ECP624: E-Communication Exchange Server Solution for ABC Star

This report details the implementation of a Microsoft Exchange Server for ABC Star, an organization facing communication challenges across multiple office locations. The report analyzes the Exchange Server's components, including information stores, system attendants, SMTP, and Active Directory, and recommends its use due to its features like simple administration, low-cost mailboxes, advanced access control, hybrid deployment options, and enhanced security measures such as malware and spam protection, encryption, and DLP rules. The proposed solution involves a hosted Exchange Server to reduce costs associated with administration, maintenance, and hardware. The report also outlines the server architecture, including mailbox and edge transport servers, and the protocols used for mail routing and transmission. The implementation considers budgetary constraints and scalability, offering a secure and efficient e-communication system.

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E-Communication
Exchange Server
8/2/2019

E-Communication: Exchange Server
Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Task 1.1: Messaging System for E-communication...............................................................................2
Task 1.2: Features: Off-the-Shelf System..............................................................................................2
Task 1.4: Software & Hardware Requirements.....................................................................................3
Task 1.5: Sizing of the CPU, RAM, and Storage with Estimated Cost..................................................4
Task 2.1: Proposed Solution..................................................................................................................4
Task 2.2.................................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................5
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E-Communication: Exchange Server
Introduction
ABC Star is an organization that is based out of Auckland and it currently comprises of 100
employees. The offices are located in three different blocks of the building and the
communication with the fellow employees across the three blocks is becoming an issue for
the organization. The organization needs to implement an e-communication system so that
communication and collaboration is effectively carried out.
Task 1.1: Messaging System for E-communication
The e-communication system that is selected and recommended for the organization is the
Exchange Server.
The messaging system in the exchange server will have four major components, such as
information store, system attendant, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), and Active
Directory. The information store will be the mailbox server in which the email messages will
be stored and organized. The management of the email messages will be done by the system
attendant. The balancing will be done from the different sources of these messages. The inter-
server message transmission will be done by SMTP. The new mailbox information will then
be updated by the Active Directory (Rackspace, 2019). The messaging system will allow the
employees of ABC Star to communicate with each other through the e-platform.
Task 1.2: Features: Off-the-Shelf System
Microsoft Exchange Server is the apt off-the-shelf system that can meet the needs and
requirements of the organization. The system comes with a bundle of useful features as listed
below.
 The system offers simple administration which can be carried out on a single web-
based interface.
 Integration with the Exchange Administration Centre for on-premises as well as
offline version.
 Use of PowerShell scripting for ensuring that the overall complexity is reduced and
the flexible command-line tools are utilized.
 Low-cost mailboxes with abundant storage (Office, 2019)
 Advanced access control with distribution of roles
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E-Communication: Exchange Server
 Hybrid deployment with an option to deploy online or on-premises
 24x7 availability of the services with an end-to-end solution
 Compatible with mobile e-mail and Outlook Web App
 Integration with the SharePoint location to sync the information with the aid of site
mailboxes
 Enhanced security with the inclusion of the following:
o Malware and spam protection to prevent the malware attacks
o Encryption of the messages and information to protect the information and
data sets
o Use of Data Loss Prevention (DLP) rules so that all of the sensitive content is
always protected
o In-place archiving to make sure that security compliance is maintained at all
times (Agileit, 2019)
 Use of single interface to search all of the information and mails from different
sources
Task 1.4: Software & Hardware Requirements
With the decision to rent the Exchange Sever, the hosting along with the maintenance of the
hardware will be the responsibility of the vendor. The access the client software, such as
Microsoft Outlook will be essential to utilize the servers. The use of Outlook Web App can
also be done for the browser access.
For setting up the Exchange Server by ABC Star on its own, there will be extensive
administrative work that will be needed. The integration of the Exchange Server with the
operating system, such as Windows Server 2012/R2 will be needed. The setting up of
directory service will also be needed for transmission of directory data with Windows. The
