Posted by Steve Schwartz on Mon, Apr 22, 2013
implement.com is proud to be sponsoring the Lync Hosting Experience Partner Summit event taking place April 22-23rd in Washington DC.
As part of our sponsorship we will deliver a presentation that conveys our experience and capabilities as a Hosted Lync system integrator. There is a significant amount of interest in the upcoming release of Lync Server 2013 Multitenant Pack (aka Lync Hosting Pack v2 or LHPv2), the version of Lync used for multi-tenant hosting. We anticipate a very busy year ahead deploying and integrating Lync and this conference is a great kick off for the rest of the year.
implement.com is also delivering the LHPv2 hands on training taking place April 24-26th as part of the Lync Partner Summit event. This three day training takes attendees through a complete deployment of LHPv2 and then through provisioning tenants and users, configuring federation, and all of the client testing. Should be a great learning experience and significant leg up for service providers interested in delivering Hosted Lync with LHPv2.
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Mon, Mar 26, 2012
implement.com is pleased to announce the release of our Exchange 2010 Multitenant Transport Agent.
Microsoft released Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Exchange 2010 in 2011. To coincide with the service pack, Microsoft published the document “Multi-Tenancy and Hosting Guidance, Exchange Server 2010 SP2”. This documented highlighted many of the considerations and limitations of Exchange with regard to providing hosting services in a multi-tenant environment. These include:
- Internal Out Of Office (OOF) emails are sent between tenants
- Name resolution of recipients and matching to Active Directory entries when emails are sent between tenants
- Routing of e-mail for tenants who have been migrated off the system
In all these cases, the default behavior of Exchange is to resolve mail sent between recipients within the Exchange Organization as internal. Fortunately the Exchange product provides a Transport Agent architecture that allows the installation of custom software which can plug into the transport mail flow pipeline. A Transport Agent can respond to various events in the pipeline and customize the behavior of Exchange. Implement.com has developed such a transport agent to address the aforementioned concerns for providing Exchange hosting services in a multi-tenant environment.
For additional details and pricing please see implement.com Exchange 2010 SP2 Multitenant Transport Agent
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Fri, Jan 20, 2012
Microsoft recently released formalized guidance documentation and PowerShell scripts for migrating from HMC 4.5 (or non-HMC Exchange 2007 environments) to Exchange 2010 SP2.
implement.com is fully up to speed on the documentation and PowerShell scripts. We have already completed a couple of migrations as well. The migration itself has proven to be relatively straightforward, however, coexisting Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2010 SP2 on a hosting platform is complex and requires careful planning and testing. We have hit a few issues in testing that we have added to our internal "cook book" on how to do these projects as the TechNet based coexistence documentation doesn't fully cover the hosting scenario.
The blog announcing the migration guidance can be found here:
Released: Migrating Exchange from HMC 4.5 to Exchange Server 2010 SP2 whitepaper
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Mon, Jan 09, 2012
Microsoft just released the Multitenant version of Lync Server 2010. implement.com had a significant role in creating the guidance for this code release and we are very pleased with the results and the capabilities of the Lync Multitenanct Pack.
Along with the release of Exchange 2010 SP2 we now have a combined platform from Microsoft that allows service providers to offer Cloud based Unfied Communications with the full capabilities of Exchange and Lync. This means full telephony and the opportunity to displace traditional on-prem PBX gear.
Our hosting division, Chinook Communications, was one of six pilot service providers worldwide that did early testing and put real customer on the platform to pilot. The Pilot has been very successful and confirms our belief that once a typical customer get's familiar with the platform, they are more than willing to move forward with the service.
The initial push for this solution will be for service providers targeting SMBs, while larger mid-market and enterprises will leverage Private Cloud with dedicated Exchange and Lync. Either way, the service will be fully lit up for Enterprise Voice, PSTN termination, Lync based Audio Conferencing, Exchange 2010 Unified Messaging, and all of the other capabilities of Exchange and Lync resulting a truly innovative and capable communications and collaboration platform.
implement.com offers Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack Planning and Design Workshops, as well as deployment servcies as detailed below:
- Planning and Design Workshops
- Three Day workshop that takes a service provider through an overview of Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack and Hosted Exchange 2010 SP2, including developing a server architecture and design gap analysis
- The workshops include a thorough overview of how to migrate from OCS 2007 R2 to Lync Server 2010 and Exchange 2007 (and HMC if applicable) to Exchange 2010 as well as how to migrate from Exchange 2010 SP1 /Hosting to Exchange 2010 SP2 Enterprise
- The workshops can also include SharePoint 2010 and Dynamics CRM 2011
- Deployment and Migration Services
- Deployment includes building a lab and deploying the production platform. It also includes the option of deploying and ISV Control Panel solution to handle automated provisioning and delegated administration
- Migration Services include migrating from OCS 2007 R2 to Lync Server 2010 and Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2007 including HMC to Exchange 2010 SP2 Enterprise
- Additionally, implement.com offers automated migration services from legacy POP/IMAP platforms to Hosted Exchange. This capability is provided by our own migration platform called the Implement Migration Manager
- Deployments can also include SharePoint 2010 and Dynamics CRM 2011
Here is a link to the guidance for Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack:
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting Deployment Guide
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Wed, Dec 14, 2011
With the release of Exchange 2010 SP2 last week Microsoft has officially provided one version of Exchange that is supported for both single tenant Enterprise deployments as well as multi-tenant Hosted deployments. This is great news for the service provider community as it simplifies the roadmap for hosting going forward. From a Systems Integrator perspective, it reduces the complexity our clients had faced previously regarding which version of Exchange to use. Without debating the merits of /Hosting vs. Enterprise, suffice to say there is no doubt that one version is better than two, especially as we move through the future releases of Exchange.
