
Special Edition Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5


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Leveraging Your Investment in the Exchange Platform
By now, we have discussed all the core functions of Exchange provided in the shipped
version. Although Microsoft has an extensive array of features built into the application,
it cannot deliver all the features that end users need in their environment.
Companies today are looking to derive greater benefit from their investments in
messaging infrastructures. As the global market becomes a reality, organizations
must find ways of reducing or maintaining operational costs and total cost of ownership
(of the IT infrastructure) while improving productivity and customer satisfaction.
One way to accomplish this is to provide business solutions that leverage current
infrastructure investments. Exchange Server is an application that also serves the
role of a platform. That is, Exchange must be leveraged as a platform on top of which
organizations can deploy third-party or in-house applications and services. This
will ensure that organizations obtain a solid return on investment (ROI) on their
investment in Exchange Server.
Third-party developers are essential resources in the deployment of Exchange in
your environment. You saw that Exchange is more than just a messaging system. Exchange
is an application framework. Third-party developers can extend the framework to provide
a wide array of solutions on top of your core Exchange architecture.
Using Workflow Technologies to Extend Exchange
The segment of groupware that automates business processes is called workflow.
Workflow is an enabling technology that lets businesses streamline their processes
for greater efficiencies. The lack of reliable, cost-efficient solutions built on
pervasive infrastructures has stifled adoption of workflow technologies. Workflow
is a sequence of actions or steps used in business processes. Automated workflow
applies technology (in this case, messaging technology) to the workflow process.
Reliable messaging connectivity between all participants and interested parties is
a fundamental prerequisite to a robust and reliable workflow infrastructure.
Workflow is defined differently by different people. For many, the terms groupware
and workflow are interchangeable. The distinction is fuzzy at best. One must
view groupware as an umbrella term that encompasses a broad range of group productivity
applications such as group scheduling, information sharing, bulletin boards, discussion
forums, and so on. Workflow applications are a segment of groupware applications.
Workflow applications can be classified into five segments:
- Ad-hoc Document and message routing such as resume review and voting
- Administrative Forms such as expense reports
- Queue-based applications such as electronic help desks
- Collaborative workflow such as home loan processing
- Production workflow such as insurance claims processing
Messaging serves as an ideal infrastructure for the first four of these segments.
Highly repetitive, high-throughput, production workflow applications can leverage
messaging for backboning and exception processing.
Exchange has the following capabilities, which makes it the ideal infrastructure
to deploy workflow applications:
- Replicated, secure, extensible public folders that can serve as storage for workflow
definitions and instances
- Container intelligence in public folders--Views, Filters, Folder Assistant
- Scaleable, extensible directory to serve as a roles database
- Form and behavior definition tools--EFD, Outlook Forms, VB Script
- Application coding languages--VB, VC
- Application Interface to Exchange services for workflow applications--MAPI
Additionally, workflow is composed of several other key technologies: e-mail,
imaging, document management, and databases. The end result is that workflow should
streamline business processes and reduce system costs by using workflow servers to
perform tasks based on the business model (see Figure 32.1). These applications will
be integrated with the Exchange client and will provide an agent running on the Exchange
Server to process and manage the workflow.
FIG. 32.1 Workflow framework
and technologies.
The following is a list of workflow technology solutions. Each product mentioned
has a description of the components, as well as integration with Exchange. The products
include Exchange client software integration and data routing to external database
sources (see Figure 32.2).
- KeyFile KeyFlow--KeyFlow is among the first products to provide comprehensive
functionality combined with ease of use that is seamlessly integrated with Exchange
Server. The combination of KeyFlow workflow with Exchange Server enables global corporations
to automate business processes, improve the efficiency of their organizations, and
compete more effectively. All of this is provided at a truly affordable cost of ownership--far
more economically than costly transaction-based workflow systems.
- Keyflow for Exchange Server provides a comprehensive suite of features and benefits
for customers. A brief list of these features is given below:
- Tightly integrated with Exchange
- Graphical interface
- Document attachments
- Monitor running workflows
- Production reporting
- Conditional branching and looping
- Time-of-Day alerts
- Launch other workflows
- Exposed APIs
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.keyfile.com
- Action Technologies--Action promotes its Action Workflow System. Together
with Microsoft, it is working on the Microsoft MAPI Workflow Framework. Action is
a leader of the Workflow Coalition. This organization is promoting a common framework
for workflow-enabled application. Action takes full advantage of Exchange's Groupware
and Universal to provide an interface to the workflow of the business.
