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Selkowitz Technology | Seattle’s small business network and telecom consultant

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I haven’t been very excited about the computing side of technology for quite some time. Microsoft leads the small business server market with Windows SBS, but honestly I think it doesn’t do much and hasn’t advanced much in five years.

First, let me explain why Windows SBS doesn’t deliver much value. Really its used for a few things - domain controller, file storage/sharing, hopefully backup, and sometimes Exchange and Remote Web Workplace. Domain controllers are nice to have, but not critical for small businesses. File storage/sharing can be accomplished by a NAS for far less than a server. Windows SBS’s built in backup is pretty subpar and doesn’t include the expensive hardware needed to backup. Exchange is useful for some, but is expensive, risky to maintain in house, and requires integration with third party antivirus/antispam - hosted Zimbra or Gmail for Domains is a far better value for most. Remote Web Workplace is cool, but rarely used and the same thing can be accomplished by an Untangle Firewall.

So if you’re looking for a small business server which actually works out of the box and includes really valuable tools to help you run your business - Windows SBS isn’t the product. This is why Lotus Foundations excites me so much - it takes everything a Windows SBS box does but integrates killer backup, security, and useful business applications in a far easier to manage package.

The great thing is while IBM Lotus Foundations is new, its also built on well established products. IBM bought Nitix earlier in the year, which made Linux-based small business servers for the past eight years. IBM improved the product, integrated Lotus Notes Domino 8, and made Lotus Foundations.

I’ve had a chance to talk to some IBM folks and they’re dead serious about taking on Windows Small Business Server and providing a better experience for small business. With the application platform they’re building and the marketing power of IBM, I can guarantee you’ll hear a lot about IBM Lotus Foundations in the next year.

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