Enterprise Messaging Strategy

2.2

Enterprise Messaging Strategy

Overview

In the past e-mail was often thought of as an end-user application but for most companies, messaging technology is the engine that circulates business information throughout the enterprise. Today, messaging is a key component in any business information architecture. Most companies  are aware that they must invest in their messaging infrastructure to provide reliable communications as we enter into the e-commerce age. As with any technology, analysis, planning, and systems integration activities are needed in order to avoid unexpected problems and unwanted re-design costs.

Decisions about messaging and directory services must take into account interactions and dependencies of the messaging system with a number of other systems and a number of factors must be evaluated including:

• Analysis of technology requirements
• Auditing of current systems
• Internet/Intranet integration strategy
• Integration of messaging and file server or client/server architectures
• Enterprise directory architecture in inter-enterprise directory exchange
• Capacity planning models and impact of messaging on LAN/WAN systems
• Mapping existing e-mail into a new messaging infrastructure
• Examination of costs, staffing, and training requirements

GSS messaging technology consultations help customers determine the right messaging technology for their business information architecture.

Information Versus Misinformation

Vendor claims, analyst reports, performance benchmarks, and articles in the press frequently conflict. Different technologies are often difficult to compare. At the same time, every business has unique requirements, commitments, constraints, and specific concerns. Every vendor or reseller positions their solution as the right solution for every customer. The one point on which all parties agree, is that messaging is a mission-critical component in every organizations IT infrastructure.

Customers making infrastructure choices today need to understand all of their options and cut through conflicting claims.

Breaking Down the Alternatives

The GSS Competitive Analysis Seminar provides an effective combination of in-depth product analyses and comparisons with reports from the field by seasoned GSS consultants. The seminar also covers the messaging vendors, their strategies, their strengths, and their weaknesses. The GSS Competitive Analysis Seminar provides an unbiased evaluation of the following messaging vendors and solutions:

• Lotus Notes and Domino and the Domino Name and Address Book (NAB)
• Microsoft Exchange and Outlook and Active Directory
• Netscape/iPlanet (Sun ONE) Messaging and Directory Servers
• Novell GroupWise and NetWare Directory Services (NDS)

The Right Strategy

Any messaging strategy must support technologies already deployed and provide smooth integration with new technologies. Equally important is the relationship of the messaging system with the underlying LANs and WAN over which it is deployed. Capacity planning for specific service levels, for example, presents a complex problem in the design of a reliable messaging system.

Messaging technology decisions are large-scale systems integration problems where a variety of diverse factors come into play. Most companies must contend with at least two the following factors when developing a messaging strategy:

• Legacy systems
• Short-term commitments to maintain, upgrade or expand deployed systems
• Near-term migration plans involving core technologies or particular systems
• Long term strategic commitments to specific products or technologies

Experience the Value

With GSS customers always know what they will receive, how much they should invest, and how long it will take to achieve their goals. Over the years GSS has proven its value by helping customers successfully meet the most demanding IT challenges. GSS has relationships with major vendors that involve training and certification of GSS staff, but the certification that GSS points out most frequently is customer loyalty. GSS is successful because GSS customers are successful.

About GSS

Global System Services Corporation (GSS) is the leading provider of consulting and professional services for large-scale and distributed infrastructure systems such as email and messaging, directory services, groupware, and wireless solutions. GSS customers include Fortune 500 companies, large services providers and telecom companies, government agencies, major messaging product vendors, and innovative technology startups.

GSS provides a complementary suite of services including strategic technology consultation and competitive vendor and product analysis, product and system architecture and design, system development deployment, customization, and testing, technical support, email migration, and other IT services. GSS has been directly responsible for some of the largest global systems and solutions and counts as customers many of the largest companies in the world.

From its offices in the Silicon Valley California, GSS delivers services and solutions to customers worldwide through a network of mobile consultants and qualified GSS Affiliates. With industry certified professionals on staff, GSS is a Qualified Lotus Business Partner, a Certified Microsoft Solution Provider (MCSP), a Principal Partner in the Sun Partner Advantage program and a member of the Sun Software Partner Council, as well as a member of key industry organizations.

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