- Action uses Microsoft's Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) and
the inbox in the Exchange client to start workflows and then receive status reports
via e-mail. The Action Workflow Manager Server triggers the appropriate business
rules with respect to the business model. The Workflow Manager can populate a database
with the information or route a request by way of e-mail to a subsequent recipient.
This takes advantage of the existing network.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.actiontech.com
- FileNet Ensemble--Created by the company that introduced workflow software,
FileNet Ensemble addresses less-structured, ad hoc, and collaborative work. This
client/server product for use on a Microsoft 32-bit client, a Windows NT Server,
and a MAPI- compliant messaging architecture simplifies workflow creation, participation,
and monitoring. You use a built-in process model to visually define the workflow,
and then add details. Well-organized tab folders let you define criteria, such as
the workflow item to route, the routing conditions, the participants, and their response
options.
- Ensemble is fully integrated with Exchange, and this integration enables the
storage of workflow-related messages in the Exchange Inbox and launches workflow-related
tasks from the Inbox. Ensemble includes a workflow integrity checker (to verify the
workflow's proper operation) and provides solid workflow auditing and monitoring
for the cost of the product. Ensemble is a great tool for building workflow front
ends. For example, you can link accounting applications to workflow-driven processes,
such as requisitioning, travel and expense recording, time and billing, or budgeting.
If developers need to develop more complex workflow solutions than Ensemble offers,
they can add custom "agents" at any stage of the workflow.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.filenet.com
FIG. 32.2 Workflow business
process.
Document Imaging and Management with Exchange
An important component for the development of workflow and collaborative systems
and solutions is the capability to capture and manage the documents associated with
a business process.
Document imaging is the capability to take an object, scan it, and store the image
for later use on the computer system.
Document management is the capability to manage existing data or a newly created
document in a variety of formats, including scanned images, audio and video files,
word processing documents, spreadsheets, and so on. After the system has stored the
object, the object is cataloged and managed for later use. This includes user-defined
fields, object-file type conversions, version control, object indexing, and security
permissions.
Both of these technologies are complementary and separate. Document imaging involves
capturing the object from an external source: paper, fax, and so on. The image must
be processed and stored. You then would store the image into a document management
system, which could contain many different types of data objects (see Figure 32.3).
FIG. 32.3 Document imaging
and document management with Exchange.
The following sections describe several document imaging and document management
technology solutions. Each product mentioned has a description of the components
as well as integration with Exchange. The products include Exchange client software
integration and server connections to external image repositories.
- FileNet's Watermark Enterprise Edition--This is an NT-based imaging solution
that tightly integrates with the Exchange client interface. Enterprise Edition image
enables Exchange and other groupware applications. You can insert scanned documents,
fax images, or even folders combining these images with other electronic document
types to create custom solutions.
- Watermark Enterprise Edition can distribute scanned documents or faxes throughout
the organization. This capability leverages the Exchange e-mail topology. Watermark
provides the capability to e-mail a pointer into the storage system, to limit the
amount of data transferred across the network, and to avoid duplicate copies.
- For more information:
http://www.filenet.com/watermark
- FrontOffice-- FrontOffice for Exchange is one of the first NT/Exchange-based
products in the emerging groupware-based document management arena. Groupware-based
DM systems can leverage groupware features like e-mail, routing, discussion databases,
scheduling, electronic forms builders, and workflow. They can also integrate with
other custom applications built on the groupware platform. As groupware systems add
new features such as Windows NT and Internet integration, groupware-based DM systems
can leverage them. FrontOffice for Exchange is a powerful tool for organizing, managing,
and securing corporate documents across the entire enterprise and publishing to public
folders, intranets, and the Internet. It can scale to support small workgroups or
thousands of users. Exchange can also scale horizontally by implementing services
on multiple servers or vertically by taking advantage of high-end features, such
as SMP processors, to support huge numbers of users or volumes of documents. It utilizes
a powerful three-tier architecture that streamlines processing between the client
and the server.