integration with .NET Framework 4.7.2. will be needed in the case of the latest Exchange
Server (Microsoft, 2019).
64-bit processor will be required for the exchange server along with the minimum memory of
8 GB for the mailbox server and 4 GB for the exchange server. The monitors or notebooks
with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixel or higher will be needed. The network peripherals,
such as routers, hubs, and switches are the other hardware equipment that will be needed.
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E-Communication: Exchange Server
Task 1.5: Sizing of the CPU, RAM, and Storage with Estimated Cost
The 64-bit CPU with 4 cores along with a minimum of 8GB RAM for MBX and 4GB for
CAS will be required. In the case of multi-role, 8 GB RAM will be needed. The OS and
application file storage shall be 100 GB. The average hosted exchange server pricing will be
$12 per mailbox (Techsoup, 2019). The license will be active for 365 and will require
renewal after the period.
Task 2.1: Proposed Solution
Considering the budgetary constraints for the ABC Star, the proposed solution is the
implementation of the exchange server. It shall be hosted Microsoft Exchange Server which
will eliminate the costs of administration, maintenance along with the cost of the hardware
required to implement the exchange server.
The hosting of the Exchange Server on the cloud is proposed as it will be much cheaper as
compared to the local deployment. With the on-cloud solution, the cost of security and
infrastructure will also be eliminated (Iperiusbackup, 2019). All of the risks associated with
the e-communication system will also be managed by the vendor so that the organization
does not have to take the responsibility for the maintenance and management. In the case of
ABC Star, there is a possibility that the organization may require expansion in the future. The
expansion will be handled by the service provider and the scalable services will make sure
that there is no impact of the expansion on the existing set of services.
There are various information security and privacy risks that come up with the e-
communication systems. There is considerable share of cost that is spent in the case of
occurrence of such a security risk and attack. However, in the case of the Exchange Server
hosted on the cloud, the security risks and attacks will be managed by the service provider.
The cost of handling and managing the security risks will also be managed by the service
provider in the case of its occurrence (Mitchell, 2019).
All of these features will make sure that the budgetary constraints of the organization are
considered and adhered with.
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E-Communication: Exchange Server
Task 2.2
The exchange server will make use of two servers as mailbox server and edge transport
server. The mailbox server includes transport services for the routing and transmission of the
mails. The external flow will be handled by the edge transport server.
The use of Remote procedure call will be done to receive the outgoing messages from the
local mailbox. The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) will be the primary protocol that
will be involved and it will handle the transmission of the mails. It will then be transported to
the Active Directory. The external flow, as stated earlier, will be handled by the edge
transport server. This will make sure that the mail reaches securely to the correct receiver.
Conclusion
E-communication has become necessary for the organizations in the present time. The
manual modes of communication utilized in ABC Star leads to the wastage of time. Also,
real-time updates are not shared with the employees. The e-communication system that is
proposed for the organization is the Exchange Server. The use of Microsoft Exchange Server
is being done in a large number of organizations. The same will be apt for this case as the e-
communication system will be in accordance with the organization requirements and the
budgetary constraints. The needs and requirements of the organization will be met and the
security needs will also be fulfilled.
References
Agileit. (2019). Exchange Server Features by Version - Agile IT. Retrieved 2 August 2019,
from https://www.agileit.com/business/microsoft-exchange-consulting/exchange-
server-features-by-version/
Iperiusbackup. (2019). Advantages and Features of Exchange Server 2016. Retrieved 2
August 2019, from https://www.iperiusbackup.net/en/advantages-and-features-of-
exchange-server-2016/
Microsoft. (2019). Exchange Server architecture. Retrieved 2 August 2019, from
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/architecture/architecture?
view=exchserver-2019
Mitchell, T. (2019). Under the hood: What’s new in Exchange Server 2019. Retrieved 2
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E-Communication: Exchange Server
August 2019, from http://techgenix.com/exchange-server-2019/
Office. (2019). Microsoft Exchange Server 2019 for Business. Retrieved 2 August 2019,
from https://products.office.com/en/exchange/microsoft-exchange-server
Rackspace. (2019). Microsoft Exchange Server Hosting | Rackspace. Retrieved 2 August
2019, from https://www.rackspace.com/en-in/email-hosting/hosted-exchange
Techsoup. (2019). Guide to Exchange Server Editions and Licensing. Retrieved 2 August
2019, from https://www.techsoup.org/support/articles-and-how-tos/guide-to-
exchange-server-editions-and-licensing
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