The idea is not new – organizations have been asking for anywhere, anytime access to applications and services for a long time. Office 365 combines Office, SharePoint, Exchange and Lync in a unified cloud.

Easy to start – When users log in for the first time, users get shortcuts to the key services they want (Outlook Web Access for email and calendar, SharePoint, download to Lync client). There is no need to permanently use these shortcuts; Office 365 van easily be used from desktop tools (e.g., Outlook).

Lync – When using Lync, the whitelist option allows users to lock down conversations with trusted partners. Microsoft is working on enhancing this feature enabling online collaboration in Office 365. Office 365 currently offers IM, VoIP and video chat in the Lync 2010 client, as well as the ability to deliver slides to online meetings.

SharePoint and Exchange – Office 365’s SharePoint and Exchange implementation is straightforward, providing Access, Excel, and InfoPath services. It can also be used for some basic computing and storage. This opens a whole new set of challenges, including migration of existing data to the cloud. As DataMills, we are looking into reducing risks for such transitions.

We would like to conclude by saying that we don’t see Office 365 as a threat to IT professionals at all. Instead, we strongly feel that it will give organizations the tools to expand and also to protect their skilled IT staff from basic administration tasks.

People see disasters and other calamities as incidents that are limited in time. They think that it might impact others, but not their own business. But this is a huge mistake. Once disaster strikes data in files, folders, PST files and PST folders will be lost. These data are critical for the operations (and even survival) of a company.

SMB or SME are faced with a multifaceted challenge. First they need to realize that disaster can strike them too. As recent disasters showed, no enterprise is immune. The next step is selecting a reliable provider that can provide backup and restore services that fit a firm’s needs and budget. Many organizations prefer to avoid a full cloud-solution. For those firms, an incremental backup solution at a central location is ideal.

The reputation of the provider and its customer base are also important criteria for selection. The vendor must have a good track record and must also be around in the future. Furthermore, the service-level of the provider must be excellent. exceed what you can have at your own premises.

One of the most important features in a backup solution consists of incremental backup. A pure cloud-based solution sends each file-save request through the Internet connection. Needless to say, such solutions slow operations considerably down.

Many organizations opt for the backup solutions of DataMills. Its EdgeSafe File Backup provides an advanced, yet simply to implement, backup solution for laptops and desktops in organizations. EdgeSafe File Backup solution can swiftly backup files and folders incrementally, while maintaining historical backup versions without multiplying the required backup space, and at the same time saving network bandwidth.

Want to learn more? Contact us for a free demo!

EdgeSafe File Backup has the ability to backup data files that are located on the users’ workstations even if Office application is open. This ensures consistent and automatic backup. Since the backup is incremental, it can happen even while the user is working and since it is very light in resource usage, the user barely notices when the backup is running.

Other features include the ability to reduce the size of the backup. This is done by filtering out unwanted folders, and by allowing multiple one-pass recoverable versions without multiplying the backup space.   

EdgeSafe File Backup is composed of EdgeSafe Control Station software  and EdgeSafe File Backup Agent and is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000; Windows XP; Windows Vista; Windows 7. Every predefined period, EdgeSafe FileBackup Agent simply checks if the backup destination is available. Then it copies any file that had been created or changed since the last backup run into a secure, per user backup folder, which is located on a central backup/archive location.   

Even in very large deployments EdgeSafe File Backup is able to perform even over low bandwidth lines, by staging the first full backup run, thus overcoming the network overload. It is also able to restrict the backup process to run only when the user is logged into its “home base network”. This feature helps mobile users avoiding a backup process while logged into the airport network for example. 

Want to know more? Visit our website at www.datamills.com or contact us at info@datamills.com

 Why is Microsoft Office Outlook so popular? As an email client, it easily organizes virtual folders and enables fast search. It also has seamless integration with to-do lists and scheduling.

Furthermore, Microsoft Outlook is a great tool for e-mail marketing. Outlook 2010 offers various marketing tools, such as fast integration with Microsoft Word. It also enables to quickly import contacts from Excel as well as mail-merge functions that automate the process of sending out several hundred e-mails.

It is therefore essential for enterprises to protect the valuable data stored in Outlook files and folders. A robust backup and restore solution is the optimal way to backup PST files and folders, and – in case of a calamity – to restore lost data.

 DataMills’ EdgeSafePST2PST is the preferred choice for many organizations. To quote a customer: “EdgeSafe PST2PST solves a problem not readily solvable in any other way. With email having become the major element in the communications suites of most firms, the issue of how to effectively backup the personal mail store (pst) has become a vexing problem.”

EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup is the leading PST backup solution for organizations. It swiftly and incrementally backs up PST files even if Microsoft® Outlook® is open. Features include simple native PST recovery, and central management for the PST file backup / Outlook Backup process.

Want to learn more? Contact us at sales@datamills.com for a free trial or click here.