- FrontOffice for Exchange includes component technology such as ActiveX Controls,
OLE Automation servers, and DCOM Network Communications. It integrates with your
entire Microsoft BackOffice solution, builds upon the investments you have already
made in that technology, and provides a complete set of administrative tools from
within Microsoft BackOffice and Windows NT. Its native design enables FrontOffice
for Exchange to automatically take advantage of extended functionality developed
for Windows NT and Exchange.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.FrontOfficeTech.com
- PC Docs--PC Docs provides a set of electronic tools for publishing documents
and accessing the information through the Inbox in the Exchange client. An add-on
product to DOCS Open, DOCS Interchange for Exchange, enables you to publish documents
and document profiles stored in a DOCS Open library to existing public folders in
Exchange. The DOCS Interchange Agent (a component of Interchange for Exchange) is
responsible for distributing documents to Exchange folders and updating previously
published documents as changes occur.
- DOCS Interchange for Exchange enhances collaboration among coworkers by enabling
users to add discussion threads to published documents. Document authors can monitor
these discussions in Exchange and, from an Exchange folder, access the associated
documents in DOCS Open. As documents are revised, DOCS Interchange for Exchange automatically
republishes the updated version to the Exchange folder.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.pcdocs.com
Information Sharing
Information sharing is the capability to have group discussion forums with threaded
conversations about a document, topic, or project. This capability is similar to
an Internet News Group. Information sharing is one of the technologies that facilitates
the implementation of groupware throughout organizations. The term groupware can
encompass many technologies and human interaction paradigms. The information-sharing
paradigm is defined as human interaction from one to many. In this way, a user can
write to one place, and then many people can access and comment on the information.
Exchange Server features permit organizations to easily implement groupware solutions
(see Figure 32.4).
FIG. 32.4 Groupware: one-to-many
communication.
- Mesa--Mesa has a product named Conference Plus. This application is an
add-on to the Exchange client. Another folder appears in the Universal inbox in the
Exchange client, representing the Conference Plus information store. After you click
to open this folder, you can access the information with the threaded conversations.
- Mesa writes its information to the MAPI v1.0 Exchange data structure. Mesa was
one of the first third-party developers that worked on Exchange solutions by using
MAPI as the enabling interface. Mesa's MAPI Message store runs as another Exchange
service, taking full advantage of the rich administration and replication tools.
- From the client, Mesa enables direct access to Conference Plus folders by way
of the Exchange inbox as a root-level folder. Mesa then provides an Exchange Interchange
that provides two-way replication between Conference Plus folders and Exchange Mesa
message stores to address existing users of Mesa. Finally, a migration utility is
included to assist with converting folders from Conference Plus to the Exchange MAPI
message store architecture.
- Mesa is currently working on an Exchange Interchange for Internet News Groups,
Lotus Notes, and other interchanges as needed in the marketplace.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.mesa.com
- Verity--topicTEAM for Exchange is an Exchange groupware application that
enables distributed workgroups to track and share information--no matter where they
are located or when they participate. A team moderator defines the group's goals
and objectives, and creates the environment for the electronic conference. Team members
can quickly and easily view and contribute to the discussion, promoting strong interaction
and involvement from the entire group.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.verity.com
Understanding Information Providers
Information providers leverage the content-driven focus of Exchange Server. Exchange
can be leveraged as the foundation of an information retrieval and distribution system
within organizations. This technology demonstrates the power of this client-server
application framework.
Several companies provide intelligent agents running on the Exchange Server or
client to retrieve information on a given subject (see Figure 32.5). This technology
can parallel what is known as a "web crawler" on the Internet. These agents
are given a specific topic and poll their respective information feeds.
This function is configured in a manner similar to other server-based rules on
Exchange. The end user accesses the rules policy from the client workstation with
the Exchange client and tells the agent what information to gather. At this point,
the agent on the server (or client) executes the request and is not dependent on
the client being connected. The agent returns the information and resources to the
user.
- Lexis/Nexis--Lexis/Nexis is a leading provider of enhanced information
services and management tools. The company's mission is to help legal, business,
and government professionals collect, manage, and use information more productively.
Lexis/Nexis is an information-service bureau with access to thousands of new sources
of information daily for a broad range of topics.
