supporting hosted Exchange

[Pants]

Does it take much time to learn support for hosted Exchange? Are you for the most part just supporting the end user part of it?...ie Outlook ?

 

[cmonova]

Once you get them setup and sync their current outlook if they have it then the rest is rather easy. You might have to make a new account here or there but that is about it. Also, depending on who you go with you can give them access to do that type of thing on their own.

 

[SAG]

I resell hosted Exchange through Rackspace.

I setup the autodiscover, DNS, accounts, etc.
Then connect their Outlook and/or phones.
And that is pretty much the sum of it.

If the client has a technically inclined person, I set them up with a control panel to add/remove users or change passwords - otherwise I do it for them.

For the most part, once someone is set up on hosted exchange, so long as their outlook doesn't break, it's a hands off situation for the tech. I'm sure others have had some sort of issue here or there, but I have not... yet.

 

[carrcomp]

Once in a while, had issues with syncing folders with Office 365.

Also, now that we're providing GFI Max Mail Archiving and Security, there's a bit more to the setup. That said, once it's setup there's generally not much of an issue.

 

[callthatgirl]

Yes and no. You will need to do the admin work to get the accounts setup, server info, etc. Then back up their inbox, calendar and contacts. Then do the server transition, then setup their outlook and phones, other devices. Then follow up support. I've done many in the past few years and the trick is to have a consistent process for each job (forgetting a step can hurt you in time/learning, etc). I do all of my migrations in one day and it's a done deal. Usually there are minor issues afterwards as everyone uses their Outlook differently. I do not make new profiles. I use their current, which is great for the most part because then I don't have to reset up all their PST files, signatures and auto-fill and the minor settings that can snag you up.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Another option is to partner with Appriver, and have Appriver be the middle man. They support your client (sure you can support if you wish)..but they will too. And they will of course support you. They provision the server for you, they get it all setup for you....you just go in and add the user. But if you need any help, you can turn to them. They charge 2 bucks more/mailbox/month for their part. They bill your client, you get your 'mish through the back.

 

[Pants]

@Callthatgirl Are you talking about migrating from an Exchange server which they use that their place of business?

Do any businesses use hosted Exchange without migrating from regular Exchange?

I don't know Exchange at ALL, so doing a migration would certainly be a hurdle.

 

[Pants]

Another option is to partner with Appriver, and have Appriver be the middle man. They support your client (sure you can support if you wish)..but they will too. And they will of course support you. They provision the server for you, they get it all setup for you....you just go in and add the user. But if you need any help, you can turn to them. They charge 2 bucks more/mailbox/month for their part. They bill your client, you get your 'mish through the back.

Ok so Appriver would could set them up, but how could I get a cut from that? I don't understand. I would think this would be classified as third party vendor support...ie instead of clients dealing directly with vendor, I could do some mediation and bill for the time..

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Appriver provisions your server....you give them the Admin username you'd like to use, they set that up, you log in with it and you setup your users.

You can maintain support for your clients if you want, or you could let your clients go to Appriver...your choice.

They bill client, client pays them...they send you a check for your spiff. Kinda similar to what Microsoft does. Overall about the same amount of money in your pocket.