The main reasons for this are:

• To keep the Exchange database as small as possible
• To keep a backup copy of all users’ email (e.g., for compliance reasons, audit, legal procedures)
• To keep down the backup and storage costs
• To prevent heavy load on the Exchange server

To quote Microsoft, “personal folder files (.pst files) are not meant to be a long-term, continuous-use method of storing messages in an enterprise environment. Although it is possible to specify a network directory or a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path as a storage location for a .pst file, network usage is not meant to be a long-term, continuous-use method of storing messages in an enterprise environment”. Microsoft therefore recommends storing PST on desktops.

With so many valuable data stored in PST files and folders on desktops and notebooks, it has become critical for enterprises to opt for a top-notch backup solution. Many organizations (large and small) use EdgeSafe PST2PST for incremental backup to a central location.

EdgeSafe is more than a simple backup of PST files and folders; it also retains the history of deleted emails. In case of an audit, compliance issue or a legal action, these deleted emails can be restored by EdgeSafe.

It’s better to be EdgeSafe than sorry!

To learn more about EdgeSafe PST2PST or to request a free trial, contact us at sales@datamills.cm or click here

During the last decade, the report notes the following well-known trends:  

Mobility and Miniaturization
Since devices have become small in size, and the Internet can now be accessed from almost any location on Earth. Wireless networks have become the method-of-choice for Internet connection, making their Outlook files and folders vulnerable for data loss/theft.

Virus writing has evolved into Cybercrime
Hackers use computers and the Internet for identity theft, selling contraband, stalking or attacking organizations with malevolent programs such as Trojans. The hacker-for-fame is gone and replaced by sophisticated cybercriminals.

Windows keeps on maintaining its leading position
The majority of organizations and individuals keep on using Microsoft products, including Outlook.  

Also during the coming decade, Microsoft (and Outlook) will remain a dominant force, especially in business. To limit the damage of email loss or breach, enterprises need to have a top-notch Outlook backup solution in place. Especially if a company is traded on the stock exchange and/or has to comply with e.g., SOX, HIPAA, GLB Act, DCI DSS, and FISMA, the PST files and folders must be properly backed up and available.

By 2020, the majority of the organizations and individuals will conduct their transactions online, with transaction statements and confirmations sent via email. Until biometric user identification and payment protection systems are in fully in place, emails must be backed up in case of cybercrime or data leaks.

Cybercrime in 2020 will see a continuing face-off between hackers/cybercriminals and corporate IT specialists. Since email files and folders contain valuable data, it will remain an attractive target. EdgeSafe PST2PST backup solution incrementally backs up and restores these valuable PST files and folders.  

The old adage “Forewarned is forearmed” is more relevant than ever – and EdgeSafe PST2PST is a valuable addition to the IT resources of enterprises.

Want to learn more? Contact us for a free trial at sales@datamills.com or click here for the contact form.

(Image courtesy of © Jim Nuttle for Forbes.com)

Microsoft Outlook is a local data store where the user emails/messages are stored. It is know as Personal Storage Table (PST). Backing up emails and folders in Outlook could comprise backing up the PST files. For enterprises, proper backup normally requires a magnitude of man hours as well as technical resources.

With this in mind, more and more enterprises opt for using DataMills’ EdgeSafe PST2PST backup solution.  EdgeSafe PST2PST solution works is in a multi-tier way:

• The control station software (the core program that resides on server side)
• The PST2PST backup agent (this resides on individual user desktops)
• The central backup storage (this is where the files are backed up and it can be as small as a USB flash drive or as large as a SAN)

All backups are done in an incremental fashion with only the newer changes to files being backed up. This also translates in less bandwidth use and efficient use of network resources.

The role of each of the components is as follows:

• The Control Station - the central monitoring and management application.
  It generates reports of the backups taken and sets up and displays alerts. It auto-creates a secure backup folder for each user managed and pushes different configurations for each of the PST2PST client (based on the groups they belong to).
• The PST2PST Backup Agent - responsible for actual user- PSTs as per settings.
  It can backup these files even while users are using Outlook. Therefore there is no need to close Outlook for backing up. It can split large-sized PST files (over 2 GB ) as well as backing  up without taking too much of bandwidth. It then finally backs up various Outlook item types (calendars, contacts, emails etc) based on how the configuration is pushed from the control station.
• The Central Backup Storage - depends on the environment where PST2PST is deployed. 
  For very small networks this can be a single desktop with large storage space. For large networks, this can be a full-fledged SAN. However, it is advisable that the server/system on which the Control Station is installed is not  used as a central backup storage The reason for this is to eliminate single point of failure and to keep the load to a minimum.

In short, EdgeSafe PST2PST is a centrally managed enterprise solution that enables easy backup of individual user’s PST files without disrupting the daily work schedule of users. EdgeSafe PST2PST keeps the backups, monitors for changes and auto- updates backups in a secure and reliable way.

For a free trial or more information, contact DataMills at info@datamillis.com

“EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup not only prevents our data from being compromised, but also allows us to use Microsoft Outlook® the way it was meant to be used. We especially like the transparent and consistent backup onto our central network location” said Scott Chandler, IT Specialist at Sheridan County. “For me as a system manager, EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup saves me time and effort, since the backup runs transparently without any user intervention. Since it is centrally deployed and configured it is easy to manage, also due to detailed backup reports that I can access easily.”