- The user agent is configured to connect with Lexis/Nexis, execute the query,
and return the "hit list" to the user. The user then can download the information
that is needed. One of their products that integrates with Exchange is Tracker. Tracker
searches across an index of 2,400 newspapers, with over 100,000 new articles each
day. Users can customize Tracker as needed to obtain specific information. Tracker
gives professionals a competitive edge by providing a daily source of targeted, up-to-date
information for decision making.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.lexis-nexis.com
FIG. 32.5 Information providers
for Exchange Server.
Communications Gateways and Connectors for Exchange
Connectors and gateways provide ways to integrate Exchange with legacy systems
or to provide new functionality. These products provide wireless access to Exchange
mail servers, connectivity to third-party messaging systems, integration with telephony
functionality, faxing services, and paging services.
Communication Support for Exchange
Communications gateways and service providers for Exchange provide a mechanism
for accessing the Exchange message stores by way of wireless networking protocols
from a client PC or the technology to enable standards-based transmission of Exchange
messages over X.400 and X.500 (see Figure 32.6).
FIG. 32.6 Wireless Networking
Services for Exchange Server.
The process follows this scenario: A request is made from the mobile user on its
PC with the Exchange inbox. The request is encapsulated in a message and transferred
by way of the wireless network to a server-based agent. The agent then de-encapsulates
the messages and performs the action dictated in the message. At this point, it communicates
with the Exchange Server to send or retrieve mail, change a server-based rule, or
perform another Exchange task.
The key standards for wireless technology are ARDIS, CDPD, GSM, and Inmarsat.
The following list breaks down the technologies and service providers for wireless
communication.
- Inmarsat--This is a standard satellite network provider with worldwide
capability. Inmarsat is perhaps the largest provider worldwide, serving 50,000 users
on land, on sea, and in the air. It provides both narrow-band and ISDN connections,
and has worked closely with other wireless providers--AT&T, Vodafone, and Ardis--to
create a set of standards for wireless networking. The goal was to split client and
server functions from the network-layer transports.
- Inmarsat developed a solution to give the user a common interface to messaging
(see Figure 32.7). It extends the MAPI interface with a wireless interface to provide
ease of future development efforts over wireless networking. The technology is known
as Inmarsat Wireless Messaging. The technology is composed of enhancements to the
client, a middle-layer agent, and a server component. The technology integrates with
other wireless networking standards--ARDIS, CDPD, and GSM.
FIG. 32.7 Wireless networking
technology by Inmarsat.
http://www.attws.com/nohost/data
- Sprint--Sprint provides Sprint Message Xchange (SMX) service for Exchange.
SMX currently is used to link together various mail systems over Sprint's private
network services. SMX now links Exchange LAN sites with other MS Mail, Lotus, and
Exchange LAN sites. This method is effective to link LANs by outsourcing some of
the messaging backbone to Sprint.
- Sprint's network extends to over 140 countries, which is a tremendous benefit
if a company has both U.S. and European offices and wants to link together its Exchange
LANs. Sprint acts as the messaging switch to support the connection, which is a huge
cost savings to the companies because they can connect to Sprint in native Exchange
formats without maintaining extra X.400 gateways. Sprint provides addressing templates
for recipients on X.400, the Internet, fax, and telex.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.sprint.com
Besides Sprint, several other value-added networking providers are working on
supporting Exchange backbones. Services will provide companies with links from Exchange
into legacy systems, Profs, All-in-One, and Officevision; into other LAN mail systems
such as Lotus and cc:Mail; and into other forms of messaging--EDI, fax, telex, CompuServe,
X.400, and the Internet. A good way to think about these public and private networks
is as a way to out-source gateways and address/message conversion processes. By supporting
native Exchange formats, the providers can allow easy integration from the corporate
LANs into trading and business partners.
Gateway Support for Exchange
Gateways and connectors are used to extend Exchange into existing LAN-based mail
systems or legacy host systems (see Figure 32.8). They also can provide new types
of functionality, such as faxing and paging, to enhance messaging within the organization.
With Exchange you can implement Exchange-specific connectors as well as leverage
existing MS Mail gateways.
FIG. 32.8 The MS Mail gateways
for Exchange Server.
The following is a list of gateways and connectors that can be used with Exchange:
- Attachmate--Attachmate is providing Profs and SNADS gateways for Exchange.
These tools are used to extend Exchange into legacy SNA environments to link users
with Profs and Officevision mail systems or use the SNA transport to communicate
with other servers.
