News

Windows Essential Business Server Hits RTM Status

With RTM milestone met, Windows Essential Business Server is expected become generally available on November 12.

Windows Essential Business Server (EBS) was released to manufacturing (RTM) on Monday, with a general availability launch date scheduled by Microsoft for November 12.

EBS is an all-in-one server stack designed to meet the needs of medium-size businesses. The server bundle, available in two editions, can be configured with support from Microsoft's channel partners.

The Standard Edition of EBS includes Windows Server, Exchange, SQL Server, System Center Essentials, Forefront Security for Exchange and Forefront Threat Management Gateway.

Microsoft's Forefront Threat Management Gateway has been released to manufacturing for the very first time with this ESB release. It replaces Microsoft's ISA firewall product and adds "unified threat management" capabilities. For example, the Threat Management Gateway solution provides network edge security that can support a company's headquarters, as well as its branch offices, according to Microsoft's Forefront TMG blog.

EBS was first shipped as a beta in December of 2006. The product has undergone testing that went "well beyond the typical betas," according to Microsoft's announcement. Customer advisory groups provided a laundry list of likes and dislikes. In addition, the ESB beta project got advice from Microsoft's "most valuable professionals" and top VARs.

The EBS RTM will help bring resources to medium-size organizations with few or no IT support staff. The product is designed to have "baked-in" best practices and enterprise-grade security. It also features fast and easy set-up and migration capabilities, as well as centralized IT administration.

EBS is part of Microsoft's Windows Essential Server Solutions product line, which also includes a small business version. For more information on Windows Essential Business Server, click here.

About the Author

Herb Torrens is an award-winning freelance writer based in Southern California. He managed the MCSP program for a leading computer telephony integrator for more than five years and has worked with numerous solution providers including HP/Compaq, Nortel, and Microsoft in all forms of media.

Featured

  • Microsoft Appoints Althoff as New CEO for Commercial Business

    Microsoft CEO and chairman Satya Nadella on Wednesday announced the promotion of Judson Althoff to CEO of the company's commercial business, presenting the move as a response to the dramatic industrywide shifts caused by AI.

  • Broadcom Revamps VMware Partner Program Again

    Broadcom recently announced a significant update regarding its VMware Cloud Service Provider (VCSP) program, coinciding with the release of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0, a key component in Broadcom’s private cloud strategy.

  • Closeup of the new Copilot keyboard key

    Microsoft Updates Copilot To Add Context-Sensitive Agents to Teams, SharePoint

    Microsoft has rolled out a new public preview for collaborative "always on" agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing enhanced, context-aware tools into Teams channels, meetings, SharePoint sites, Planner workstreams and Viva Engage communities.

  • Windows 365 Cloud Apps Now Available for Public Preview

    Microsoft announced this week that Windows 365 Cloud Apps are now available for public preview. This aims to allow IT administrators to stream individual Windows applications from the cloud, removing the need to assign Cloud PCs to every user.