New Zealand’s mid-size businesses face several unique IT challenges. While they have many of the same technology requirements as larger organisations – particularly in terms of security and management – component server solutions are often too complex and expensive to scale down. Windows Server Marketing Manager, Tovia Va’aelua, says it’s these considerations that underpinned the development of EBS 2008.“EBS 2008 is an enterprise-class server solution that has been designed and priced for mid-sized businesses. It simplifies IT infrastructure by bringing together the latest versions of Microsoft’s management, messaging and security server technologies in a single, integrated solution.”According to Va’aelua, EBS 2008 has the potential to open up a new market for Microsoft Channel Partners by enabling them to ease the transition of their customers from small to mid-sized IT infrastructures. “The development of a tailored server solution for this market segment creates an opportunity for Partners to reduce their customers’ infrastructure complexity so they can focus on providing other business-enabling IT solutions. What’s more, the ability to deliver demonstrable business value with an EBS 2008 solution can help elevate Partners to ‘trusted advisor’ status.”HP Server Marketing Manager, Aaron Lamond, concurs, adding that EBS 2008 is ideally suited to the New Zealand market, where small to mid-sized businesses predominate.“EBS 2008 enables New Zealand mid-sized business to take advantage of best-in-breed server hardware and software technology. It is a complete, yet affordable, solution that helps overcome the problem of IT infrastructure complexity.”Steve McIntyre, Senior IT Engineer at Fujitsu New Zealand agrees, pointing out that EBS 2008’s strength stems from its development according to the highest industry standards. “EBS has been designed from the ground up with best practice in mind. The platform stands up to the most rigorous scrutiny, especially in terms of deployment, security, collaboration, management and remote access.” According to Va’aelua, while EBS 2008 is a compelling offering, there is still a place for component server solutions in mid-sized businesses.“For companies with a robust infrastructure layer thinking about the next level of business solutions, such as unified communications, purchasing separate component products may still be the best way to proceed. However, for those who need to silence the noise and distraction of managing day-to-day IT tasks, EBS is likely to be the better option,” says Va’aelua.