- The gateways are known as Zip! Office gateways for Exchange. These gateways enable
users on VM/CMS host systems to share messages with Exchange clients (see Figure
32.10). The gateway routes messages and status reports between Exchange and the host
systems. Host users can use Profs, CMS Notes, or CMS Reader to read and create messages.
This gateway also is used for processing SENDFILE or PUCH requests from VM to the
LAN.
- Exchange manages the in- and out-bound messages for the Zip gateway. Exchange
stores the out-bound messages in its MTS Out folder. The Zip gateway polls this folder
and, when it finds a message, processes the message. After the gateway has the message,
it translates the message and attachment to be forwarded to the host system.
FIG. 32.9 ZIP! Office gateways
for Exchange Server.
NOTE: Due to message formats on the host systems, only one attachment
can be sent in the body of a message. If multiple attachments must be sent to a host
recipient, multiple messages must be used.
http://www.fenestrae.com
- RightFax--RightFax has a fax gateway solution for Exchange. This gateway
runs as a Windows NT service for integration with the Windows NT directory services
and Exchange. The fax gateway consists of a client and server set of components.
- From the client, a user can create an e-mail message. When defining the recipients,
the user can specify users to receive the same mail message by way of fax. (The mail
message doesn't need to be configured in any different manner.) When the message
is received by the Exchange Server and the recipient list is parsed, the server recognizes
the fax recipient and routes the message through the fax gateway.
- On incoming faxes, RightFax supports DID lines for individual caller fax identifiers,
which requires additional hardware to support phone-line trucks or direct connections
to the phone systems coming in via T1 connections. One fax server can service over
700 DID lines. For a large organization, this capability enables every individual
to have a direct fax line. When the fax server actually receives the incoming fax,
it resolves the destination user recipient on the Exchange mail system by the DID
identifier. The user receives faxes just as he or she does an e-mail message or other
inbox applications.
- The RightFax client becomes integrated with the Exchange inbox on the desktop.
This client has numerous advanced features, including support for DTMF, OCR, Imaging
letterhead, signatures, voice prompting, group send options, delayed transmissions,
and support for complex graphics. Additionally, you can send document attachments
by way of fax without doing the conversion on the client PC. The conversion is handled
by the server gateway.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.rightfax.com
- Ikon Office Solutions--The Ikon Wireless Messaging Server (WMS) makes
sending a page as easy as sending an e-mail message. Using the Wireless Messaging
Server and Exchange, you can automatically send wireless messages and pages to any
digital or alpha-numeric pager from the convenience of your desktop. You can even
send wireless messages to PDAs or laptops with onboard paging cards or wireless modems.
- One of the most powerful features uses Exchange's "Inbox" and "Out
of Office" assistants to automatically forward messages from a workstation to
an alphanumeric pager or a laptop with an onboard paging card or wireless modem.
You can even create rules to forward e-mail messages that meet your specified criteria.
- Another powerful feature is the ability to send a wireless message via the Internet.
When the Wireless Messaging Server is installed in conjunction with the Exchange
Internet Connector, both the wireless and Internet addresses are created at the same
time. This enables users to send a wireless message from anywhere in the world.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.ikon.net/wms
- Octel--Octel developed a framework for voice messaging on top of the Exchange
platform. The Unified Messaging Strategy consists of using the e-mail backbone for
Exchange to connect to PBX phone switches and route voice mail directly to the desktop
in the Exchange client inbox (see Figure 32.10).
- Octel positions the phone systems as an extension to the messaging architecture
of an organization. From within the inbox you may receive e-mail, faxes, documents,
and now voice mail. Voice mail also can be accessed 24 hours a day by touch-tone
phone. Voice mail has many of the same communication properties that e-mail uses.
Voice-mail messages are stored and forwarded between users as needed. The messages
also are routed by content or request.
FIG. 32.10 Sample office
configuration--Octel Voice-Mail gateway for Exchange Server.
- The Octel server provides in- and out-bound voice functionality. It acts as a
voice-mail gateway to external systems. The user can create a voice-mail message
from the desktop and have Octel route the message to the destination to be played
back for the user. This Octel system can take advantage of multimedia PCs but doesn't
require them. If a user has sound capabilities on the PC, the voice-mail message
can be played back from the PC. If the user doesn't have sound capabilities, when
he or she opens the e-mail note that contains the Octel message, Octel dials the
user's phone number from the PBX and plays the message back over the phone.