The Exchange team blog explains in detail how service providers can deploy Exchange 2010 SP2 in Enterprise mode and be supported. Here is the link:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/exchange/archive/2011/12/06/exchange-2010-service-pack-2-and-hosting.aspx
The specific Microsoft Multi-Tenancy and Hosting Guidance documentation can be downloaded here:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28192
Microsoft has also put in the effort to evaluate and document which ISV Control Panel partners are in the process of supporting Exchange 2010 SP2 in compliance with the hosting guidance white paper. Here is a link to the page that documents the supported ISV partners:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/hh563895.aspx
With this release we also get support for hosting on a version of Exchange that includes Unified Messaging. This is absolutely key for any service provider planning to offer Multi-tenant Hosted Lync when that product is released by the end of 2011, as Exchange 2010 SP2 Enterprise provides the voice mail platform for Hosted Lync.
Implement.com is pleased to offer the following services in support of the release of Exchange 2010 SP2:
- Planning and Design Workshops
- Three Day workshop that takes a service provider through an overview of Hosted Exchange 2010 SP2, including developing a server architecture and design gap analysis
- The workshops include a thorough overview of how to migrate from Exchange 2007 (and HMC if applicable) to Exchange 2010 as well as how to migrate from Exchange 2010 SP1 /Hosting to Exchange 2010 SP2 Enterprise
- The workshops can also include SharePoint 2010, Dynamics CRM 2011, and Multi-tenant Hosted Lync 2010
- Deployment and Migration Services
- Deployment includes building a lab and deploying the production platform. It also includes the option of deploying and ISV Control Panel solution to handle automated provisioning and delegated administration
- Migration Services include migrating from Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2007 including HMC to Exchange 2010 SP2 Enterprise
- Additionally, implement.com offers automated migration services from legacy POP/IMAP platforms to Hosted Exchange. This capability is provided by our own migration platform called the Implement Migration Manager
- Deployments can also include SharePoint 2010, Dynamics CRM 2011, and Multi-tenant Hosted Lync 2010
- Manual Provisioning Guide
- This guide details how to manually provision Hosted Exchange 2010 SP2 in compliance with the Microsoft Multi-Tenancy and Hosting Guidance documentation.
- For more information, see this page for details.
- Out of Office Transport Agent
- This agent is currently under development and fills a gap identified in the Microsoft Multi-Tenancy and Hosting Guidance documentation wherein Out of Office messages between tenants on the same Hosted Exchange SP2 platform use the intra company message by default. The agent routes the messages between tenants on the same platform such that the external Out of Office message is used between tenants on the same Hosted Exchange Platform
- Hosted Solutions Support
- We have a solution in place for service providers looking to have their existing HMC Platform supported by our team that is very knowledgeable on HMC and MPS (Microsoft Provisioning System). With Microsoft officially ending support for HMC on Monday the 12th of December, this service offering is particularly useful for service providers that may need some time before migrating to Hosted Exchange 2010 SP2
- The support includes platform not operating on HMC and can also include SharePoint 2010, Dynamics CRM 2011, and Multi-tenant Hosted Lync 2010
This combination of service offerings provides implement.com clients with a comprehensive capability to enable them to migrate from any version of Exchange to Exchange 2010 SP2 Enterprise.
For more information please fill out a contact request form.
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Tue, Nov 01, 2011
Microsoft has recently posted a blog that clarifies the road map for which version of Exchange 2010 SP2 to use (Enterprise or /Hosting) going forward. The Exchange Team EHLO Blog located here clearly states that the next version of Exchange, known as Wave 15, will not have the /Hosting feature. Microsoft will continue to support the SP2 version of /Hosting as per the usual support life cycle for Exchange 2010 SP2.
I won't repeat what is already in the EHLO blog, but at implement.com we generally view this as good news for service providers. It clarifies the roadmap, and solidifies a future with one version of Exchange for on premise and Partner Cloud (whether Private or Public).
Significantly, it also lays the groundwork for how we move forward with Hosted Lync when the Lync Hosting Pack releases later this year. The deployment testing we are doing shows that combing the Lync Hosting Pack with Exchange 2010 SP2 Enterprise in a single Active Directory Forest works very well and provides a great architecture for service providers to move forward with.
implement.com will be ready and able to complete deployments and migrations from Exchange 2007 or Exchange 2010 SP1 /Hosting to SP2. We will also be ready to include Lync 2010, SharePoint 2010, and Dynamics CRM 2011 along with these deployments.
