MS Exchange Online or Google Apps?

[Maverick2002]

I'm going to be setting up emails for a few websites for my company. One of the websites is being ported to a different server and they already use Exchange server, so it may be easier to stick with Outlook/Exchange server. We have our own dedicated box running Windows Server 2008, so I have the following options:

1) Install Exchange Server and appropriate number of CALs. Might cost a pretty penny though and I'd have to manage it.
2) Use MS Exchange online, $4/user/month.
3) Use Google Apps, $5/user/month.

Which do you recommend and why?

 

[blurredvision]

I would recommend MS Exchange online, assuming you're talking about Office 365. You still have full powershell support even though it's hosted remote. Microsoft will take care of the servers and uptime is guaranteed, better than having to deal with your own Exchange install IMO. I support a few clients with Office 365 and support is generally fairly decent. With their recent upgrade to the new web administration page, most tasks can now be done with the GUI, it looks pretty much similar to the new Exchange 2013 admin console.

I do not have any experience with Google Apps but my experience with other Google products are that support is very slow, something that just kills me.

 

[Maverick2002]

Yes, what exactly is Office 365 though, just the online subscription cloud version?

I have used Google Apps before and intend on using it with some of our sites since I've never really required support for it and it's very intuitive.

But for this I'd like to stick to Outlook if possible.

Also, with this online Exchange, can I upload already backed up databases to the cloud and essentially just resume what we had going?

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I'd go with MS. One reason being that according to their rep, the cloud data they store is hosted in the US and Google cannot guarantee that.

 

[blurredvision]

Yes, what exactly is Office 365 though, just the online subscription cloud version?

Yes, essentially your own Exchange but in the cloud. You don't have access to a server per se but it's like having your own Exchange install to do with what you will.

Also, with this online Exchange, can I upload already backed up databases to the cloud and essentially just resume what we had going?

Yes you can. I've not personally done this but I believe Microsoft gives you the tools to make this as easy as possible. We (my company) has migrated a few clients this way. Would be worth the research to see what is involved.

 

[Mushkins]

Yes, essentially your own Exchange but in the cloud. You don't have access to a server per se but it's like having your own Exchange install to do with what you will.



Yes you can. I've not personally done this but I believe Microsoft gives you the tools to make this as easy as possible. We (my company) has migrated a few clients this way. Would be worth the research to see what is involved.

To add to this, i've used hosted exchange services outside of Office 365, and it's a similar service when you're just talking about email. The service provider manages the server end of it and provides tech support. You configure your mail software to connect to their server as per the provided instructions (might need to let some things in/out of your firewall). User moves/adds/changes are typically done by logging into a web gui with an administrator account that's pretty user friendly.

These services do have their issues just like any move from hardware to "the cloud," but the benefits are great for small businesses. Takes a huge load off your disaster recovery and information storage compliance burdens because you're paying them to manage all that for you. A couple bucks a user easily outweighs maintaining an internal exchange server until you start counting users in hundreds as well.

Id move my current domain over to 365 in a heartbeat if Office 2013 worked with any of our internal software yet :/ Save a ton of money on MS Office in the process.