- The key to this strategy is that Exchange and Windows NT will handle all the
directory services for the enterprise. The Exchange account that originates from
the Windows NT Domain account also will be used for the voice-mail system. A component
of the user account includes the voice-mail system information. However, all the
voice-mail data is stored inside the Exchange message in a compressed format. Octel
also plans to include faxing as a functionality of this Unified Messaging Strategy.
- The Octel server supports voice, fax, text-to-speech, and voice recognition.
This includes support for DTMF, DID lines, PBX connectivity, and open computer-industry
standards for customization. The server is based on Windows NT and takes full advantage
of the user accounts, Windows NT registry, Event Log, performance monitor, and all
other Windows NT management utilities. Octel provides additional management capabilities
for the Octel server by way of Exchange's Administration utility and a separate administration
application.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.octel.com
This section described many of the gateways, connectors, and communication protocols
supported by third parties for the Exchange client and server.
Content Indexing, Searching, and Retrieval
The Fulcrum Knowledge Network is a high-performance text-indexing and retrieval
engine offering rapid access to vast amounts of corporate information stored in documents
or databases. Fulcrum Knowledge Network provides users with a suite of advanced information
retrieval features for searching and retrieving the information they need to build
knowledge. Some key features include search-term highlighting and navigation to pinpoint
information within documents, statistical relevance ranking, natural language searching,
and support for major European and Asian languages.
The Fulcrum Knowledge Network can dramatically improve the way your organization
manages its information resources. The Fulcrum Knowledge Network enables users to
conduct single, unified searches across various information sources, including Exchange
Server, web sites, and more.
Visit this site for more information:
http://www.fulcrum.com
Virus Protection Products
With the rapid pace at which new computer viruses are being created and spread,
organizations must implement virus detection and cleaning tools. Virus infections,
especially macro viruses, are particularly hard to eradicate because viruses can
hide in old message attachments and public folders. The following section presents
a subset of third-party products that provide this functionality for Exchange Server.
Various ISV Solutions
Several companies have developed third-party enhancements to Exchange. These enhancements
include electronic forms, Visual Basic reporting, directory service providers, security,
and more. The following products continue to describe additional ways to leverage
an investment in Exchange.
- Delrina--Delrina offers its FormFlow electronic forms designer package
for use with Exchange. The package offers forms and data routing, using the Exchange
topology. This forms package offers database connectivity, multi-platform support,
printing, and scalable architecture.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.delrina.com
- Crystal Reports--Seagate's 101 Crystal Reports for BackOffice CD provides
you with the information you need to create a cost-effective and efficiently managed
Microsoft BackOffice solution. It turns the vast amount of data stored within the
BackOffice environment into useful decision-making information.
- Seagate Software products provide the only way to report on information stored
in Windows NT® Event Logs and Exchange Administrator Objects. Seagate
Crystal Reports Professional and Seagate's 101 Crystal Reports for the BackOffice
CD provide presentation quality reporting, including integrated graphing and distribution
of reports via e-mail. With Seagate Crystal information you can add scheduling and
automatic information sharing to your BackOffice reporting solution, including publishing
of information to an Exchange Public Folder.
- It includes over 101 reports with data access DLLs for the Windows NT Event Logs,
Exchange Public Folders, and Exchange Administrator Objects. Each report is ready-to-run.
Simply click on the refresh button in Seagate Crystal Reports Professional or Seagate
Crystal Info to refresh the report with your own data. You can customize the reports
on the CD to add fields, graphs, and drilldown options.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.img.seagatesoftware.com/crystalreports/
- Nortel Entrust--Northern Telecom's Entrust security technology provides
the software-based encryption and digital signatures services. Security is important
because it provides a wrapper around confidential or sensitive data. The content
of the message is guaranteed by a digital signature. The digital signature ensures
the identity of the sender.
- With Entrust's security in Exchange, Exchange can be used for electronic commerce,
electronic transfer of funds, or database transactions. Nortel provides a solution
for large-scale management of cryptographic keys. The automated key management is
invisible to the end user, yet provides privacy into a distributed computing environment.
