, enabling users to enjoy a more contemporary phone solution.

Boffins is an authorised partner of Avaya - please call for further details of these offers.

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Improve efficiency with a server upgrade

Now is a great time to consider sharpening up your IT infrastructure - to ensure you are operating at maximum efficiency, and are ready for future growth.

The Boffins team has recently undergone full training and is now qualified to install, configure and manage the latest release of Microsoft’s server solutions - Small Business Server 2008, and for larger companies, Essential Business Server 2008.

And, if your PCs are looking a little creaky, we are also currently offering a range of great deals on new servers and IT hardware manufactured by Hewlett Packard. Please contact us directly for more information on the equipment from HP, a highly regarded manufacturer of PC hardware.

For those new to servers, they act as a central repository for all your organisation’s files, enabling sharing and efficient data storage and better management of email and security. Staff can access information from home or out on the road, data can be more efficiently backed up and stored. And, of course, the Boffins team can have remote access to fix any issues quickly, should they arise.

For those with servers currently, this latest release is a timely upgrade from earlier Business Server applications. Among the significant enhancements is a substantial improvement in email database capacity, acknowledging the essential role of email in most company communication today. And the package includes the latest versions of key software such as Sharepoint and Forefront Security.

As a Microsoft certified partner, you can be assured that Boffins will provide you with a highly professional level of support across the Business Server range. Call us now, to discuss how an upgrade would improve the speed, efficiency, protection and security of your business.

Boffins in the Thames Valley

PRESS RELEASE:  Boffins Computer Workshops is bucking the trend by opening a new office to help businesses in the Thames Valley keep their IT working at maximum efficiency. The new Boffins workshop is based in Knowl Hill, between Maidenhead and Reading, ideally located to serve customers from west London to Newbury.The company, which already looks after more than 150 clients across the south east, delivers on-site and remote support to businesses of all sizes, ensuring their computer and phone systems work efficiently. Boffins specialises in speaking plain English, embracing change and delivering on every promise.

Boffins looks after office computers and phone systems, installing and maintaining all manner of corporate systems, computers, servers and cabling, from a one man band to major local companies with several branch offices. Boffins supplies hardware and software, and is a Microsoft certified partner.

“For Boffins, now is an ideal time to expand,” says Jim White, the company’s managing director. “Companies know that efficient computer systems are vital if they are going to compete in hard times - and they need to rely on prompt support if anything goes wrong.

We deliver a highly personal service, and regular visits ensure we understand our clients’ businesses, and can help them more fundamentally. While we also provide remote assistance where appropriate, the Knowl Hill workshop will mean we are never far away.”

“We are also seeing an increasing number of inquiries from companies looking to outsource their IT support, as they focus on driving down fixed overheads. Our contract tariffs give companies certainty over their outgoings, while guaranteeing an absolute minimum of disruption due to IT glitches.”

The Boffins team, established in 1995, includes IT engineers with more than 100 years of IT experience between them. Knowl Hill will be Boffins’ second location, and build on the company’s services offered from its base in Haddenham, near Thame.

Says Jim: “Boffins has grown by delivering great service to our loyal customer base in Buckinghamshire, and the Boffins are now looking forward to making a similar impact in the Thames Valley.”

Concept Smoke Systems

CASE STUDY: Maidenhead-based Concept Smoke Systems designs and manufactures non-toxic smoke generating equipment for military, security and industrial use.    

 

Cohesive approach

On a recommendation, Concept Smoke Systems asked Boffins to review its IT infrastructure with the aim of improving the overall performance and reliability. Trevor Dunnington, Concept’s Technical Director comments “Prior to working with Boffins, we had an ad-hoc local network in place that we found somewhat slow and unreliable, with the additional issue that if one of our PCs went down, we lost accessibility and valuable information for hours at a time”.

Comprehensive review

As requested, Boffins carried out an on-site review of Concept’s existing systems, completely reviewing their IT needs against the capacity of their existing system, and evaluating what the best solution would be for the company going forward.

Supplying the goods

Having discussed the findings of its review with Concept and agreed an installation plan, Boffins went on to order all the necessary hardware, networking and application software needed to bring the company’s systems totally up-to-date. Engineers from Boffins then implemented the new server and installed new software, ensuring that everything was working satisfactorily before leaving site.

No emergency required

After the initial installation, what has really impressed Concept Smoke Systems about Boffins is its ongoing consistently high levels of support. “Their support is excellent and I would highly recommend them to anyone,” says Trevor. “They are exceptionally good in an emergency. The response times for telephone support are always excellent and the dial in facility for remote support is very efficient. The opening of the Thames Valley office has been particularly advantageous for us as it means that if we urgently need an engineer on site, they can be with us in a very short space of time. Even if it isn’t an urgent issue, Boffins are happy to send an engineer out to us to help with technical issues”.

The personal touch

“It’s great that we generally deal with the same person - it avoids that whole learning curve scenario. However, even if our usual contact is away, we find that other representatives have a good level of knowledge surrounding our set-up”.

Seamless transitions

And as Concept Smoke Systems’ IT requirements move with the times, Boffins is always there to ensure a seamless transition. “Obviously, we have to upgrade our systems and stay on top of technological developments,” says Trevor. “We would always look to Boffins to install and integrate the most appropriate software and upgrades, and they have really helped us out with things like firewalls etc.”

Final verdict

“We completely trust Boffins to look after our best interests,” concludes Trevor. “They make it their business to ensure that the necessary systems are in place and that performance on those systems is optimised. “I would be happy to recommend the team at Boffins to other users”.