Definition
Hosted Exchange is a service provided by third-party companies, where they manage and maintain an organization’s Microsoft Exchange Server. This service allows businesses to access a variety of communication and collaboration tools, such as email, calendaring, contacts, and tasks, without having to invest in and maintain their own infrastructure. By utilizing a hosted Exchange service, organizations can benefit from increased reliability, security, and scalability while reducing IT costs and complexities.
Phonetic
The phonetic pronunciation of “Hosted Exchange” is: /ˈhoÊŠstɪd ɪksˈtʃeɪndÊ’/
Key Takeaways
- Hosted Exchange provides businesses with enterprise-level email and collaboration tools in a reliable and scalable environment.
- Security features such as data encryption and robust spam and virus protection help protect businesses from threats and data loss.
- Hosted Exchange allows for seamless integration with other Microsoft services, like Office365 and Teams, increasing productivity and simplifying workflows.
Importance
Hosted Exchange is an important technology term as it refers to a subscription-based service that provides organizations and businesses with the robust functionality of an Exchange server without the need to invest in, maintain, and update their own on-premise servers.
This service, typically offered by Microsoft or other third-party providers, enables businesses to enhance their communication, collaboration, and productivity through a wide array of features such as email, calendar, contacts, and task management.
By leveraging a hosted Exchange platform, businesses can significantly reduce their IT costs, improve network security, and ensure seamless scalability, all while benefiting from the consistent availability of expert support.
Explanation
Hosted Exchange is a service designed to cater to the communication and collaboration needs of modern businesses. Its primary purpose is to offer organizations a reliable, secure, and efficient platform to manage their emails, calendars, contacts, and various other essential tasks. This is achieved by delivering a cloud-based solution for the seamless integration of all communication channels.
This technology is particularly popular among small and medium-sized businesses because it eliminates the need to invest in expensive hardware and maintenance costs associated with on-premises servers. By outsourcing the management and upkeep of Exchange servers to a reliable hosting provider, it allows the businesses to stay focused on their core competencies, while enjoying the benefits of state-of-the-art infrastructure and support. In addition to offering a cost-effective solution, Hosted Exchange helps improve productivity across teams by facilitating real-time collaboration.
Employees can access their email accounts, schedules, and shared files from multiple devices, no matter where they are. This level of accessibility promotes effective teamwork and a cohesive work environment, which ultimately translates into better performance. Hosted Exchange also emphasizes on security with features like spam filtering, virus protection, and the ability to define user access controls, ensuring that sensitive corporate data remains well-protected.
In conclusion, Hosted Exchange serves as an essential tool for businesses to streamline their communication and collaboration processes, all the while enjoying robust security, scalability, and technological support.
Examples of Hosted Exchange
Microsoft Exchange Online: Microsoft Exchange Online is a popular cloud-based email and calendaring solution provided by Microsoft as a part of their Office 365 suite. It allows organizations to access their email accounts, calendar, contacts, and tasks using any device with an internet connection. Microsoft handles the maintenance and updates of the platform, allowing businesses to reduce their on-premises infrastructure and focus on their core operations.
Rackspace Hosted Exchange: Rackspace is a leading IT services company that offers fully managed hosted Exchange solutions to customers worldwide. Their Hosted Exchange offers a streamlined email experience with secure access to email, calendars, and contacts on various devices, including PC, Mac, iOS, and Android platforms. Rackspace ensures high availability, top-notch security, and ongoing support for their hosted Exchange services.
Intermedia Hosted Exchange: Intermedia is another reputed provider of hosted Exchange services, with a focus on offering reliable email, calendar, and collaboration tools to businesses of all sizes. Intermedia’s Hosted Exchange platform includes advanced features such as email archiving, data backup, and premium anti-spam protection, as well as seamless integration with other productivity apps and tools. This fully managed solution allows businesses to offload the complexities of managing and maintaining an Exchange server in-house.
Hosted Exchange FAQ
What is Hosted Exchange?
Hosted Exchange is a subscription-based service that provides organizations with email, calendar, contacts, and task management functionalities through Microsoft Exchange Server. It’s hosted and maintained by a third-party provider, eliminating the need for businesses to manage and maintain their own on-premises email servers.
What are the benefits of using Hosted Exchange?
Some benefits of using Hosted Exchange include reduced maintenance costs, ease of management, improved reliability, enhanced security, and access to the latest features and updates provided by Microsoft Exchange Server.
How does Hosted Exchange work?
Hosted Exchange works by providing businesses access to a dedicated or shared Microsoft Exchange Server hosted and managed by a third-party provider. The provider takes care of server maintenance, updates, security, and backups, while users can access their email, calendars, and other Exchange features through Microsoft Outlook, web browsers, or mobile devices.
Is Hosted Exchange secure?
Yes, Hosted Exchange is secure as the providers follow industry best practices to ensure the security of data. This includes various measures such as regular server monitoring, network firewalls, encryption of data in transit, and adhering to data protection regulations. However, it’s crucial for businesses to research and choose a reputable provider that demonstrates a strong commitment to security.
How much does Hosted Exchange cost?
The cost of Hosted Exchange varies depending on the provider, plan, and features selected by the organization. Common factors that affect the pricing include the number of users, mailbox size, and additional services such as data archiving or premium support. Most providers offer monthly or annual subscription-based plans with different tiers to choose from.
Related Technology Terms
- Cloud-based Email
- Microsoft Exchange Server
- Hosted Exchange Provider
- Managed Email Services
- Email Collaboration and Synchronization
Sources for More Information
- Microsoft Exchange – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/exchange
- TechRadar – https://www.techradar.com/reviews/managed-exchange
- Intermedia – https://www.intermedia.net/products/exchange-email
- Rackspace – https://www.rackspace.com/email-hosting/hosted-exchange