- Entrust provides support for RSA, DSA, DES, and CAST security algorithms.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.entrust.com
- Casahl Technology Inc.--Replic-Action for Exchange 5.0. Replic-Action
is a client/server-based data replication and migration tool that accesses, transforms,
and synchronizes data between Exchange and back-end relational databases, legacy
systems, and Lotus Notes. Replic-Action for Exchange is targeted at corporations
that want to integrate or migrate their groupware tools and workflow processes into
their existing IT environment to capitalize on and maximize the use of their existing
data. Replic-Action for Exchange provides users with access to corporate data, even
triggering workflow processes based on changes in corporate data, all within a single
user interface--Exchange.
- Casahl's Replic-Action for Exchange 5.0 includes three major components: Composer,
Server, and Server Manager. Composer is a GUI tool from which users can easily and
visually create Replic-Action applications by simply following a user-friendly wizard--without
programming. The Replic-Action Server runs as an operating system process to serve
the Composer applications. Replic-Action Server Manager is an administrator application
that enables users to monitor and configure multiple Replic-Action Servers.
- Visit this site for more information:
http://www.casahl.com
We mentioned several third-party solutions for Exchange, But this list is by no
means complete. Please contact Microsoft for continued updates to the list of ISV's
developing third-party applications for Exchange at the following web page:
http://www.microsoft.com/exchange
For additional information on third-party products that leverage the Exchange
infrastructure, visit the following web page:
http://www.amrein.com/eworld.htm
Consulting Solutions
Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) is committed to assisting large customers
to effectively design, deploy, and maintain all types of Exchange organizations.
MCS also partners with Software Spectrum to conduct an Exchange Planning Workshop
(EPW). More information on the EPW is presented in the following list.
In addition to Exchange consulting, MCS also offers:
- Architecture and Design--MCS provides solid architecture and design consulting
using the Microsoft BackOffice family for your distributed computing environment.
- Line-of-Business Application Design--Drawing upon its own expertise as
the world's leading software developer, MCS has designed, as well as managed, the
development of mission-critical client/server applications for several large companies.
Using the Microsoft Solutions Framework (a proven methodology), all knowledge is
transferred to fully empower your company.
- Project Management--MCS can also serve in a project management role. Here,
MCS guides your team through the enterprise-wide projects providing quality control,
team management, and knowledge transfer to all involved.
- Enterprise Program Manager (EPM)--The EPM program is designed for organizations
that see value in a close, long-term relationship with MCS. A senior-level consultant
would work on-site for typically a one-year commitment. This close relationship enables
the consultant to fully understand your business and leverage MCS's expertise and
resources to successfully design and deploy Microsoft technologies within your company.
For more information on Microsoft Consulting Services, visit this site:
http://microsoft.com
Software Spectrum-TSG has extensive experience in the implementation of messaging,
collaborative, and workflow systems. We have performed these kinds of services for
our Fortune 1000 customers throughout the world. By implementing our proven methodology,
we ensure the successful completion of projects in a timely and cost-effective manner.
The areas where we can assist our customers in regards to messaging and collaborative
solutions include the following:
- Developing an enterprise-wide messaging architecture.
- Providing project management services.
- Implementing and deploying the messaging infrastructure and clients.
- Assisting the IT operations group in defining and documenting standard operational
processes, such as:
- Helping in the definition of staffing requirements.
- Developing training programs for the administrative staff.
- Developing, documenting, and implementing Exchange system monitoring, administrative,
and maintenance procedures, disaster recovery procedures, and public folder policies
and procedures.
- Developing an Exchange Public Folder hierarchy to serve as a core component of
information sharing and knowledge management systems within organizations.
- Performing business process re-engineering consulting services to automate existing
processes through the use of Outlook forms and public folders. This can include the
implementation of workflow through the use of products such as KeyFile's KeyFlow
for Exchange.
- Providing Outlook forms development services.
- Implementing third-party solutions that integrate with Exchange Server to provide
faxing services, document management services, and integration with telephony systems
such as Octel's Unified Messenger.
Software Spectrum also offers consulting worldwide in the following focus technologies:
networking, application development, Internet/Intranet Services, enterprise management
(Microsoft's Systems Management Server), and of course, enterprise messaging.
For more information on the Exchange Planning Workshop, contact this site:
http://www.softwarespectrum.com
Phone: (800) 624-2033
For more information on consulting, contact the following site:
http://www.softwarespectrum.com
Phone: (800) 753-3266