Yoram Barzilai, CEO of DataMills, added: “Another unique feature of our EdgeSafe is that it also saves time for Outlook users, since they do not have to close Outlook while the backup is running. Our solution only synchronizes the new Outlook items to the backup file instead of copying the entire file over and over again, which enables savings of network bandwidth.”

“Since EdgeSafe PST Backup can backup to a network share, it creates a secure backup folder for each user in a way that no other user, except for the system administrator, can access,” he added. “As for restore, this can easily be done by either the system administrator or as a “self service restore” by the user if thus allowed by the enterprise.”

EdgeSafe has control station software, EdgeSafe Control Station, which is compatible with windows XP, Windows 2000/3/8 servers, and a backup agent, EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup, which is compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7 workstations supporting Outlook 2000/2003/2007/10.

About Sheridan County
Sheridan County is located in the northeastern most corner of Montana. Plentywood, the county seat, is located approximately 18 miles south of the Montana/Canada border and 24 miles west of the Montana/North Dakota border. The County is mostly prairie and the land is three-fourths tillable. The soil is of glacier origin which provides a rich base for small grain production.
For more information, please visit Sheridan County’s website at: www.co.sheridan.mt.us

About DataMills Ltd.
DataMills develops and sells EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup, its patented state-of-the-art PST database backup for Outlook installations regardless of topology, product and interface variations. EdgeSafe File Backup Agent complements EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup solution to provide the most advanced backup solution for notebooks and desktops in organizations, providing enterprises with a complete solution to backup precious user data. With EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup solution, system administrators of SME as well as large corporations can backup files and folders incrementally, including PST files on item level incremental resolution.
For more information, please visit the company’s website at: http://www.datamills.com/

Microsoft Outlook

Genau diese fehlende Komponente bietet EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup. Die Software ermöglicht die Sicherung der Outlook-Daten von mehreren Rechnern. Dabei werden die Daten im nativen Dateiformat .pst (Personal STore) gesichert. Dies garantiert eine reibungslose Wiederherstellung. Obwohl keine Komprimierung in ein anderes Dateiformat angewendet wird, wird die Datendatei trotzdem komprimiert – dazu können vordefinierte Ordner aus der Sicherung ausgeschlossen werden (Beispielsweise der Papierkorb oder ein Junk/Spam Ordner).

Ein weiterer Vorteil wird vom Hersteller Datamills in der Funktion des inkrementellen Backups vorgestellt. Dadurch wird weniger Speicherplatz benötigt, gleichzeitig aber für eine möglichst enge Backupdichte gesorgt. Die Backups werden von zentraler Stelle verwaltet und gespeichert, eine Berichtsansicht ist möglich.

Allerdings soll nicht nur eine Oberfläche zur Verwaltung zur Verfügung stehen, sondern auch eine Bedienmöglichkeit für Endbenutzer zur Wiederherstellung im Falle eines Datenverlusts. Dabei bleibt EdgeSafe PST2PST Backup jedoch im normalen Betrieb für den Endbenutzer kaum spürbar. Eine Beeinträchtigung des täglichen Arbeitens finde laut Hersteller durch den Backup-Prozess nicht statt.

Die Software ist in Lizenzpaketen ab 5 Endbenutzern verfügbar und kann mit allen Versionen von Microsoft Outlook ab Version 2000 benutzt werden, ausgeschlossen sind 64-bit Versionen.

(Ref: Mailhilfe.de)

When Mario Morejon, Lead Analyst NetwWhen Mario Morejon, Lead Analyst Network & Business, reviewed EdgeSafe PST2PST backup solution for PC Magazine, he found it to be “sophisticated, fast and has a low network overhead, unlike many file backup programs. What’s more, EdgeSafe understands the PST file format, so you can control what you archive. EdgeSafe is a must have for companies that rely on Outlook to do business”.

EdgeSafe PST2PST is a client-server application. It has a server component as well as client services (called agents) that connect to a central server. Although EdgeSafe PST2PST can be installed on an existing Windows Server, it is recommended to install the EdgeSafe Control Station (which is a server). The client software connects to Outlook directly. All PST files are backed up, even if created with different accounts (e.g., Gmail).

EdgeSafe PST2PST is a smart backup solution. It maintains a single snapshot of PSTs in native file format without compressing any files. Users can re-access their messages in a matter of seconds by pointing Outlook to the PST file that EdgeSafe backed up. A unique feature is its ability to back up incrementally. EdgeSafe will only backup from the last change, which makes is fast and efficient.

EdgeSafe PST2PST can also filter out certain types of Outlook data, such as: posts, contacts, journals, appointments, deleted items, drafts and junk mail. EdgeSafe PST2PST also has a powerful restore feature that can process multiple restores to different computers at the same time. Furthermore, it is also possible to restore a PST file from the PST2PST agent. Backup files are kept in native format, which makes restore fast and efficient.

For many companies, compliance with regulatory requirements is a must. Since EdgeSafe PST2PST accumulates everything that has been done in an enterprise in email, they do not have to fear repercussion in case that email messages get lost or wiped out.

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