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Tue, Jul 19, 2011
implement.com attended the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) last week in LA and we had a very busy and successful week. Here are some highlights:
- On Monday Steve Schwartz participated in the cloud hosting partners keynote presentation that was delivered by Austen Mulinder. Steve did a 5 minute Q&A on stage with Austen in front of about 500 attendees. Topics included discussing our transition from a 100% consulting services company to a company that includes a hosting division (Chinook Communications) and mix of consulting and recurring revenue. We also discussed the upcoming launch of Hosted Lync at Chinook and how it is differentiated from Office 365 by offering full Enteprise Voice and Unified Messaging, and a planned launch of hosted Contact Center integrated with Lync Server and delivered from the cloud.
- Jason Holm delivered a session on Hosted CRM 2011 on behalf of the Microsoft Operator Channels group (new group that replaces form Communications Sector division).
- implement.com had a kiosk as part of the Microsoft Hosting Partners pavilion in the Solution Innovation (expo) Center
- implement.com had a kiosk for one day in the Parallels pavilion
We had many successful meetings with existing clients and some new client opportunities. Overall, a good experience for us and were looking forward to WPC 2012 in Toronto.
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Tue, May 17, 2011
There has been some high profile challenges in the cloud computing world recently and most troubling have been security breaches and compromised passwords. This is a trend and risk that will only increase as cloud computing becomes more prevalent and densely populated.
A colleague recently went to work at a company called TeleSign and they offer a service that enables two-factor authentication leveraging your mobile phone. The concept looks simple enough, you enter your phone number, user id, and password on a web site you are accessing for cloud services. If the logon is successful, a text is sent to your mobile phone with a pin, which you then have to enter back into the web site logon form to gain access.
Wow, that pretty much snuffs out low the low hanging fruit of security risks assocated with comprised passwords. While there are numerous risks, this one is troublesome but with a service like what TeleSign has, solvable.
Check out the web site for more info:
http://www.telesign.com
This also got me thinking aobut the future of security, one in which your mobile device (phone, tablet, watch, what have you...) will play an increasing role in security by allowing easy access to a multi-factor security model. Security, Cloud and Mobility are intersecting in interesting applications that we will see more and more of, and that's something I am looking forward to because I don't trust the current model of a single, simple password is the key to everything in the cloud.
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Mon, Apr 11, 2011
Microsoft hired implement.com to develop the guidance for how to deploy Hosted Dynamics CRM 2011 and it has been recently relased for download on TechNet.
We have completed the guidance for the last few releases of CRM and we are very pleased to have been chosen again to complete the effort. Our thought leadership on utilizing Microsoft technology in the cloud is demonstrated once again with this latest effort with CRM.
The documentation provides planning, conceptual architectures, manual provisioning and sample provisioning code.
Here is the link for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Service Provider Planning and Deployment Guide.
Posted by Steve Schwartz on Mon, Mar 28, 2011
Today implement.com is attending the Microsoft Hosted Lync Server 2010 Airlift at Microsoft, and thus begins the journey to a complete Hosted UC solution from Microsoft delivered by service provider partners. Not only is this a great opportunity for service providers, but for their customers as well.
The opportunity awaiting Small and Medium sized businesses (SMBs) to more effectively operate by leveraging cloud based messaging, collaboration, and unified communications, while also lowering IT costs, is available with the Microsoft Hosted UC platform that includes Hosted Exchange 2010, Hosted Lync Server 2010, and Hosted SharePoint 2010. These tools deliver better operations by utilizing more effective communication and collaboration tools for employees and customers. Not sure how these tools can deliver on this? Contact implement.com for a full demo that shows the capability to deliver on this promise.
What about the lowering of IT costs? With Hosted Lync Server 2010, an SMB can move off of expensive on-premise telecom equipment. That part is easy. They can also lower costs by going to commodity broadband instead of expensive T1 Voice/Data style telecom services. With Lync in the cloud, the hosting provider takes care of the telecom interconnects, so all the SMB needs is quality broadband. Further, Lync offers complete conference calling support and web conferencing, so you can also move off the very expensive existing solutions. Once an SMB sees and understands the full value proposition, the decision to move to the cloud for Lync, Exchange and SharePoint becomes easy. It’s hard to not to underestimate the value for an SMB, and note, I said value, not “cost savings”, and while lower costs is certainly part of it, getting much better value for the cost is really the goal with this solution.
Also this week, implement.com is a sponsor at the 2011 Microsoft Hosting Summit, and we will be co-presenting with Microsoft on a presentation about Building Microsoft based Messaging and Collaboration Cloud Services, as well as delivering a demo. This participation further confirms our success in achieving our ongoing goals to be a thought leader in the Microsoft based hosted services industry and to exceed customer expectations. Our consulting clients know they are working with the best when confirmed by Microsoft hiring implement.com to help them deliver this capability at their marquee hosting event.
If you are attending the Hosting Summit, stop by our booth and say hello!