As workforces become increasingly mobile, professionals require the accessibility to view their inboxes regardless of where they are. This is what the Microsoft Exchange Server provides, a chance for people to have their email and business communications roam with them.

Exchange Server 2007 was released on 30 November 2006, to business customers as part of Microsoft's roll-out wave of new products. It included new clustering options from the previous version, 64-bit support for greater scalability, voice mail integration, better search and support for Web services, better filtering options, and a new Outlook Web Access interface.

Network Administrators, Server Exchange Administrators or general IT staff are responsible for operating and maintaining the Microsoft Exchange Server which falls into three areas:

1. Built-in protection from spam, viruses, e-mail spoofing and snooping, system downtime, and compliance risk;
2. Accessibility anywhere for communications such as e-mail, voice mail, and calendars from a variety of clients and devices; and
3. Operational efficiency to help optimise hardworking and networking investments; and improve IT productivity.

It also provides Outlook Web Access (“OWA”) which uses the same interface of Outlook 2007 within the browser it is being accessed through.

Microsoft Exchange Server is the server side of a client server, collaborative application product also developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft server products and is used by enterprises using Microsoft infrastructure solutions.

Exchange's major features consist of electronic mail, calendaring, contacts and tasks; support for mobile and web-based access to information; and support for data storage. Whatever your role is, if you are able to access your emails outside of your office (or even if you are not) it is more than likely that your email system operates as part of an Exchange.

Exchange Server 2007 is an integrated part of the Innovative Communications Alliance products.

Microsoft Online Exchange site gives more information on the current server 2010, whilst the 2007 Exchange site gives further information and the product overview of 2007.

By Kelly Foxhall