Microsoft Exchange 2010 Server was officially launched on November 9, 2009 with some new and enhanced features carried over from Exchange 2007.

Exchange Server 2010 delivers improved performance and supports lower cost storage, which makes larger mailboxes more affordable. Some of the improved and new features are broadly falling under the below categories:

• Protection and Collaboration
• Anywhere Access
• Flexibility and Reliability

Listed below are the features that have carried over from Exchange 2007 as well as improved and new features falling under each of these categories.

 

Protection and Collaboration

The goal of protection and collaboration is to achieve increased I.T. governance compliance with advanced tools to protect communication and manage the Messaging infrastructure.

Some of the features that have been carried over from Exchange 2007 are:

• On premise and hosted protection from virus and spam
• Compliance to corporate and government regulation
• Mobile device security and management policies 

While some of the features that have been enhanced and new with Exchange 2010 are:

• Email archiving and more powerful retention policies
• Automated rights management and protection of email
• Powerful multi mailbox search UI for eDiscovery or Legal reasons 

Anywhere Access

The goal of the Anywhere Access is to help and manage communication load by offering an easy to navigate, Universal inbox with advanced messaging feature.

Some of the features carried over from Exchange 2007 are:

• Outlook experience on Web, Phone and mobile device
• Single inbox for voice mail, email and fax
• Increased productivity with improved calendar experience 

While some of the features that have been enhanced and new with Exchange 2010 are:

• Easier inbox navigation with updated conversation view
• Enhanced voice mail with text preview
• Share free busy calendar information with external partners 

Flexibility and Reliability

The goal is to provide flexibility needed to operate a scalable high performing and easy to administer messaging infrastructure.

Some of the features carried over by Exchange 2007 are:

• Improved installation and deployment scenarios
• High Availability through Continuous Replication
• Simplified management console and command line shell 

While some of the features that have been enhanced and new with Exchange 2010 are:

• Choice of solution delivery with addition of hosted service
• Single platform for High Availability and Disaster Recovery
• Role based Administration and User self service

Written by,

Nitin Kulshreshtha, Senior Consultant, QME Software